Isabelle "Bess" Capogrossa

Grand Marais Isabelle Louise Mary Capogrossa, lovingly known her whole life as Bess, was 92 years, 8 months and 11 days when she died peacefully yet unexpectedly on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and moved from Canada to Grand Marais when she was three with her parents Alfred "Grumpy" and Mabel (Hatfield) Lundquist. Bess grew up in the beautiful town on Lake Superior as her parents owned and operated the Superior Hotel, a restaurant and a seasonal charter fishing business. She went to school in Grand Marais and during WWII, she met Rick Capogrossa who was stationed in Grand Marais. They were married in 1944 and he was stationed in Tampa and Myrtle Beach, FL and Brooklyn, NY. After living away for nine years, Bess moved her young family back to Grand Marais and went back to work at her parent's Hotel. Bess was a single mom raising four small children and she had to work hard. In addition to her duties at the Hotel, she waitressed and bartended to make ends meet. She worked hard, attended church, and took care of family to set an example for her children. When Bess took over the Hotel, she continued to raise her family and run her business with honesty, tradition, humor and love. She was a modern day Cinderella who also took care of her siblings throughout their lives. Bess passed away three days after her sister Gladys - almost like she waited to know she was at peace before she joined her. She liked to read, knit, watch Perry Mason and old shows, loved music and walking. Bess would walk in all kinds of weather. She was often pushing her walker through a snowstorm, but the community and road commission crew always looked out for her. Bess worked hard almost up until the day she died. She was there for everyone or anyone to lean on and all she ever asked in return was your friendship. Bess was an integral part of the history and community of Grand Marais. She loved and appreciated the wind in the trees, the water hitting the shore, the snowflakes that were in the air and everyone that pushed open the door of the Superior Hotel. Bess will be missed. She is survived by three children - Mary (Ken) Larsen of Eveleth, MN, Rick (Mary) Capogrossa of Grand Marais and Vicki (Gee) Petruske; daughter-in-law - Debbie Capagrossa-Roskamp; special niece - Joei Nyman; sister - Ann O'Leary; sister-in-law - Gloria Lundquist; ten grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bess was preceded in death by her son John Capagrossa; grandson Trevor Capogrossa; parents Mabel and Alfred Lundquist; brother and best friend Frank Lundquist; brother Alfred Lundquist; and sister Gladys Endress. Services for Bess will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2014 in Grand Marais at the Holy Rosary Church.  Visiting time with family and friends will from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.  A service celebrating her life will begin at 11:30 a.m.   In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to be made to the Burt Township School Athletics, the Burt Township Ambulance Corps or Tendercare's Activity Fund in memory of her.