Ryan Victor Kapes

Ryan Victor Kapes, 16, earned his angel wings on Saturday January 9, 2021 in the loving arms of his mother and father after a courageous battle with Sanfilippo Syndrome and Covid-19.

Ryan’s life was full in his short 16 years though, as he loved participating in and watching many sports, especially baseball and basketball.  He enjoyed going to see the Phillies and Blue Rocks and was an avid Villanova basketball fan. Villanova honored Ryan and his brother at a basketball game in January of 2014. Ryan also looked forward to therapeutic horseback riding every Sunday and was especially fond of riding on trains and running his toy trains. Ryan’s other activities included watching The Backyardigans, The Fresh Beat Band and taking frequent trips to the Delaware beaches. Some of Ryan’s other favorite places were Walt Disney World, Dutch Wonderland and Knoebels. You could see the love that Ryan had for his family and friends through his eyes and amazing smile. 

Ryan is survived by his mother, Jennifer Sutton; his father, Carl Kapes; his step-father, Chris Sutton; step-mother, Ashley Kapes; his siblings, Brayden, Bryce, Brooklyn, Maddie & Jack; his maternal grandparents, Thomas & Barbara Palmer; his paternal grandmother, Kathleen Kapes; and great grandmother, Veronica Pallaver.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Carl D Kapes; and great grandparents Victor Pallaver, Edward & Virginia Kapes, Alex & Jean Vesper and Francis & Cora Palmer.

A special thank you to all the doctors, nurses and staff at Nemours A.I DuPont Hospital for Children for taking such great care of Ryan over the years and especially during his final stay.

Family and friends are invited to visit at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, on Thursday, January 14, 2021, from 6:00 – 8:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Friday, January 15, 2021, at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church, 10 Old Church Road, Wilmington, DE 19807. Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery. The visitation and Mass for Ryan will be conducted in accordance with current COVID-19 directives which require mandatory face masks, social distancing, and capacity restrictions at both the funeral home and church.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Ryan's name to the Team Sanfilippo Foundation, 20 Lakewood Avenue, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 or to Nemours A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.

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