Obituary for Mary Joan Spaunburg Mary Joan (Jaques) Spaunburg, 95, of Bloomfield, CT and Eastham, MA, died peacefully on Saturday morning, January 5, 2019. Mary Jo was the beloved wife of Harvey L. Spaunburg, Jr. for over 71 years. Born July 4, 1923, in Duluth, MN, Mary Jo was the elder daughter of the late Robert and Margaret (O’Brien) Jaques.
She was a graduate of Stanbrook Hall in Duluth where she was remembered as “the happy-go-lucky Captain of the ’41 Fleet” and of the University of Michigan, Class of 1945, where she was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. It was at Michigan that she met her husband, Harvey, when both were freshmen. After her graduation, Mary Jo worked for the University of Michigan Hospital until her marriage to Harvey in 1947, when they moved to Connecticut.
In addition to being a full-time mom, for many years, she was an active member and volunteer in the Hartford Hospital and Institute for Living women’s auxiliaries. She was a co-founder and past President of the Seedling Garden Club, a member of the West Hartford Art League, the Town and County Club, and the Hartford Golf Club. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, in West Hartford.
Mary Jo delighted in other people. She loved nothing better than a long conversation with a good friend and she had a remarkable memory for names, faces and details. An enthusiastic bridge player, she also enjoyed oil painting and gardening, especially at her favorite place, the summer home she and Harvey built on Cape Cod.
Her three grandchildren called her “Nonnie” and she relished each of their milestones, from school plays, concerts, sporting events and graduations to weddings and the arrival of her great-granddaughter. It tickled her funny bone to see all three of them eventually settle in her home state of Minnesota. In addition to her parents, Mary Jo was predeceased by her sister, Margot Jaques Barber.
She is survived by her daughter, Martha S. Church, her son-in-law, John H. Church of West Hartford; her grandsons, Thomas R. Church (Sara Lien) of Duluth, MN, and Daniel P. Church (Astrid Liden Church) of St. Paul, MN; granddaughter Caroline C. Merkl (William) of St. Paul, MN; and great-granddaughter Maisie L. Church, daughter of Dan and Astrid. The family is grateful for the kind and thoughtful care Mary Jo received at the Caleb Hitchcock Health Center at Duncaster, especially the staff on the Ash Unit. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Ave, West Hartford.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Jo’s memory may be made to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, 482 Main Street, Dennis, MA 02638, the Duncaster Foundation, 40 Loeffler Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002, or the memorial fund at St. John’s. For directions and online condolences, please visit www. taylorandmodeen.com.
Upcoming Events Memorial Service JAN 12.
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