Obituary for Ines M. Spangenberg (Smethers)
Ines Martha Spangenberg, 96, passed away Sunday, November 22, 2020 at Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg.
Born May 19, 1924 in Harrisburg, PA she is the daughter of the late Robert S. and Helen M. (Lohr) Smethers, Sr.
Ines graduated William Penn High School, February class of 1942. After high school she attended Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg Va. Ines married C. Jay Spangenberg in 1947 after having met at church prior to World War II and growing their love through correspondence throughout the war. Her and Jay made their family home in Camp Hill from 1956 to 2003, providing a wonderful childhood to her three boys, prior to moving to Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg.
Her Christian faith was a guiding force throughout her life. She and her husband were founding members of the Discover Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. She was also the first chairwoman of the Harrisburg Christian Women’s Club, active in various prayer and Bible groups, and for several years worked to provide inmates with access to community clergy resources.
Although she did very well in school and certainly could have been successful in a variety of careers, she enjoyed and excelled at being a homemaker. She loved cooking, baking, and making the holidays extra special though her classy decorations and joyful gatherings. She was always active in school and community activities. Music was a big part of her life, playing the piano and singing in church choirs and as a soloist. She enjoyed tending to her rose bushes and attractive home plantings. She was fond of her Miniature Schnauzer, Gogi. She loved coffee ice cream. Made the best tapioca. And her Christmas Spritz cookies were divine!
She especially enjoyed her grandchildren. They all appreciated spending quality time with her and the special activities they enjoyed together. She was pleased to be blessed with six granddaughters, after having no daughters of her own, to whom she was able to pass on her antique doll collection. Her three grandsons’, in their athletic and outdoor pursuits, provided her with many opportunities to see in them the youthful interests and abilities of her own sons.
She enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe, Hawaii and various destinations throughout the US and Canada. She enjoyed many family vacations at Camp of the Woods in Speculator, NY and Ocean City, NJ.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985 and her brother, Robert S. Smethers, Jr., in 2012.
She is survived by her three son’s Mark E. of York, Dale R. (Crystal) of Frederick MD, and Gary J. (Nancy) of Mechanicsburg. Nine grandchildren, Kristen, Kayla, Kelly, Sara, Andrew, Katie, Darren, Kyle, and Jenna; six great grandchildren, Sean, Gage, Caden, Chase, Matthew, and Grace.
She maintained many lifelong friendships with various schoolmates and cousins. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
Due to the pandemic, all services will be private. A celebration of Ines' life will be live-streamed to the public on our Facebook page starting Monday, November 30th at 1:00 P.M. Please visit our Facebook page to watch the live-stream of the service, https://www.facebook.com/myersharner/live/
Born May 19, 1924 in Harrisburg, PA she is the daughter of the late Robert S. and Helen M. (Lohr) Smethers, Sr.
Ines graduated William Penn High School, February class of 1942. After high school she attended Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg Va. Ines married C. Jay Spangenberg in 1947 after having met at church prior to World War II and growing their love through correspondence throughout the war. Her and Jay made their family home in Camp Hill from 1956 to 2003, providing a wonderful childhood to her three boys, prior to moving to Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg.
Her Christian faith was a guiding force throughout her life. She and her husband were founding members of the Discover Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. She was also the first chairwoman of the Harrisburg Christian Women’s Club, active in various prayer and Bible groups, and for several years worked to provide inmates with access to community clergy resources.
Although she did very well in school and certainly could have been successful in a variety of careers, she enjoyed and excelled at being a homemaker. She loved cooking, baking, and making the holidays extra special though her classy decorations and joyful gatherings. She was always active in school and community activities. Music was a big part of her life, playing the piano and singing in church choirs and as a soloist. She enjoyed tending to her rose bushes and attractive home plantings. She was fond of her Miniature Schnauzer, Gogi. She loved coffee ice cream. Made the best tapioca. And her Christmas Spritz cookies were divine!
She especially enjoyed her grandchildren. They all appreciated spending quality time with her and the special activities they enjoyed together. She was pleased to be blessed with six granddaughters, after having no daughters of her own, to whom she was able to pass on her antique doll collection. Her three grandsons’, in their athletic and outdoor pursuits, provided her with many opportunities to see in them the youthful interests and abilities of her own sons.
She enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe, Hawaii and various destinations throughout the US and Canada. She enjoyed many family vacations at Camp of the Woods in Speculator, NY and Ocean City, NJ.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985 and her brother, Robert S. Smethers, Jr., in 2012.
She is survived by her three son’s Mark E. of York, Dale R. (Crystal) of Frederick MD, and Gary J. (Nancy) of Mechanicsburg. Nine grandchildren, Kristen, Kayla, Kelly, Sara, Andrew, Katie, Darren, Kyle, and Jenna; six great grandchildren, Sean, Gage, Caden, Chase, Matthew, and Grace.
She maintained many lifelong friendships with various schoolmates and cousins. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
Due to the pandemic, all services will be private. A celebration of Ines' life will be live-streamed to the public on our Facebook page starting Monday, November 30th at 1:00 P.M. Please visit our Facebook page to watch the live-stream of the service, https://www.facebook.com/myersharner/live/