Bella Mae (Brown) Spatz

Bella Mae (Brown) Spatz, 80 of Robeson Twp., Berks Co., PA died on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at Reading Hospital, from complications related to a recent reoccurrence of breast cancer in remission for 20 years.

Born April 24, 1940 at Reading Hospital in West Reading, PA, she was the daughter of the late Quentin Brown and the late Annette (Hartman) Brown. She was the wife of the late William L. Spatz.

A member of the Muhlenberg class of 1958, Bella excelled as a high school athlete playing several sports, including basketball and field hockey.  She started working at Polymer Corporation following graduation, where she met her husband.  She enjoyed being a fulltime mother and homemaker to her sons until they began elementary school.  She re-entered the workforce employed at Reading Scientific for 20 years before starting an entirely new career in 1999 as a dental assistant for Veronica Labate, DDS, from which she retired in 2015.

Bella and Bill attended many Masonic social activities over the years and greatly enjoyed dancing.  An avid bowler, she rolled a “279” while undergoing chemotherapy for her original cancer diagnosis in 2000.  She enjoyed playing cards regularly and attending meetings of her high school reunion committee.  Her greatest joy was watching her grandchildren grow up.

Bella was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Birdsboro, PA, where she participated in the crafting group and social ministry outreach activities including the soup kitchen.

Surviving are sons, Sterling W. husband of Catherine Spatz of Warrington, PA and Jody W. Spatz of Wyomissing, PA, brothers, Jack Brown of Northampton, PA and Dennis Brown of Mohnton, PA; 3 grandchildren, Emma, Emily and Peter.

A private burial from the church will be held for the immediate family.  A public memorial service will be announced for a later date as circumstances allow.

Memorial contributions may be sent to

American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Place, Suite 170 Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Helping Harvest (Greater Berks Food Bank), 117 Morgan Dr., Reading, PA 19608.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro, PA 19508

Dengler Funeral Home, Inc. Birdsboro, PA is in charge of arrangements.