Mary Carolyn Spellman 1919 - 2016

SPELLMAN, CONNOLLY, DWIGHT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/14/2016 at 17:16:51

Sioux City Journal
26 February 2016

SIOUX CITY | Mary Carolyn Spellman, 96, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel Rupp officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m., a rosary service led by the Carmelite Board and St. Theresa Study Club at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Holy Spirit Retirement Home Chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Carol Spellman was born to the late John and Mary (Connolly) Dwight, on Aug. 11, 1919. She was raised on a farm outside Des Moines, and one of nine children, Carol had a can-do spirit. Though times were difficult, her family made do by raising and growing their own food and attending swap meets. Carol was able to go to Dowling Junior College and worked in her father's dentist office.

After graduation, she married George Spellman and they lived in Iowa City while he attended medical school. After graduation, he was stationed at Madigan General in Fort Lewis, Wash. After World War II, they lived briefly in Mitchell S.D., and then came to Sioux City to start Dr. Spellman's medical practice. While his practice grew from, some days only seeing the drug reps come in the office, to his busy practice, Carol raised six children and kept the home fires burning. Carol could look at something in the house, figure out how it should be repaired, and often did it herself. She was one of the first people to start using an Apple computer and she kept her books electronically on Quicken into her mid-90s. Carol loved to figure out how to do things on the Apple and was tickled by the logic of it all.

Carol and George were devoted members of Blessed Sacrament Church and instrumental in assisting Carol's sister, the late Mother Agnes of Divine Love, OCD, with establishing the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City. She was an active member of the Carmelite Guild, St. Theresa Study Club, Blessed Sacrament Bridge Club, Monday Night Shoppers Club and, in later years, thoroughly enjoyed, with her husband, being part of the Breakfast Club, which met every weekday morning after early morning Mass.

Above all, her greatest joy was her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Whenever she spoke on the phone, one of the first questions was how the grandchildren and great-grandchildren were doing. A cousin reunion of all the grandchildren in Sioux City, evolved into the Okoboji tradition where the far-flung family members gathered each summer. Carol's children and especially her grandchildren carry wonderful memories of the weeks there together, enjoying each other, learning to water ski and being in the warmth and freedom of an Iowa summer. Carol will be deeply missed by her family and her friends.

She is survived by six children, Carolyn and Harold Rambow of Walworth, Wis., Dr. George Jr. and Ellen Spellman of La Mesa, Calif., Mary Alice Spellman of San Pedro, Calif., Elizabeth and Jim Chrisinger of Burien, Wash., Drs. John and Eliza Pile-Spellman of Pelham, N.Y., and Loretta and Joe Hoffman of Columbus, Ohio. Surviving grandchildren are John Rambow (Don McConnell), Beth Rambow, Mark Rambow, Dr. Christopher Spellman (Dr. Michelle Lee), Matthew Spellman (Julie), Angela Finn (Tom), Stuart Gross (Alina), Dr. John Chrisinger (Dr. Amritha), Georgia Chrisinger, Dr. Megan Ridley-Lane (Emerson), Katherine Pile-Spellman, Julian Pile-Spellman (Isabella), Paul Hoffman (Halley), Joanna Hoffman and Laura Hoffman (Ronnie). Surviving great-grandchildren are Connor and Aidan Spellman and Emma and Sophia Ridley-Lane. She is also survived by a sister, Kathryn Buser; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. George Spellman; three infant children, Therese Marie, Joseph and Thomas; three brothers; and four sisters.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A special thank you to the staff at Holy Spirit for their wonderful care at the end of her years.

Memorials may be made in Carol's name to the Carmelite Monastery or to Holy Spirit Retirement Home.