Willie Capponi

Willie Jane Capponi went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 2, 2025 at her home in Coarsegold, California. She was 79 years old.

Willie was born in Harrisburg, Arkansas on November 18, 1945. She and her family moved to Plainview, California in 1951. Willie attended and graduated from Strathmore High School in 1963 as a straight A student. She eventually continued her education at Fresno State University earning a bachelor’s of science in Business - emphasis Finance.

Notably, Willie held a position as an administrative assistant at Valley Medical Center in the oral and maxillofacial surgery and general dentistry department. Because of the VMC - Community merger she would need to seek new employment and saw it as an opportunity to develop a new skill set. This change led her into substitute teaching and obtaining her teaching credential. She enjoyed teaching special education classes and taught medical mathematics classes at Fresno Adult School for many years.

In 2004, Willie married the love of her life, Mick Capponi. They lived in Washington state for a short time before moving to San Jose, California. They settled into Willie’s dream home in Coarsegold in 2015. Willie enjoyed gazing at the beautiful views from the deck of their home while appreciating all of God’s creation, particularly the sunsets and wildlife with her favorite being the little chipmunks who live on her deck outside of her bedroom door.

It was in her home that Willie enjoyed spending time engaging in her many hobbies. She enjoyed cooking, cake decorating, crafting, sewing, crocheting, and caring for her plants and flowers. She was a master entertainer and hostess. When Willie hosted guests, her dinner table was impeccably decorated. She was a table decorating specialist, which was a passion of hers.

Willie was also an avid reader. Her office is filled with hundreds of books she had read with true crime her favorite genre. Among her joys of life were caring for her beloved Pomeranian dogs Rocky and Dutchess and her one and only cat Sami who was always by her side during her illness.

While Willie throughly enjoyed her home, she also loved the adventure of traveling. She was proud to have visited all 50 states. Willie and Mick travelled extensively around the world together including Europe, Africa, and their favorite spot in Hawaii.

Among Willie’s many desirable traits was the fact that she made friends easily and continued to acquire new friends on her travels, making it a point to keep in touch. When you became a friend of Willie’s, you were a friend for life. She put great effort into keeping up to date with the goings on of her loved ones. She made every person she cared for feel special. Her unique and contagious laugh that would always brighten up a room will be deeply missed.

Willie Jane was pre deceased by her father Henry, mother Dennah, and brother Olen. She leaves behind her loving husband of nearly 21 years, Michael (Mick) Capponi; her niece Melinda and husband Gary Eritzian dds, their children Julia, Christa, Dennah, and Naomi Jane; sister Loretta Clifton of Lindsay, son Monty and wife Cheryl Clifton, their children Ryan, Emily, & Amy; sister Wilma Knowles, husband Mike of Spokane, WA. Wilma’s son Steven Vollmer, his children Brian, Elaine, and Robert (Bobby); Wilma and Mike’s children Anna, Michaela, and Daniel

“In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution honoring Willie Capponi at Stanford Medicine. Donation checks may be made payable to Stanford University with a memo note of “In memory of Willie Capponi for "The Dr. Kristin Ganjoo Sarcoma Research Fund” and mailed to P.O. Box 20466, Stanford, CA 94309-0466.

Gifts can also be made online at 

https://give.stanford.edu/stanford-medicine/ 

In the second line, please choose "Other Stanford Designation" and type "The Dr. Kristin Ganjoo Sarcoma Research Fund." In the gift specification section, mark the gift as in memory of Willie Capponi.

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