Joan Spang Obituary

Joan Frances Spang, 86, of Batavia passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at her home. She was born April 22, 1931 in Geneva, IL the daughter of Francis and Erma (Davis) Feuerborn. She was united in marriage to Thomas Spang June 18, 1955, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia, IL by Msgr. William Donovan. Joan dedicated her life to caring for others and donating her time and talents. As a teen, she became involved in 4-H and developed leadership skills while representing her local group at 4-H Federation. During those years, she began a forty-five year commitment to teaching first grade Sunday School at Holy Cross Church. After graduating from Madonna Catholic High School, she went to work as a sales clerk at Sears in Aurora. She was proud to be able to help her parents by purchasing for them their first chest freezer, and, for her mother, a new Singer sewing machine. Later, she took a job at Barber-Greene, working in the stenos department and at the switchboard. Through friends, she was introduced to Thomas Spang, who also worked at Barber-Greene. They were married in 1955 and started their family. Joan began offering in-home child daycare and spent the next thirty-five years caring for other parents' children as if they were her own. During those years she volunteered for and led various groups at Holy Cross Church, Holy Cross Junior High School, Louise White School, St. Joseph School, and Aurora Central Catholic High School. Joan and Tom valued the importance of family vacations. Each summer, they packed their tent and their growing family into their station wagon and took them camping. They progressed to a pop-up camper, then a trailer, and ultimately purchased a park model trailer, which they used to host their immediate and extended family and friends at Woodhaven Lakes in Amboy, Illinois. Joan and Tom also volunteered their time and efforts to committees at Woodhaven. They spent five weeks of vacation there, each year, treasuring their time with Woodhaven friends. Joan retired from providing daycare in 1998 and continued to donate her time to good causes, such as chairing the Giving Tree Committee at Holy Cross Church. It took physical limitations and the progression of dementia to eventually end Joan's ability to volunteer. During her final years, her love of life and her positive attitude continued to inspire her family and friends. Her loved ones draw comfort from knowing that she now shares her bright smile with her loved ones in Heaven, with no more physical and cognitive limitations, only peace. Joan is survived by her children; John Spang, Mary (Michael) Albrecht, David (Robin) Spang, Laura Spang, Diane (Bryan) Appel and Gregory Spang; eleven grandchildren; Jessica (Kyle) Dunn, Patrick Albrecht,Michelle Albrecht, Daniel (Mindy) Albrecht, Erica Constant, Cristi (Michael III) Covelli, Kelly Spang, Kelly DeGarmo, Eric Spang, Davis Appel and Rose Appel, six great grandchildren; Connor Dunn, Kailey Wohead, Peyton Wohead, Delaney Griffin, Sawyer Cochran, and Michael Covelli IV, two sisters; Dorothy Milnamow, Cecilia (Jim) Nass, and sister-in-law Leanne Feuerborn, three brothers, Bob (Pat) Feuerborn, Richard Feuerborn, and Jim (Helen) Feuerborn, sisters-in-law, Donna Spang and Joan (Donna Jo) Kane, many nieces and nephews, and her gentle, loving caregivers, Ganaa and Ali. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Thomas Spang. Joan's family wishes to thank the staff from Northwestern Medicine Hospice for their kindness and assistance during the time that Joan was in their care. Visitation will be held 2:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Moss Family Funeral Home 209 South Batavia Ave. Batavia, IL. Funeral services will begin 10:00 A.M. Monday, January 15, 2018 with prayers from Moss Family Funeral Home, before proceeding to Holy Cross Catholic Church 2300 Main Street Batavia, IL to celebrate Mass at 10:30 A.M. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Joan's name to Holy Cross School, St. Joseph School, or Aurora Central Catholic School. For additional information contact Moss Family Funeral Homes 630-879-7900 or www.mossfuneral.com