Elizabeth Rapanaro, housing supervisor

Elizabeth McCann Rapanaro, 85, of Gloucester City, a former supervisor for a housing complex, died of cancer Friday, Feb. 5, at home.

From the mid-1950s until she retired in the late 1990s, Mrs. Rapanaro was the office manager for Bellmawr Park Mutual Housing Corp., a private property management firm.

The 500 units in Bellmawr Park were built for families of moderate-income defense workers by the federal government and purchased in 1953 by the housing corporation, according to information on the Internet.

It was one of eight such developments across the nation which a federal agency, the Mutual Ownership Defense Housing Division of the Federal Works Agency, sold to private entities between 1947 and 1953.

Two others also are in the region - Audubon Park in South Jersey and Pennypack Woods in Philadelphia.

A 1948 graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School, Mrs. Rapanaro was a bookkeeper at Radio Corp. of America in Camden before joining the housing firm, cousin Barbara Ritchey said.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Mount Ephraim until she became a parishioner of St. Mary's in Gloucester City, where she was a lifetime resident.

Mrs. Rapanaro is survived by her husband of 65 years, Angelo, and a brother. Her son, Gary, died in 1979.

A viewing was set from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at St. Mary's Church, 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City, before a noon Funeral Mass there, followed by interment in New St. Mary's Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccannhealey.com.

wnaedele@phillynews.com

610-313-8134 @WNaedele