Dell Spangenberg, née Graham, passed away peacefully at her home in Wilton, surrounded by her children and family. Born in New York City on June 18, 1932, Dell and her family moved to Wilton from Norwalk in 1940, where she was raised and spent the majority of her life. She was the second of six children, to whom she was a close and loving sister.
Dell’s Wilton roots ran deep. She was a highly respected real estate agent for over 25 years, and her father, Laurence Graham, served as Wilton’s first selectman in the early 1970s. She and her late husband were active in numerous town organizations throughout their lives.
Raised in the embrace of her Catholic faith, Dell carried its values of kindness, compassion, and devotion with her throughout her life’s journey. She graduated from Sacred Heart Greenwich and her parents were among the founding members of Our Lady of Fatima Church, where she was a lifelong parishioner.
In 1955, Dell married the love of her life, Ivan “Bump” Spangenberg. They raised their six children in the home on Chestnut Hill Rd. where she grew up. Her children and grandchildren were the center of her life, and she of theirs. In her retired years, she and Bump enjoyed winters in Naples, FL, with frequent family visitors. For all of their 62 married years together, Dell and Bump were a living testament to commitment, partnership, and the power of enduring love and mutual respect. These shared values and unwavering devotion to each other inspire their children, extended family, and friends.
Dell’s legacy continues to shine through her large and loving family. Mother to six children, grandmother to 19, and great-grandmother to 11, with a 12th on the way, she poured endless love, wisdom and strength into each of them, nurturing their dreams and guiding them through life’s challenges with grace and compassion.
She gave her love without judgment, embracing each person as a unique blessing. She regaled her grandchildren with stories of her beloved childhood horse, Bluegrass, and her time spent growing up on the same property where she would raise her children and watch her grandchildren play. Despite the size of her family, Dell always knew exactly what was going on in each of their lives. Her children and grandchildren will forever cherish the quiet moments in her kitchen, baking apple pies, and other treats, along with warm memories of summers at Shore and Country Club, family reunions, lobster bakes, and Thanksgivings at the family’s home on Chestnut Hill Rd.
Dell was predeceased by her parents, Laurence and Teresa Graham; her husband Bump; her son-in-law Daniel Shea; and her sister, Rita Ann Lofink. She is survived by her siblings Kathy Ross, Margot Grallert, Beth (John) O’Mara, and John Graham; her children Beth Shea of Raleigh, NC, Mark (Robin) Spangenberg of Millis, MA, Terry (Clint) Walters of Santa Cruz, CA, Tom (Anna) Spangenberg of Dover, MA, Katy (Rob) Williams of Wilton, and Maggie (Greg) O’Brien of Lynnfield, MA; her grandchildren Katy (Pete) Pagano, Kerry (Bobby) Offterdinger, Brian (Theresa) Shea, Kevin Shea, Sara Spangenberg, Caroline Spangenberg, Luke Spangenberg, Kate Spangenberg, Alex Spangenberg, Scott (Christine) Spangenberg, Mack Spangenberg, Will Spangenberg, Maggie (Josh Grossman) Williams, John Williams, Michael Williams, Danny Williams, Andrew O’Brien, Margot O’Brien and David O’Brien; and her great-grandchildren Juliana Pagano, Marcus Pagano, Leo Pagano, Miles Pagano, Olivia Offterdinger, Danny Offterdinger, Charlie Offterdinger, Kate Offterdinger, Patrick Shea, Taylor Shea, and Annie Spangenberg.
Day after day, Dell Spangenberg, whether as mother, Nani, aunt, sister, or friend, lived a life of abundant and endless grace. Her loss is a void filled only by the remembrance of her freely-given love. She lived her life without pretense or a need to impress, and she valued and modeled integrity, belief in the importance of deep family ties, extraordinary love, and warm respect for all.
Her family will celebrate her life on Saturday, March, 23, at 11 a.m., at Wilton’s Our Lady of Fatima Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wilton Historical Society.