Vera J. Kapustin

Vera J. Kapustin, née Sedorovich, a dearly beloved, faithful and devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, aunt and loyal friend, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, of natural causes, subsequent to a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She was 92.

She was an extraordinary woman who possessed a strong, unwavering, Christian faith. The cornerstone of her family and quintessential matriarch, Vera led by example with her faith, love, compassion and strength, through her final moments.

The daughter of John and Elizabeth Sedorovich, Vera was born and raised in Ashley, Pennsylvania in a loving, close-knit family. Her father was a coal-miner and her mother, a housekeeper.

Vera grew up during the Great Depression and graduated high school in 1945 and moved to Washington, DC, to live with her sister, Ruthie. In Washington, she was employed by Woodward & Lothrop, selling women’s clothing, and by People’s Drugstore as a server at the lunch counter. Around 1950, Vera moved to New York City where she worked as a hostess at Schrafft’s. Over the years, her family loved hearing stories about her encounters with singers, actors and agents there. At that time, she was approached by scouts to model, but declined both, as her family and her faith were the driving forces throughout her life. She eventually moved back to Washington, DC where she then worked as a hostess at Alfonso’s restaurant.

It was at Alfonso’s that she would meet the love of her life, Rudolf Kapustin, with whom she eloped to Las Vegas in 1952. Once married, she and Rudy moved to Jackson Heights, New York. They traveled and lived in several states for brief periods, due to Rudy’s work in aeronautics, before settling down in California. They lived in California for ten years, where their first child, Douglas, was born, followed by their twins, Eleanor and Elizabeth. Not long after the twins were born, they moved to Chicago, Illinois. After three years there, Vera and Rudy moved the family to Ellicott City, Maryland (now Columbia, Maryland) where their daughter, Rebecca was born, and where Vera remained for almost 55 years. Vera and Rudy were married 50 years when Rudy passed in 2002.

Vera was born and raised in the faith of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Her church family, most recently at Crosswalk in Columbia, Maryland, has always been so dearly beloved and they returned that love, without fail. Her faith remained stalwart, always. Vera had the most beautiful, warm smile, a presence and spirit that was indomitable, yet reassuring and compassionate.

Countless people would say, in her later years, that she looked like Queen Elizabeth. Indeed, her regal appearance aside, she possessed a grace - uncommonly unique in today’s world - that will be sorely missed. She was never reluctant to stand up for what was right, not just for her family, but for all of humanity.

Vera spent many years volunteering her time and talents at the Christian Women’s Thrift Shop, at her church and in various other volunteer roles, including the Girl Scouts and canvassing for political campaigns. Vera was also gifted with tremendous talent as a floral designer and was a phenomenal cook and baker. She waited to travel with Rudy until her children were grown and was able to enjoy many wonderful travels throughout the world. She relished reading multiple newspapers each day and had an appreciation for all of the arts, especially music. Vera also enjoyed watching sports and was a loyal Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens fan.

More introverted in her younger years, Vera later found herself enjoying conversations with strangers, always leaving whomever she touched feeling better about themselves and with a fuller heart. Her fiercest devotion, however, was to her family and to her church. She doted on her four children and seven grandchildren, and was an integral part of their lives. Each one of them felt the unconditional love she blessed them with. They are better for having loved and having been loved by her.

She was a giant presence, a beautiful soul and was cherished by her family and friends, with a smile that would warm and welcome anyone’s heart. Vera, most of all, adored her family and her church congregation. She will be dearly missed by all of those who loved and cherished her. Her passing is a devastating loss to all.

Vera is survived by her four children Doug (Maggie) Kapustin of Westminster, Maryland, Eleanor (Natalie) Boan-Kapustin of Davidsonville, Maryland, Elizabeth Bryson of Columbia, Maryland and Rebecca (Steven) Finnerty of Towaco, New Jersey, grandchildren Alexandra, Nicholas, Dylan, Carson, Chloe and Taylor, as well as beloved family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Rudolf Kapustin, her five siblings, Walter, Eleanore, Ruthie, Marie and Evelyn, and her first-born grandchild, Justin.

Due to the rapidly changing directives regarding the COVID-19 viral pandemic we are experiencing, services, at this time, will be private. We will honor and celebrate Vera with a memorial service when all of those who loved her can safely attend. She will be laid to rest at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens on her mother’s birthday, Monday, March 23.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research
415 Crossways Park Dr., Ste D
Woodbury, NY 11797
www.lustgarten.org

PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network)
1500 Rosecrans Ave., Ste 200
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
www.pancan.org

Crosswalk
8940 Route 108, Ste D
Columbia, MD 21045
(410)730-8765

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