Helen I. Patellis Spangler

Helen was born in North Carolina. She graduated High School a year early by attending Summer school. She attended community college before being accepted into the Nursing Program at Duke University. Helen graduated from Duke School of Nursing and began her career working in D.C. at the National Institute of Health. While there, she was set up on a date by a colleague who ended up becoming her mother-in-law. Helen married Robert C. Spangler (Bob) on May 2, 1964 in Washington, D.C. They soon purchased and moved into their home in Bowie, Maryland, where they resided until Bob's passing in the Spring of 2011. Helen and Bob adopted their first child, Karen Sue, in May of 1967. Two years later they adopted their son, Robert Allen. Helen stopped working in order to stay home with her children. She was a dedicated mother and a favorite among all the children in the neighborhood. Helen worked as a classroom assistant and health room aid at Meadowbrook Elementary during the 70's. She was school nurse at Samuel Ogle Jr. High for a short period of time in the late 70's/early 80's. She then moved on to substitute teach at Bowie High School through the mid 80's. After her children had graduated from high school, she returned to her career as a registered nurse. Helen returned to nursing first at Prince George's Hospital Center, where she was one of the first nurses to work in the AIDS ward. Later, she worked at Crofton Convalescent Center (now Crofton Care and Rehabilitation Center) before finishing her career at Bowie Internal Medicine. Helen and Bob could often be found bowling in Friday night leagues at Bowie Fair Lanes. They participated in the Bowie Boys and Girls Club when their children were younger. They were both very active in their church. In recent years, they spent much time at the Bowie Senior Center playing pinochle and participating in various activities held there. Helen moved to Holladay, UT in March of 2011. She resided about a mile away from her son, Robert, at Sunrise Assisted Living until her passing on July 6, 2011 from complications due to pancreatic cancer. Even in her last days, Helen made an impression on everyone she met. She exceeded her doctors prognosis by living over a year after her diagnosis when they predicted three months. Helen was gracious and giving and will be missed by all who's lives she touched.