In Memory
Kathleen Margareth (Kapuvary) Spangler
March 5, 1945 ~ May 10, 2014
Kathleen M. "Kathy" Spangler, R.N, 69, of Tempe, AZ passed away peacefully Saturday, May 10, at Scottsdale's Mayo Clinic Hospital surrounded by family and friends, all of whom adored and admired her. Kathy courageously battled lymphoma twice, first in 2006 and again in 2013. She underwent a successful autologous bone marrow transplant in November, 2013, but subsequently succumbed to complications from her disease and treatment.
Born Kathleen Kapuvary on March 5, 1945, in a Budapest bomb shelter, she and her parents, Margit and Charles, and her sister, Anna, fled their homeland in 1957 during the Hungarian Revolution. They landed in Austria, where they lived for two years while Kathy and Anna attended various boarding schools as the family awaited immigration to the United States. In 1959 they came to the U.S. as political refugees and settled in South Bend, Indiana and then Flint, Michigan, where Kathy started nursing school. In 1972 she moved to Arizona and, upon finishing school, became a Registered Nurse and began a 40-year career, most of which was spent at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. While at Good Sam, she worked in various departments including the intensive care unit and emergency room. She also held several prestigious positions including assistant director of the emergency center, administrative nursing supervisor and referral specialist for transfer services.
In 1972 she met David J. Spangler of Tempe. They began a loving, lifelong relationship and were married on August 21, 1982. David and Kathy had a passion for travel, and among their adventures were cruises to Alaska and two trips to Europe including her native Hungary, where she visited her birthplace and surviving relatives. Kathy never lost her very distinctive Hungarian accent. She was an incredible cook, and the Fiesta Bowl parties she and David hosted at their home were legendary.
Kathy was devoted to her family and friends; many people who met her described their encounters as something akin to talking with someone they'd known for years. With her warm, caring personality, she had an amazing ability to make people feel at ease and comfortable. In addition, being civic-minded, she served the Tempe High School Marching Band Boosters as its nurse and later its president, and was an organizer for the Visiting Nurses' Book Sale in Phoenix. Kathy also participated in a medical mission to Honduras.
Kathy was preceded in death by infant son, David Nagy in 1970, father in 1994 and mother in 2013. She is survived by her husband David, son Andre Spangler , daughter Jill Wheeler, both of Chandler, son Christopher Nagy of Omaha, Nebraska, sister Anna "Penny" Nord of Gilbert, five grandchildren, two nieces, three grand-nieces, one grand-nephew, relatives in Arizona, Hungary and Canada, and many friends throughout the world. David and family are grateful to her physicians, nurses, therapists and staff at the Mayo Clinic and Hospital for the wonderful care she received.
A celebration of her life and memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 24 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church 2121 S Rural Rd, Tempe, AZ. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice of the Valley or donor's choice. A reception will follow immediately after the service.
Arrangements entrusted to Tempe Mortuary, Tempe, AZ; https://www.tempemortuary.com/obituary/2525165
Published by Tempe Mortuary - Tempe on May 19, 2014.
11/20/2024 djb
|