Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

OWLS HEAD - Josephine T. Rapose, 92, wife of John B. Rapose, died Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport after an extended illness.
Born in Pottersville, (now known as Somerset) Massachusetts, September 28, 1916, she was the daughter of Maraino R. and Jacqueline M. Olivia Medeiros. Educated in Somerset schools, she was a 1935 graduate of Somerset High School.
After graduating high school, she worked the next four years at Taunton (MA) State Hospital.
October 22, 1940, she married John B. Rapose in Somerset, Massachusetts. The couple made their first home in Irvington, New Jersey, where they resided until 1942, when her husband was drafted into the United States Navy. While her husband served in the Navy, Mrs. Rapose returned to her Massachusetts home.
Following World War II, the Rapose family moved to Rockland, where Mr. Rapose established Rapose Hardware Store and Mrs. Rapose owned and operated Jo's Shoe Store on Cedar Street. She devoted her career to her family as mother and homemaker. After raising her children, she attended Central Beauty School in Augusta and ultimately became a licensed cosmetologist / hairdresser. For more than 18 years she owned and operated Jo's Beauty Salon on Talbot Avenue in Rockland. She later assisted her husband in the operation of his business.
Since 1982, with her husband, she has wintered in Port Orange, Florida. While living in Port Orange, she was a member of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church. She was a longtime member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Rockland, where was a past president of the Daughters of St. Bernard's.
An avid fly fisherman, she also enjoyed tying her own flies. She also was an avid Red Sox fan, and for many years was an active member of Owls Head Grange. Other pastimes included knitting and crafts, but most of all she enjoyed her family.
She was predeceased by three brothers and one sister. Other than her husband of 68 years of Owls Head, Mrs. Rapose is survived by three daughters, Jacqueline R. Raye and her partner Gary M. Leach of Union, Claudia Ann Peterson of Greenville, SC, Mary E. Rapose of Owls Head; one sister, Loretta H. Dion of Fall River, MA; seven grandchildren, Douglas Raye of Cushing, Melissa McMahan of Thomaston, Theresa Gibson of Greenville, SC, Thomas Peterson of Greenville, SC, John Conway of Windsor, Corey Conway of South Thomaston, Josephine Knowles of Dover-Foxcroft; 11 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, July 19, 2009, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 20, 2009, at St Bernard's Catholic Church of St. Brendon the Navigator Parish, 150 Broadway, Rockland. The Reverend Mark Reinhardt will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in Coughlin Memorial Cemetery, Rockland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Bernards Soup Kitchen, 150 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841.