Obituary of Mary Joan Wesley

Wesley, Mary Joan Spelman 88, Mary Joan Spelman Wesley was born on February 14, 1926, in Chicago, IL, to James and Ellanor (Clausius) Spelman. She died on January 4, 2015 in Edina, MN. A celebration of her life will be held at The Cremation Society of Minnesota, 7110 France Ave S, Edina, MN on Saturday, January 24, 2015. Visitation will be at 1:00 PM with a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 PM followed by a reception. Mary graduated from St. Scholastica Academy in Chicago in 1943. She entered the Army Cadet Nursing program through Loyola University in 1945 and completed a certificate of graduate nurse in 1947. She married Richard J. Wesley on August 28, 1947. They made their home in Skokie, IL, where the first 3 of their 10 children were born. They moved to St. Louis Park in 1953. As more children were born, the Wesley's moved to a larger home in Hopkins and then later to Minnetonka. During the last decade of her life, Mary resided at Summit Place in Eden Prairie and Sunrise in Edina. Mary returned to nursing in 1977 at the Hopkins Nursing Home, where she worked for a number of years. Mary enjoyed traveling with her husband and took many trips throughout the United States, Europe, as well as El Salvador. Richard passed away on July 4, 1991. Mary was an active volunteer for Hammer Residences, Inc., where she served on the board of directors for many years. Her volunteering also included taking blood pressures at the Minnetonka Senior Center, nursing at an inner city maternity free clinic, and giving countless hours of her time to her church and her children's schools. Mary was an accomplished seamstress and cook, and she entertained with flair. She was a true philanthropist, giving her time and resources to many deserving organizations. She truly made this world a better place, and she will be dearly missed by all. Mary will be remembered by her children for her loving and calm presence and her sweet disposition. Mary is survived by her ten children, Michael Wesley of Colorado Springs, CO; Patty (Dan) Alger of Edina; Joanne Wesley (Rob Bruesewitz) of Litchfield; Nancy (Paul) Battaglia of Eagan; Jim (Cathy) Wesley of Blaine; John (Kathy) Wesley of Alpharetta, GA; Tom Wesley (Jan James) of White Bear Lake; David (Laurie) Wesley of Eden Prairie; Julia Wesley-Wong (Wymond Wong) of Brooklyn Park; and Mickey Wesley of Minnetonka. Grandchildren include Page Saulsbury, Tracy Alger, Kelly (Brian) Hanrahan, Jeff Alger, Sarah (David) Quigley, Robert (Jenny) Bruesewitz, Anna Bruesewitz, Michael Bruese-witz, Christopher Battaglia, Laura Battaglia, Joe Wesley, Jenna Wesley, Jake Wesley, Mary Wesley, Julia James, Abbie Wesley, TJ Wesley, Grace Erickson, Brent Wong, Connor Wong, and Dan Wong. Great grandchildren are Wesley, Liam, Colin, Molly, Taylor, Griffin, Charlotte, and Katherine. Mary is also survived by her two sisters Dolores (Hank) Gasparini of Marietta, GA, and Suzanne (Ed) Mathein of Canton, OH, along with many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brother, James Spelman, her sister Patricia M. McCarty, and daughter-in-law, Virginia Wesley. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hammer Residences, Inc., Partnership Resources, Inc., True Friends (Camp Friendship) and NC Little Memorial Hospice. The family would like to thank the staff at NC Little Memorial Hospice and Sunrise of Edina for the wonderful care given to Mary in her final weeks.