Published in the December 15, 2017 edition
SAUGUS — Ivan Spinney, 78, a long time resident of Saugus, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
Ivan was born on February 20, 1939 in Everett, one of ten children of the late Eldred and Gladys (Ryder) Spinney. Ivan was raised on Staples Avenue in Everett. From an early age, he loved to tinker with anything mechanical. He especially loved working with wood. Ivan graduated from Everett Vocational School where he built a bedroom set and a set of bookcases that he still has to this day.
Ivan met his beloved Helen Domigan in 1959 through friends, and went on their first date on March 31. On October 1, 1961, Ivan and Helen were married in Saugus. They started a family of two sons in Reading, eventually finding their way to Saugus where they would remain. Ivan worked as a custodian for Northeast Regional Vocational School in Wakefield for many years, where he developed numerous friendships.
Ivan’s true love was his family. He lived for his children and grandchildren. He could be found attending one of their many sporting events or school functions through the years. He especially enjoyed taking the grandchildren to Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire. Together with Helen, Ivan enjoyed taking trips to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, and to Bethel, Maine where he thoroughly enjoyed playing golf. Ivan also had a great love of Boston sports.
Ivan could fix anything. He had an innate ability where he could figure out the problem and had no trouble fixing it. Ivan was a longtime devoted member of the Melrose Church of the Nazarene where he volunteered his ability to fix anything.
Kind, sincere, and good hearted, Ivan was a strong and reliable presence. He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife Helen, children, grandchildren, and fellow church members.
He was the beloved husband of Helen M. (Domigan) Spinney with whom he shared 56 years of marriage. Devoted father of Stephen Spinney and his wife Catherine Witham of Saugus, and David Spinney and his wife Kyong Suk of Woburn. Dear brother of Dora Little and her late husband John of Everett, Florence Nickerson and her late husband Howard of Nova Scotia, Martha Marsch and her husband William of Hudson, N.H., and the late Lawrence Spinney, Edith Spinney, Harry Spinney and his late wife Dorothy, Joyce Clinton and the late Norman, Ernest Spinney and his surviving wife Maryan of Malden, and the late Donald Spinney and his surviving wife Sharon of Utah. Also survived by many niece and nephews. Cherished grandfather of Scott Spinney, Stephen Spinney, Kaitlyn Spinney, Jonathan Spinney, David Witham, and Kelsey Witham.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and remembrance of Ivan’s life during visiting hours at the Melrose Church of the Nazarene, 2 Short St., Melrose on Monday, Dec. 11, followed by his funeral service. Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. For directions, online tribute or to share a memory, visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
