Obituary - Barbara Capece

Barbara Capece passed away on the evening of Wednesday, April 28 at her Port LaBelle home in the care of her family after suffering the rapid onset of pancreatic cancer. She was 81. She loved, was loved, and will be missed by many.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 8 at 11 AM at Boyd Funeral Home in Fort Myers. Visitation will be from 10 AM to 11 AM. Facemasks are required for the in-person service. Remote live stream and interactive virtual participation is available. A mask-optional outdoor informal lunchtime gathering will be held afterward at Manatee Park. Charitable donations in lieu of flowers are welcomed to benefit the Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida. Those wanting to attend the service or to express personal remembrances can contact John Capece at 863-354-0554 or Robert Capece at 863-254-8182.

Barbara is survived by sons Robert Louis Capece and John Christopher Capece; daughter-in-law Nargiza Capece (soon to deliver Barbara's first grandchild); sister Robyn Neary; nieces Lisa Casolino and Dawn Swailes; nephews Peter Neary, Paul Salony, Gregory Swailes, Daniel Siena, and Michael Neary. Barbara was predeceased by her mother Joan Swailes, brother Robert Swailes, and sister Deborah Swailes.

Born Barbara Ann Fox on February 29 (leap year day), 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, she was the eldest of four children. As Barbara Ann Swailes, she helped her mother, Joan, raise Robyn, Deborah and
Robert. After finishing high school she married Alfred Anthony Capece. As a military wife she lived in Orlando, Japan, Virginia, and Germany until settling in Fort Walton Beach, Florida for ten years.

But life and family then took Barbara back to New York where she worked for Merrill Lynch on Wall Street as a stock trading license processor. After her younger son was off to college and his overseas
military service, Barbara moved to Baltimore where she owned and operated a small downtown retail store with her partner, Hany. 

Returning to Florida, she lived in Gainesville and LaBelle to be nearer to her son John and his wife Nargiza, where together they managed various community and national small non-profit organizations, including the hosting of university students. Many of these young visitors to our nation and community looked to Barbara as a surrogate mom, particularly during the holidays.

Since 2010, Barbara relaxed at her home looking out on Port LaBelle Marina where she enjoyed the trees, water and wildlife. It was there she watched her final sunsets retelling the stories of a lifetime with family and friends.