ALTAMONT — Lena Capuano, a religious woman active in church and community affairs, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 26, 2018. She was 90.

She was born in Saranac Lake on Jan. 17, 1928 to the late Luigi and Eliza Bargnesi Sorcinelli.

She earned her bachelor’s degree at the New York State Teachers’ College in Albany and went on to teach at Ausable Forks. While at the state Teachers’ College, she met the love of her life, Anthony J. Capuano, who was chosen to teach at the old Altamont High School in September 1950. Thus, began a new “hometown” for the Capuanos and their family.

Mrs. Capuano served as parish secretary for St. Lucy / St Bernadette’s for 35 years under reverends William A. Walsh, Joseph Romano, Robert E. Roos, Charles Lockwood, Sister Mary Lou Liptak, and Paul Smith.

She volunteered as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader; taught first-grade religious education at St. Lucy’s for 12 years; was a member of St. Lucy’s Parish Council, a Eucharistic Minister; involved with the formation of the Altamont Senior Citizen Program in 1975 and remained for 40 years; and hosted foreign exchange students from Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Sweden, and Pakistan while her children were still in school.

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Lena Capuano is survived by her children, Thomas Capuano, Vincent Capuano, Nancy Trumpler, and Daniel Capuano; her nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Her husband, Anthony, died before her, as did her sister Sylvia Sorcinelli Hall.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, April 2, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Fredendall Funeral Home at 199 Main Street in Altamont. A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lucy / St Bernadette Church at 122 Grand St. in Altamont. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Community Food Pantry, St. Lucy / St Bernadette Church, 122 Grand Street, Altamont, NY  12009.