Devita Birdwell Caponigro
Devita Birdwell Caponigro
September 3, 1955 ~ September 1, 2012
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE: 11:00 a.m. Saturday September 1, 2012 at Four Seasons Chapel TIME OF GATHERING: 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home Devita Lyne Birdwell Caponigro, 56 of Northampton, Massachusetts, formerly of Columbus, passed away at Hospice of South Central Indiana at 10:32 p.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012. She was born September 3, 1955 in Seymour, the daughter of Amos J. and Thelma C. (Wilson) Birdwell. Devita graduated from Columbus High School in 1973, and Indiana University in 1978 With a BA in English. Devita married Andrew Caponigro on January 1, 2003, and he survives. Devita was a licensed massage therapist, certified Hellerwork Practitioner, Energywork Practitioner and Teacher, Meditation Teacher and a Tibetan Cranial Apprentice at the time of her death. She had a deep knowledge of the human body and the intricacies of the interweaving of spirit and body. Through 30 years of self-education and practice, she impacted thousands of clients and students. Devita had a long record of continuing education and was an advanced instructor for Temple Academies for over 15 years. Devita was an extraordinary sister, aunt, wife and friend, known at times for telling us what we needed to hear even if we didn't want to hear it. She will be missed by family, friends, colleagues, students and clients in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Michigan as well as Indiana. She enjoyed good food, good music and good conversation surrounded by her family and friends - most especially her five nephews and beloved great-niece Indi. Devita was preceded in death by her parents. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sisters, Myra Birdwell (Mark) Foster and Nicohl Birdwell (Clint) Goodin, both of Columbus, and Trina Birdwell (Kurt) Buck of Evansville; nephews, Mason (Jesse) Buck, Griffin (Rachael) Foster, Ross Buck, Collin Foster, and Garrison Foster; and great-niece, Indiana Buck. The family expresses sincere appreciation to the Four Seasons Residential staff, Hospice staff, Comfort Keepers, devoted caregivers and dear friends who brought her great joy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 E. 17th Street Columbus, Indiana 47201, or to the donor's choice of charities. Anyone interested in donating to Hospice has the option to purchase an engraved brick to be placed in a memorial garden for Devita.
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September 3, 1955 ~ August 23, 2012
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE: 11:00 a.m. Saturday September 1, 2012 at Four Seasons Chapel
TIME OF GATHERING: 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home
Devita Lyne Birdwell Caponigro, 56 of Northampton, Massachusetts, formerly of Columbus, passed away at Hospice of South Central Indiana at 10:32 p.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012. She was born September 3, 1955 in Seymour, the daughter of Amos J. and Thelma C. (Wilson) Birdwell.
Devita graduated from Columbus High School in 1973, and Indiana University in 1978 With a BA in English.
Devita married Andrew Caponigro on January 1, 2003, and he survives.
Devita was a licensed massage therapist, certified Hellerwork Practitioner, Energywork Practitioner and Teacher, Meditation Teacher and a Tibetan Cranial Apprentice at the time of her death. She had a deep knowledge of the human body and the intricacies of the interweaving of spirit and body. Through 30 years of self-education and practice, she impacted thousands of clients and students. Devita had a long record of continuing education and was an advanced instructor for Temple Academies for over 15 years.
Devita was an extraordinary sister, aunt, wife and friend, known at times for telling us what we needed to hear even if we didn?t want to hear it. She will be missed by family, friends, colleagues, students and clients in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Michigan as well as Indiana.
She enjoyed good food, good music and good conversation surrounded by her family and friends ? most especially her five nephews and beloved great-niece Indi.
Devita was preceded in death by her parents.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sisters, Myra Birdwell (Mark) Foster and Nicohl Birdwell (Clint) Goodin, both of Columbus, and Trina Birdwell (Kurt) Buck of Evansville; nephews, Mason (Jesse) Buck, Griffin (Rachael) Foster, Ross Buck, Collin Foster, and Garrison Foster; and great-niece, Indiana Buck.
