Louise Rapoza, 83, passed away March 29, 2025, at Sunrise Assisted Living in Lincroft. She was predeceased by her husband of over 60 years, David, and her parents, Stephen and Sophie Mitzen.
Louise was a homemaker in the early years of her marriage. Once her children were older and all in school, she worked part-time at Fairview Elementary School as a librarian. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to people in their homes. She also worked for a student exchange organization, where she placed teenagers from this country with families in other countries and found homes for foreign teenagers to spend time with families in the United States. Through this, she met teens and their families from all over the world. She stayed very close with a few of them, and she even had the chance to see those children marry and have children of their own. She enjoyed trips to their country to visit, as well as having them come to stay with her and David in their home.
Louise’s hobbies included sewing, cross stitch, houseplants and her prized-winning African violets. Her most treasured houseplant was her Boston fern. Her father had given her a cutting from his plant, and she managed to grow it into a beautiful full-hanging fern that lasted well over 40 years.
Louise also loved photography. Some of her favorite photos were the ones she took while on a safari in Africa with David and some of their friends.
Louise is survived by her children, Susan Matthews and her husband William, Stephen Rapoza and his wife Darlene, and Jason Rapoza. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Savanna Rapoza, Peter Carlucci and his wife Patricia and Michael Carlucci, as well as her great-grandchildren, Robert and Harper Carlucci. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Joseph Correia, and his sons, Christopher and Michael; her nieces, Rachel Correia and Diane Pacheco; and the family of Timothy and Kelly Pacheco.
As requested by the family, no funeral or memorial service will be held. Cremation services will be private. A Celebration of Life memorial gathering will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org in Louise’s honor
Arrangements are under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.
The article originally appeared in the April 3 – 10, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
