Obituary of Genevieve S. Kepert

Genevieve S. Kepert of Lake Oswego, Oregon, passed away peacefully just six weeks before her 98th birthday, at the Shalom Cottage in Springfield, Oregon, where she had moved in June, 2022. Genevieve spent her final months surrounded by family, love, laughter and her favorite 1940’s jazz tunes. She will be remembered for her generous spirit and her loving dedication to family, community and church.

 

Genevieve was the only child of Peter and Lily Spainer, born on December 5, 1924, in Bay Shore, Long Island, NY where she grew up and attended school. After graduating from Bay Shore High School in 1943, she was offered a merit scholarship for the Secretarial course at the Heffley Queensboro School in Jamaica, Long Island. Upon finishing her course work she headed off to New York City for her first job on Wall Street, at the US Trust, NYC. Gen later took a secretarial job in Washington DC at the Air Carrier Service Corp. While living in DC at Club Shannon, a boarding house set up for young single working men and women, she met Arnold “Kep” Kepert of Hammond IN. They enjoyed a quick courtship and married on May 1,1948 in her hometown of Bay Shore, Long Island. The honeymoon was a trip across the country to Lake Oswego where Kep had bought a house. They made Oregon their home, raised a family of eight, and lived in Lake Oswego the rest of their lives.

 

Genevieve dedicated herself to raising her eight children: Constance (Olsen), Theresa (Simons), Andrew, Christine, Margaret (Hyder) Paul, Ann, and Genevieve Marie (Antaky). While bringing up their family in Lake Oswego, Gen and Kep were active members of Our Lady of Lake Catholic Parish, participating in church community activities, including pancake breakfasts, holiday bazaars, church fundraisers and other parish events. All of their children were baptized at the church and attended Our Lady of the Lake Elementary School.

 

Once all of her children were in school, Gen put her secretarial skills back to work as a typesetter at the Lake Oswego Review. She enjoyed the camaraderie of the small town newsroom and working with local reporters and editors. Keeping in step with her interest in her local community, Gen later worked at Portland Community College Sylvania Campus’ Financial Aid Dept, and at the Our Lady of the Lake Parish office.

 

A skilled seamstress, knitter, and crocheter, Gen’s talents were often on display on Easter Sundays as her daughters donned her handmade matching dresses. She enjoyed sewing outfits for her daughters and granddaughters for special occasions and formal dances. She also shared her talents and generosity by making and donating items for church fundraisers. Genevieve’s homemaking skills extended to the kitchen where her baking was particularly well received. Gen baked cakes and fresh pies for birthdays and special family events, and with a family of eight children and ten grandchildren there were many. The Kepert kids remember there was always a tin of homemade cookies on the top shelf in her kitchen and her rhubarb buckle is legendary.

 

Along with her many talents Gen also played a keen game of cribbage, loved her monthly Bunko games with the neighborhood ladies, and rarely passed up the chance to play BINGO with her friends at The Springs at Carman Oaks retirement community where she lived from 2011 to 2022.

 

Genevieve was predeceased by her husband of fifty-four years. Arnold ‘Kep’ Kepert passed away on July 31, 2002, three weeks before his 89th birthday. She is survived by her eight children, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

 

A celebration of life and funeral mass will be held for Genevieve S. Kepert at 11am, November 10, 2022 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to Oregon Talking Book & Braille Library at talkingbooks.donations@slo.oregon.gov.