Obituary of Brother Kenan Kapina, OSB
Brother Kenan Kapina, OSB, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, died July 19, 2026. He was 73 and in the 50th year of his monastic profession.
He was born in East Chicago, IN, on October 5, 1952, to Vincent and Josephine (Troilo) Kapina and was named Vincent Joel at his baptism.
He completed his elementary education at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and attended Bishop Noll High School, both in Hammond, IN, graduating in 1970. He attended Saint Meinrad College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1974. He then went to Purdue University for a year before returning to Saint Meinrad as a novice. He made his first profession of vows on August 15, 1976, and his solemn profession on August 15, 1979.
Brother Kenan held responsibilities in a number of the works of the Archabbey. Starting in 1977, he worked in Saint Meinrad’s Business Office, a task that would occupy him for the next 19 years. In 1997, he was appointed manager of the Guest House and Retreat Center and associate oblate director, positions he held until 2004. During most of this time he also served as the monastery’s vocation director.
In 2004, Brother Kenan moved to the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, FL, where the climate is more comfortable for those suffering from allergies and breathing difficulties. He served in the Office of Marriage and Family Life, then in the diocesan Business and Development Office until returning to Saint Meinrad in 2019.
Brother Kenan returned to Saint Meinrad on Holy Thursday in 2019 and, due to his physical condition, spent most of the rest of his years in his infirmary cell. He had no assigned job but always maintained and shared his positive disposition. He was quick to greet visitors, always intent on assuring the conversation would not focus on him. He kept informed about the comings and goings of his confreres as well as their idiosyncrasies, as witnessed by his quick and witty comments, always accompanied by a warm smile and a gentle chuckle. Whenever engaged in friendly banter with a confrere, a guest, or one of his nurses, he usually had the last word and the best laugh.
Brother Kenan spent a good deal of time resting, and he spent even more time reading. Several books were always on his nightstand and, judging from those, the mystery novels of James Patterson were among his favorites.
The Office of the Dead will be prayed at 7 p.m. Central time on Wednesday, July 22, in the Archabbey Church. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Central time on Thursday, July 23, in the Archabbey Church, followed by burial in the Archabbey Cemetery. Services will be livestreamed at www.saintmeinrad.org/live.