Obituary of Louise Frances Soccorsi Kopnski

Louise Frances Soccorsi Kopnski of Morgantown, WV passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, in Pittsburgh, PA. 

She was born in August 1926, in Preston County, WV, the daughter of the late Louis and Marian (Bartoletta) Soccorsi. 

She was a graduate of Masontown (WV) High School and Morgantown Business College.  She retired in 1982 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers Home Administration Business and Industry Division, after a 38-year career in the Kingwood, WV and Morgantown, WV offices. She received many awards throughout her career for her dedicated service and development of innovative business solutions.

 Louise was a member the Pi Rho Zeta Business Sorority and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. She also was a member of St. Frances de Sales Catholic Parish and most recently of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church.  After her retirement, she with her husband, performed volunteer services for several organizations and they were members of the Board of Directors which established the L. June Morgan Adult Day Care Program.  She served on the Finance Committee of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.  She was an avid supporter of West Virginia University, particularly the College of Law and the College of Business and Economics.

Louise had a stellar intellect, was fluent in Italian, was a beautiful writer, and was devoted to her Catholic faith.  The guiding principle of Louise’s life, and the quality that most defied her, was that if someone needed her, she was there.  That is how she wished to be remembered.

She is survived by her daughter, Michelle Lois Kopnski of Pittsburgh, PA; her nephew, Lewis Paul (“Lew”) Soccorsi and her niece, Andrea M. Soccorsi, both of Morgantown; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Thomas and Mary Lou Kopnski of Morgantown; Michael and Eva Kopnski of Kitty Hawk, NC; and Darlton Cuppett of Brandonville.  She also is survived by her nieces and nephews Mark Cuppett, Thomas Reed, Richard (Brenda) Reed, Marisa Kopnski, Monica (John) Blue, Marnella (Michael) Harpster, Melissa (Stephen) Ciechalski, Michael S. Kopnski and Terry Kendall.  She also is survived by her cousin, Inez Marella, who was her lifelong best friend; her Soccorsi Family, Bartoletta Family and Duranti Family cousins; and by the Waters Family children.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Joseph Kopnski in July 2005; her brother and her sister-in-law, Paul M. and Barbara D. Soccorsi; her sisters-in-law and spouses, Agnes (Porter) Martin, Leona (George) Reed, Alice (Calvin) Kendall, Josephine Eavanson, Frances Cuppett and Mary Phyllis Kopnski; her nephew, Timothy Kendall; and her niece, Phyllis Foise.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, June 23, 2017 from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Erickson Alumni Center, One Alumni Drive, Morgantown, WV.  A Mass of Christian Burial and interment in the Masontown (WV) Cemetery will be private. Hastings Funeral Home provided arrangements.