The family expresses sincere appreciation to the Four Seasons Residential staff, Hospice staff, Comfort Keepers, devoted caregivers and dear friends who brought her great joy.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 E. 17th Street Columbus, Indiana 47201, or to the donor?s choice of charities. Anyone interested in donating to Hospice has the option to purchase an engraved brick to be placed in a memorial garden for Devita.
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I knew Devita in high school and she and I were part of a group of studnets who traveled through Europe in the summer of 1971. She was adorable and I am shocked and saddened to learn of her death.
I remember Devita from high school and our class of ’73. Always interesting and brought smiles to many faces – remembering her fondly.
So very sorry at the passing of our wonderfully sweet cousin Devita. Though I had not been around her for many yrs. now, I do have wonderful memories of times visiting with her as a child and how very special she always made me feel. My heart goes out to you all and know that you are on our minds, hearts and in our prayers. You all are loved so very much, just as Devita is also.
We are so sorry for your loss. Devita sounds like a very caring person. You all will be in our prayers.
My thoughts and prayers have been with you during this very trying year.
Birdwell family – I’m so sorry. Devita was such a wonderful person. I will always remember her soft demeanor and her massages! Thoughts and Prayers, Melanie Seipp
Many great memories of my favorite masseuse and Hellerworker during the decade of mid 1980s and 1990s. Devita was an integral part of Community Dinner during those years. I’m so glad I had a chance for a long telephone conversation with her last month during which we giggled about some of our past fun.
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Vicki and I have a prayer in our hearts for you and your family. May God’s peace be with you.
We are keeping your family in our prayers. I’m so sorry for your loss but I am glad that you were able to be close these last months.
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Sending much love in memory of the rich, amazing, loving life of Devita
I just watched the video of Devita and her precious family. She was always laughing and that is how I remember her from the Absolute Last Class to Graduate from CHS ’73 AP! I met up with her again later at Doc Allen’s, then her own place. What a blessing – not only could she make everyone feel better with her sense of humor, but her hands as well. I have also shared some good laughs with Myra, too, and kept in touch with Devita through her. I’m so sorry for your family’s loss and hope that your fond memories of her will help sustain you through the tough times ahead.
Devita was the nicest neighbor anyone could ask for. We will miss her tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family in this difficult time. We are so sorry. Please know that she was well loved by many in Hadley, Massachusetts. And I will never forget her sweet smile and her positive disposition.
Dear Family & Friends, I have had the pleasure to call Devita my friend and associate for over 10 years. As a healer she was among the most gifted I have known: a true teachers’ teacher. On any occasion, when I had injured or tweaked my body, I would go to her for a treatment and she would resolve most or all of my pain/discomfort in only one session. As my teacher amd friend, we enjoyed many spirited conversations about the human body-mind-spirit complex. I shall miss her good humor, her treatments and teachings and her whole hearted support of my work as a yoga teacher. I send my blessings to all her beloved family members and friends. May we think of her with great love and fondness!
I am so sorry for your loss.
Devita was an unusually gifted and very special person. It was a privilege to know her, and I am grateful for that privilege. My sympathy to her family.
More than ten years ago, I had distractedly pushed down with full flat hand on a recently turned off electric stove burner. It seared the pattern into my palm (a spiral, interestingly enough) and I was in agony. The only thing I could bear was to place the hand in water – could not even begin to touch it with ointment or bandages. The phone rang, a call from Devita who said she felt me and knew she should call. I said I couldn’t speak the pain was so bad. “Here. she said, I think I can do something about that” She immediately settled into a meditative state, generated some energy and a couple “woof-chews” (Pranic breath work) and after only moments, I slipped my hand out of the bowl of water, extended it in front of me and watched as the flaming red spiral faded and then disappeared. Along with the pain, of course. No blisters no aftereffects. it was as if it never happened. That’s the kind of healer she was. That’s the part of her I hoped she would have had more time here to remember completely. – Rosanne, Devita’s Teacher and Friend for 23 years.
I was so very sorry to hear about Devita. I remember her as a child.. Such a lovely family and sweet person. My condolences to her family. Connie
What a wonderful service celebrating Devita’s life. It really brought her close, and so healing to remember her at different stages of her life, and not just at the end.