Mary Ellen Rupp

Mary Ellen Rupp, 71, of Grand Island died Thursday, July 14, 2011, at Tiffany Square Care Center.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Richard L. Piontkowski Jr.; her nephew, the Rev. John Neneman; and the Rev. James J. Janovec will concelebrate. Inurnment will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Curran Funeral Chapel, with a Catholic Daughters Rosary at 4 and a vigil service at 7.

Mrs. Rupp was born Jan. 25, 1940, in Omaha to William R. and Agnes (Slegl) Spencer.

Survivors of the immediate family include her husband, Robert of Grand Island; a daughter, Anne Rupp of Charlotte, N.C.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert "Bob" and Kris Rupp of Omaha, Roger and Judy Rupp of Seattle and Craig and Karen Rupp of Grand Island; nine grandchildren; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Adrienne Neneman of Great Falls, Mont., and Cookie and Dr. James Hervert of Hastings; a brother and two sisters-in-law, David and Becky Spencer of Denver and Joan Spencer of Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Additional survivors include a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Julie (Rupp) and Bill Ziller of Grand Island.

Mary Ellen grew up in Omaha and graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 1957. She attended Duchesne College and graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in Grand Island in 1960.

On Oct. 8, 1960, Mary Ellen married Robert Rupp at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island.

She was on the nursing staff at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island. After retiring from the nursing field, Mary Ellen worked for Orthotics and Prosthetics in Grand Island.

Mary Ellen had been an active member of St. Mary's Cathedral, Christian Mothers, St. Mary's Altar Society, Catholic Daughters of Americas, Court Ave Maria No. 1263 and Riverside Ladies Golf League. Her other activities included playing bridge and pinochle, snow skiing and antique shopping. She also volunteered at St. Francis' gift shop and snack cart.

She had a great sense of humor and her appearance and work ethic were important to her. She took pride in her family and appreciated her many friends.

Mary Ellen's greatest loves were her family and Catholic faith. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law and sister. She will be remembered for her heroic battle with brain cancer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Bill Spencer; a nephew, Patrick Spencer; and a niece, Abigail Spencer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Mary's Cathedral Square or the Central Catholic Development Foundation.

The guestbook may be signed or the video tribute viewed at www.curranfuneralchapel.com.

Please sign the guestbook at theindependent.com/ obits.