Elinor Kapla

The world lost an amazing human being today. Elinor Frances (Rowe) Kapla, age 92, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 23, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. A devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and lifelong caregiver, Elinor lived a life defined by faith, family, and service to others.

Her adventure on this earth began with her birth on October 10, 1933, in Muskegon, Michigan. Graduating from Mercy Central School of Nursing in 1954, she would dedicate more than forty years to her calling as a nurse and educator.

She spent most of her nursing career at Saint Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was actively involved in Marriage Encounter and Sons and Daughters Encounters. Her compassion, patience, and gentle strength touched countless lives both within her family and in the many communities she served throughout her career. 

She met and married the love of her life, Alexander “Al” John Kapla, in 1955, and with him built a house of love and laughter that protected and educated their own children, and countless others along the way. Elinor was the proud mother of eight children, grandmother to eighteen grandchildren, and great-grandmother to sixteen. She will be remembered for her selfless heart, her unwavering kindness, and the wisdom and guidance she shared with all who knew her. 

Elinor was preceded in death by her husband, Al; her parents; and six siblings. She is survived by her children, Margaret Oursler and William Rowe, Amy (Kapla) Bartling, Paula and Mike Williams, Alec and Melody Kapla, Benjamin and Michelle Kapla, Christopher and Doris Kapla, Jennifer Kapla and Bill Sisco, David Kapla and Yara El Alaily; and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

Her adventure spanned nine decades over two centuries, and regardless of how the world changed over those years, her faith, love, and compassion never wavered. Her legacy of love and compassion, along with the countless lessons she taught by deeds and words, will continue to live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 2700 Baldwin St., Jenison, with Rev. Victor Kynam presiding. Entombment at Resurrection Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Sunday, October 26, from 4-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at MKD Funeral Home (Grandville) 4145 Chicago Dr. SW. An additional visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Emmanuel Hospice.