Marie Antoinette Ragusa Capone

Our beloved mother, Marie Antoinette Ragusa Capone, left this world in peace and surrounded by her family on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 8:15pm. She passed away at the Saint Joseph Hospice in Baton Rouge just short of her 101st birthday (January 14, 1923). She was one of twelve children of Samual J. Ragusa and Mary Cicero, and was a 1940 graduate of Livonia High School. Her father was a successful farmer in the Livonia, La. area but unfortunately she did not enjoy farming herself so that made for some interesting and lively conversations in their household. She preferred chatting with friends and playing for the Livonia High School girls’ softball team. Incidentally, her softball coach at Livonia High, Katherine Mae Hattie, was the first wife of future Louisiana U.S. Senator Russel B. Long. In approximately 1943, with her sister Carrie, she relocated to Alexandria, La. to work in the war effort at England Air Force Base. Her role was to inventory airplane parts and distribute them to the mechanics who were maintaining the heavy bombers that were assigned to England AFB. She worked there for the remainder of the war and then moved to Baton Rouge for schooling as an administrative assistant. There she met her husband, Mike Capone, and they were married on February 16, 1947 - they were married 64 years. This began the core of her life in which she raised her children, helped her husband run their various businesses, and was very active in community activities. She was a devout Catholic and one of the first members of Our Lady of Mercy Parish. All of her children went to Catholic primary schools, and all graduated from Catholic High of Baton Rouge. She felt strongly that a quality Catholic education was one of the cornerstones of a successful life and she was determined to give her children that opportunity - she accomplished that wish. She encouraged her children to work hard, have lofty goals, help those less fortunate, honor family, and most importantly be good citizens of the world. She loved to dance and was a member of the Merry Whirlers Dance Club. For several years she served as the president of that club. She was actively involved in the American Legion Auxiliary and worked hard to support their fund raising activities. For example, for a decade or more she organized a monthly bus trip to an area casino from which The Legion benefited. She was involved in the Auxiliary’s annual “Poppy Drive” in which she collected donations as customers were leaving area grocery stores. In support of Our Lady of Mercy Church she was part of a group that hand-made rosaries. She was a terrific cook! All of her children will never forget waking up on Sunday morning to the beautiful smell of garlic and onions simmering in preparation for her classic tomato gravy. Holidays were full of delicacies like stuffed cabbage, stuffed artichokes, rice dressing, and Italian fig cookies. Beautiful memories! We think our mother’s life can be best summed up by something she said recently to one of my cousins. She said, “Go to church. The reason I’m content in this life is because of my relationship with God.” Enough said. We love you mom and will miss you until we meet again. She is survived by her three sons, Michael Capone (Deane), Warren Capone (Rose), and Brent Capone (Janice); grandchildren, Eric Capone (Yanetth), Paul Capone, Olivia Capone, Ross Capone (Britney), Ashley Capone Berniard (Trey), Erika Capone Horan (Andrew), Joey Capone (Kaitlynn); great grandchildren, “Beau” Berniard, James Berniard, Landry Horan, Walker Horan, and Nellie Capone; sisters, Ina Claire R. Jacob Dugas (Lynn); sister-in-law, Diane Ragusa. She was predeceased by her parents, Samuel J. and Mary Cicero Ragusa; husband, Mike Capone; brothers, Ben E Ragusa, John J. Ragusa, Huey Ragusa, Samuel "Junior" Ragusa, and Sammy Ragusa (infant); sisters, Carrie Ragusa Hernandez, Francis Ann Ragusa Noto, Marguerite Ragusa Parsons, Rosalie Ragusa Griffin Holder and Jo Ann Ragusa Tiffee; brothers-in-law, James Hernandez, Tom Parsons, Herman Jacob, Bob Tiffee, Johnny Griffin, Emile "Smokey" Noto and Howard Holder; sisters-in-law, Joyce Babin Ragusa and Ina. B. Ragusa. In addition, our family would like to thank The Claiborne Senior Living Center and St. Joseph Hospice for their quality care. A visitation will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette St, Baton Rouge, on Friday, January 12th from 9 am until Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am. Burial will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers: Eric Capone, Paul Capone, Joey Capone, Ross Capone, Trey Berniard, and Andrew Horan. Please visit www.greenoaksfunerals.com to leave condolences to the family.