Felicia Maria Leticia Caponegro La Valla

Felicia Maria Leticia Caponegro La Valla, age 96, passed away peacefully in the presence of family on July 13, 2020 at Madison House, Kirkland, Washington.

She was born January 5, 1924 in New York City (in Manhattan’s Little Italy) to Maria and Rocco Caponegro. Her paternal grandparents owned a successful commercial business in Manhattan and subsequently returned permanently to Italy with Rocco in tow but who then married Maria and returned to New York to start his family. Although Italian was Felicia’s first language her father insisted that she and her older brother Frank (now deceased) learn proper English. Her family soon moved to Brooklyn to be near some of Rocco’s relatives where she acquired a solid public school education.  Her brother Frank introduced her to his college fraternity brother Dominic.  She married Dominic Charles La Valla on September 13, 1947, who preceded her in death in 1994.

Felicia, more than anything else, was a loving and caring wife and mother.  She nurtured and skillfully guided each of her four children to reach their full potential. She was a memorable storyteller, fantastic cook, homemaker, and world traveler (introducing her granddaughters to Italy when she was in her 80’s).  She worked for the Metropolitan Insurance Company in New York City, Safeco Life Insurance in Seattle, and Bechtel Engineering in southern California.  She was a devout Catholic who prayed daily and said many Rosaries for family and friends.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses Dominic and Martha, Paul and Yoko, Anne and Timothy Curran, and Jennifer and Gary Schroder; grandchildren, Reilly Curran, Emma Curran Harding(Rob), Vincent Schroder (Jolene), Lance Schroder (Carli), and Ryusuke La Valla; great-grandchildren, Josephine and Mille-Mae Harding; and her many nephews, nieces and friends.

The family expresses heartfelt thanks to her longtime aide and friend Maria Olivera, social worker Alicia, Hospice Nurses Kim and Jessica, as well as the staff and caregivers at Madison House.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington on Friday July 24, 2020 at 11 am. Because of the current pandemic only close family members will be in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, a remembrance offering may be made to her favorite charities; EWTN (ewtn.com) and/or Evergreen Hospice (evergreenhealth.com/hospice-care).