Theonista Celeste Kepka

NASHUA, NH – Theonista Celeste Kepka, lovingly known as “Theo”, a long-time resident of Nashua, NH, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, October 12, 2018. She was 83.

Theo was born in Malden, MA on September 14, 1935. She was the daughter of the late Daniel G. Fleming Sr. and Marjorie M. (Coakley) Fleming.

Theo graduated from Girls Catholic High School in Malden, MA.  From there she attended nurses training at Mass General before moving to New York to work for Eastern Airlines in the Meteorology Department. It was there she met her beloved husband of more than 44 years, Edward J. Kepka.

For 15 years Theo was a stay at home housewife and mother. When her youngest child was well established in school, Theo returned to the workforce as an Internal Revenue Service employee. She held several positions there before retiring with more than 20 years of service, most notably as an Auditor and Taxpayer Service Representative.  She was a local hero known by many for her comprehensive knowledge and understanding of tax law and for her tireless and generous help to all who sought her expertise.

She had numerous interests, including reading, knitting and Broadway Musicals but her most loved past time was tracing her family tree. With pride she boasted that she was one of six children all of whom provided her parents with 28 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, 58 great-great-grandchildren and 1 triple great grandchild. She was pleased to claim her heritage with this legacy.

Theo was predeceased, and dearly loved by her husband, Edward J. Kepka Sr., her brothers, Frederick Fleming and Daniel Fleming Jr. and her sister Bernice “Bunny” (Fleming) Owens.

Theo was the mother of 5, grandmother of 7 and great-grandmother of 7 in addition to numerous step grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie “Midge” (Kepka) and Ed Witt of Hatton, AL, her daughter, Pamela (Kepka) Alman of Nashua, NH, her son, Edward Kepka Jr. of Southern California, her daughter, Thea Kepka with her partner Thomas Cohen of Amherst and New Boston, NH, her son and daughter-in-law, John and Teresa (Jimenez) Fleming of Tallahassee, FL, two sisters, Patricia (Fleming) MacIsaac of Rancho Bernardo, CA and Alice (Fleming) Harrington of Billerica, MA, 7 grandsons, Joseph, Phillip and Carl Womack, Patrick and Sean Alman, Nicholas Kepka Calvetti and Ryan Fleming along with their families. She also leaves behind a few special godchildren, treasured nieces and nephews, and cherished friends, all of whom she loved dearly.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. Theresa Church, 466 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Home Health & Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Dr., Merrimack, NH 03054, https://www.hhhc.org/how-to-help/donate/. Burial immediately following the service in Woodlawn Cemetery, 101 Kinsley St., Nashua, NH.