Sister Judith Kappenman (Kathleen Frederick), (8/7/1935), beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Bethany Health Care Center, Framingham, Mass., on July 1, 2023. Born in Ethan, SD she was the daughter of Frederick W. and Kathleen E. (Donahue) Kappenman.
Sister Judith entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, West Springfield in 1953. She was graduated from Cathedral High School, Springfield. She earned an A.B. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, an M.Ed. in education from (then) Worcester State College and a C.A.G.S. from Assumption College, Worcester.
She taught at Sacred Heart, Holyoke, Immaculate Conception, Easthampton, St. Patrick’s, Chicopee Falls, St. Peter’s and St. Peter-Marian High School, Worcester, and Cathedral High, Springfield. She was a member of St. Michael’s Cathedral Choir and the Springfield Symphony Chorus. Sister served as Executive Director of the Irish Cultural Center at Elms College from 2003-2012 and worked with The Republican newspaper in co-editing a book on Irish immigration to the area. She authored To Dakota and Back: The Story of an Orphan Train Rider, a book about the life of her grandfather, John Donohue who was born in South Boston and was sent to South Dakota aboard an orphan train.
In addition to her Sisters in community, Sister is survived by her sister, Sharon Balderelli and a brother, Patrick Kappenman of Clinton, Mass. She is predeceased by her siblings, Thomas Kappenman, Lois Vetro, James Kappenman, and Terrence Kappenman. She also leaves several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Sr. Judith donated her body for research. A Memorial Mass for Sr. Judith will take place at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Springfield, MA on Friday, July 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.