Mary Spittel

Crystal Lake, Illinois,MARY JANE (nee O?DONNELL) SPITTEL Born September 5, 1922 in Baltimore, MD Died May 2, 2011 in Crystal Lake, IL Mary Jane Spittel, 88, of Crystal Lake, formerly of Woodstock, IL and Kensington, Catonsville and Baltimore, MD died on Monday, May 2, 2011 at Crystal Pines Rehab & Care Center in Crystal Lake, IL. Mary Jane was born on September 5, 1922 in Baltimore, MD to John Bernard and Cecelia (Necomb) O?Donnell. She graduated in 1946 with an RN degree from Mercy Hospital Nursing School in Baltimore, MD and worked through 1948 in Obstetrics at City Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Lutheran General Hospital, all in Baltimore. On January 24, 1948 she married James M. Spittel in the Baltimore Cathedral in Baltimore, MD. After she mothered one boy, Craig, and two girls, Barbara and Judith, she resumed nursing in Obstetrics and Maternity at Georgetown University Hospital and General Nursing at the National Institute of Health, both in Washington, DC, through 1956. While on duty in Georgetown Hospital Maternity, one of her patients was Jackie Kennedy with son, Jon Jon. After the birth of her second son, Timothy, Mary Jane continued her Maternity nursing at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD. During her tenure at Holy Cross, George Wallace, Governor of Alabama, while on the presidential campaign trail in Laurel, MD, was shot and received treatment at Holy Cross. After his treatment he issued commendations to all of the nursing personnel, including, Mary Jane, by appointing them Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de-Camp in the Alabama State Militia for the 12th day of July, 1972. After relocating to the Woodstock, IL area in 1973, she continued her nursing career in the Maternity section at Woodstock Memorial Hospital. In 1974, she switched her nursing focus to Geriatrics at Crystal Pines Nursing Home in Crystal Lake, IL. She retired in December, 1974. After retirement, she joined her husband in traveling the North American Continent in their Holiday Rambler recreational vehicle. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, James; four children, J. Craig Spittel of Seattle, WA, Barbara A. Spittel of Crystal Lake, IL, Judith M. Smith of Gaithersburg, MD, and Timothy O. Spittel of Crystal Lake, IL; and two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren in Gaithersburg, MD. She was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will be from 3-8pm, Thursday, May 5 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave (IL Rt. 176), Crystal Lake. The funeral service will be held at 10am, Friday, May 6 at the funeral home. Burial will be private at Crystal Lake Memorial Park on Ridgefield Road following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Institute for Cancer Research, 1759 R St, NW, PO Box 97167, Washington DC 20090-7167 or the American Cancer Society, 143 First St, Batavia IL 60510.

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