Ella Marie Spanjers

Ella M. Spanjers was born 10-20-26 in Duluth, MN to Anton & Anna Spanjers. She had 2 older brothers, Robert & Leo, & at age 2 the family moved to south Mpls. where her sister Lois was born. The family moved to north Mpls. where she attended St. Bridget Catholic grade school & then St. Anthony of Padua Catholic high school. The family's favorite home growing up was on the Mississippi river (approximately 85th & West River Road N). They swam in the river, ice skated on the rink their Dad made in the yard & grew fruits & vegetables that they sold from a yard stand to those traveling to/from Anoka. Ella's teachers all thought she would grow up to be a concert pianist because she was so talented. She often had to give up her recess & weekends to accompany other musicians including working at Mc Phail. However, Ella found her passion in the lab graduating from the U of MN in Medical Technology in 1948. She worked her entire career for the U of MN starting in the hematology lab but by 1954 she had moved across the hall to special hematology, became a senior technologist by 1967 & lab manager in1969. After 50 years at the U she "retired" but continued as a volunteer working 5 more years. She revised procedure manuals & developed new methodologies to stain bone marrow sections. Because her knowledge of bone marrow processing & cytochemical staining was so widely recognized, Ella was frequently consulted by technologists & pathologists throughout the US. She co-authored a chapter in a hematology textbook. Ella lived her entire adult life within a mile of the U of MN until her last year when she moved to Eagle Crest assisted living where she could receive meals. She was extremely independent until her last 3 days of life when she suffered a severe stroke and did not regain consciousness. Ella was a true Gopher fan, initially attending all Gopher athletic events in the 40's & 50's & then, when you had to have specific tickets to individual sports, she had season tickets to basketball, football & hockey into the 2020's. She was very athletic herself participating in downhill skiing, cross country skiing, water skiing, swimming almost daily, ice skating, hiking (especially out west with Glacier being a favorite spot), playing hockey & many other sports. Ella bowled on a league until age 95, golfed (her favorite) until 94 & drove her beloved red car until age 96. Ella & a group of 8-10 special med tech friends or family members traveled the world. Rome & walking on the great wall of China were 2 highlights. A core group of friends & fellow travelers were Mary W, Irene B & Ruth C. Ella was far & above the favorite aunt to her 12 nieces & nephews. She was also a favorite among her 54 cousins (on 1 side of her family). She was a devote Catholic going to the Vatican multiple times & attending daily mass at St. Olaf, Mpls. Ella is proceeded in death by her parents Anton & Anna Spanjers, her siblings Robert, Leo, Lois (Myers), 2 nephews Doug & Bob Spanjers & great niece Rachel Serber Duncan. She is survived by 10 nieces & nephews, Randy, Barb, Steve, Julie, Jay, Scott, Todd, Mark, Paul & Claudia, 25 great nieces & nephews & 28 great-great nieces & nephews, & 6 1st cousins & multiple generations of cousins. She also leaves behind many good friends from all walks of life. Memorials to St Olaf Catholic Church, Mpls. or to U of MN athletics. Memorial Mass to be held Saturday, August 10th at 10AM with visitation one hour prior at, St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 S 8th St, Minneapolis, luncheon immediatly after service with a procession to Gethsemane Cemetery to follow. Service will be livestreamed at www.youtube.com/user/SaintOlafChurch/live

Tributes

Ella Marie Spanjers

October 20, 1926 - June 11, 2024

Tributes

Ella Marie Spanjers

October 20, 1926 - June 11, 2024

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