Tony V. Capra

Tony passed away peacefully on January 10, 2023, at Sandlewood Manor in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He passed away from long term effects associated with the coronavirus contracted in July 2022. He was able to remain in his home through January 6, 2023, surrounded by the family and friends he loved. He had a long, full life and will be missed by all his family and friends.

Tony was born on August 2, 1931, in a little home on Osage Street behind Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Denver, Colorado. His parents were Peter and Emilia Rose Capra of San Polo Matese, Italy. Tony was the 4th child born of 6. The first to be born in the USA, the new home of Pete and Rose Capra. Tony was a child of the depression. He started working full time at an early age to help with his family’s income requirements. He attended Horace Mann Junior High School and North High School in Denver. Tony was a member of the Colorado Army Reserve. He did several years of weekend training at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO. He was never called to active duty.

He married Barbara Guillar in 1953 and had three children, Pamela, Peter and Matthew. He was married 16 years to Barbara. In 1970 he married Normagene Adcock Chappell. Normagene had three sons of her own; Stephane, Michael, and Bill. Tony was married to Normagene until her death in 2011.

He became an apprentice plumber and eventually received his master plumber license. He started his own plumbing business in 1960, Owl Plumbing Company. Eventually he closed that business and started another plumbing company with his friend, Stanley Basefsky, called T&S Plumbing Company. He and Stanley successfully operated this business until their respective retirements.

He was a long-time member of St. Michael’s Society of Denver, Colorado.

Tony was a 91 year native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in the old ethnic Italian neighborhood of North Denver. As an adult he lived in southwest Denver for 12 years and then moved to the Wheatridge suburb of Denver for the remainder of his life. One of his life-long dreams was to build his own home. He moved in to his dream home located in the Applewood Village suburb in 1997. He resided here until 4 days before his death in 2023. He was justifiably proud of his home. His family enjoyed many happy occasions and parties there.

Tony enjoyed bowling. He bowled on several leagues during his life. He also loved playing poker with his buddies. They had a long-time weekly poker game (at least 20 years old) that started at his friend’s Frank’s home in Sedalia, CO. Upon Frank’s death, Tony took over the hosting responsibility for the weekly poker games every Thursday. The whole gang of players would go to lunch every Thursday at local eateries in the Wheatridge area. They were a familiar site at Apple Ridge Café, Amicci’s, and Pietra’s and were on a first name basis with the wait staff. He also enjoyed gambling occasionally. Normagene and Tony were monthly visitors of several Blackhawk casinos. They did many trips to Las Vegas before Normagene’s illness and death. As a family, we enjoyed many trips to Las Vegas and Wendover for mini reunions. He loved to be surrounded by people and enjoyed hosting parties. His annual Christmas parties for his business were attended by many people over the course of his business’ operation. He knew many people from his years of doing business in Denver. He was always interested in getting to know someone new. Tony loved family traditions and made an effort to maintain the celebrations he grew up enjoying with his family. Our family continues to this day to celebrate annually the Feast of the 7 Fishes at Christmas Eve and the Easter frittata prepared by Tony on Easter Sunday morning.

Survivors include his daughter, Pamela Brenner, and her husband, Larry; his daughters-in-laws Cindy Chappell and Peggy Bechko; his sons, Peter, Matthew, and Billy Chappell, and Billy’s wife Jolynn. He is survived by 7 grandchildren, Jennifer Burrow, Kimberly Brenner, Felicia Trebing, Peter Capra Jr., Sheena Wilder, Tabitha Chesshir, and Timothy Chappell. He is also survived by 8 great-grandchildren, Olivia and Landon Burrow; Hayvin, Zoey, Xavier, and Gavin Wilder; Landyn and Stefan Chesshir. Tony is also survived by his brother, Rudolph, and his sister, Mary. He was preceded in death by his wife, Normagene, and his sisters, Philomena, Nina, and Nelly. He is also predeceased by his sons Michael and Stephen Chappell.

Visitation will be from 4 PM to 6 PM on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, 7777 W. 29th Ave in Wheat Ridge, CO. His funeral service, officiated by Rev. Hugh M. Guentner OSM, will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25th, at Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 3549 Navajo Street, Denver, CO 80011. Entombment is immediately after the mass at The Tower of Memories at Crown Hill Cemetery. A funeral reception to share memories and celebrate Tony’s life will be held at The Sons of Italy Hall, 5925 W. 32nd Ave., at 1:30 PM after the entombment. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Michael’s Society of Denver, 7285 Gilpin Way, #101, Denver, CO 80229, or to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Condolences may be offered at OlingerCrownHillMortuary.com