Eleanor Casper (nee Rorke), 79, who worked with the Camden Diocese House of Charity since its inception in 1964, died Thursday, March 19, in Cherry Hill.
Graduating from John Bartram High School in Philadelphia, Ms. Casper worked as a secretary for GE from 1964-67. In 1964, she started volunteering with the House of Charity, the same year the initiative was started under Archbishop Celestine J. Damiano and co-directors and founders Father (later Auxiliary Bishop) James L. Schad and Msgr. Joseph B. McIntyre.
In 1967, she became a secretary of the House of Charity, and then later an executive secretary, a position she held until her death.
Mariann Gettings, director of the annual House of Charity appeal, who worked with Ms. Casper for nine years, called her “a smart lady, very wise. She had a special wisdom about her, that was very valuable in our dealings with all of the parishes and the priests.”
Gettings mentioned that it was a blessing that she died on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, because of Eleanor’s devotion to him. He is the patron saint of workers, and of a happy death.
Theresa Purzycki, supervisor of data entry in the Office of Development/House of Charity, who first met Ms. Casper when she started working for the diocese in 2000, remembered “a real good friend, people person” who was always there for the people she loved.
“We’d go out, go on trips together. She was wonderful. I’m going to miss her a lot.”
Purzycki mentioned that “whenever anyone had a problem, they’d call Eleanor. They felt good with her, that she was going to answer their question. She was always the person to go to.”
“There wasn’t a person who didn’t like Eleanor,” she added.
Ms. Casper was the wife of the late William Richard Casper, and the sister of Joseph A. (Betty) Rorke of New Port Richie, Fla., “Dee” Dolores (Norman) Edkins of Coco, Fla., and James J. (Mary) Rorke of Fayetteville, N.C.
She is also survived by nephew Jim (Diane) Rowan of Chester Springs, Pa., and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, March 27, 10 a.m., at St. Vincent Pallotti Church, Haddon Township. Entombment will be at Calvary Mausoleum, Cherry Hill.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Richard and Eleanor Casper Memorial Endowment Fund, which will benefit the House of Charity and other charitable activities of the Diocese, 631 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
The World Seen From Rome
Catholic News Service
