Mary Spangenberg

Mary M. Spangenberg, 82, of Kingston, died Sunday, December 9, 2012 at Kingston Hospital. Born in Miami, Florida, she was the daughter of the late Carl Henry & Lily May Spangenberg (Pettijohn). She attended Miami Edison High School, and the University of Miami. In the 1950's, Mary was a stewardess with Pan American World Airways and National Airlines. She was also the first commercial helicopter stewardess, and modeled for Montgomery Ward catalogs. In the early 1970s, she worked as a drug addiction rehab counselor for the city of New York. She loved Broadway shows, reading, gardening, cooking and sewing, and became a big Yankees fan after meeting many Yankees players from the 1950s on her flights. She is survived by a son, Robert Rodriguez of Poughkeepsie, a daughter, Melanie Freeberg and her husband Armand Garcia of Hayward, CA, two brothers, Theodore Spangenberg of Chipley, FL and Robert Spangenberg of Florida. Two grandchildren, Grace and Armand Jr., and many nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by a brother, James L. Spangenberg. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 12:00 noon at the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. Interment will be private.