Mary Lou (Handley) Spannbauer, 93, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on June 19, 2023.

As a dedicated, long-time elementary school teacher, she is remembered by former students for being kind – but fair – with an eclectic collection of costume jewelry that paired perfectly with her lesson plans. Friends and family treasure the handwritten notes and letters she sent over the years, a practice she continued throughout the dot-com boom despite her enthusiastic embrace of the World Wide Web.

In 1948, Mary Lou was voted "The Best Legs" of East High, Erie, Pennsylvania, and was a consummate athlete who enjoyed swimming, bowling, and pinochle and bridge games that lasted into the early hours of the morning. Though not a scratch golfer, she loved spending time on the course with her husband and friends, and once scored a birdie off the tee when her golf ball made contact with a seagull mid-flight.

She was always ready for an adventure and was lucky to enjoy many years of camping and traveling with her husband and daughters. As her family grew in size, so did her vehicles, photo albums, and accumulation of sky miles. She deeply cherished time spent with loved ones.

Mary Lou is predeceased by her parents, Joseph Henry and Rose Emily Handley; sisters Ruth Arnold and Margaret Behringer; brothers Richard and Joseph Howard Handley; daughter Karen Baker Maull; son-in-law Mirek Kocandrle; and her husband, Richard E. Spannbauer.

She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Kocandrle and Laura (Timothy) Donovan; grandchildren Steven (Samantha) Baker, Caitlin (Daniel) Sturge, Rudy (Maura) Kocandrle, Madeline Donovan, Abbey (John) Mitas, Casey (Dana) Donovan, and Emily (Zach) Rocha; great-grandchildren Timothy, Ada, and Owen Sturge, Gordon, Greta, and Grady Baker, Lyla and Rex Mitas, August Donovan, and a tenth great-grandchild on the way!

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 21st, at the Church of the Resurrection, 120 West 5th Street in Oswego.

There will be no calling hours.

Private burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Erie, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you take time to enjoy a scoop of your favorite ice cream and share a dance in the kitchen with someone you love.

Arrangements are in the care of the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home.