Maryse Monique Spears, of Bowling Green, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2014.
She was born on June 21, 1931 in St. Marcel, France to Marie-Jeanne Lavigne and Georges DeVani. She came
to the United States after meeting her husband of 36 years, Robert Spears, who died in 1991.
Maryse was the French and Spanish teacher at Otsego High School from 1975 until her retirement in 1998.
She was also an advisor to the French and Spanish clubs. She was always intensely interested in
broadening her students’ awareness of their cultural lives and helped to expand their horizons by
organizing trips to France, Spain, Montreal, Quebec and Toronto. She would also teach her students about
French cooking and had them prepare crepes, chocolate soufflé, and quiche. She was known for her keen
sense of humor to student and faculty alike. She would tell her students her favorite hair color was
luscious cherry.
Maryse’s interest in French culture led her to become a member (1969-2013) and teacher at the Alliance
Francais de Toledo. She helped organize many fundraiser for the Alliance, notable were the French
dinners where she prepared her legendary Boeuf Bourguignon. Maryse was also a Board member at the Maison
Francais at Bowling Green State University during the 70s’ and 80s’. While at the Maison Francais she
would assist in preparing her delicious dishes such as pate choux, boeuf daube and crepe suzette.
She was preceded in death by her father George’s Devani, her mother Marie-Jeanne, her brother Jacques
Devani and her husband Robert Spears.
She is survived by her daughter Valerie (Alan) Amidon, her son Gregory Spears (Claudia Turrell), her
granddaughter Alexa Spears, her sister Gisele (Maurice) Beccaro.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 31, 2014 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m at DUNN FUNERAL HOME, located in
the Historical District of Bowling Green at 408 W. Wooster St.
There will be a Celebration of Life Service Friday at 4 p.m. Rev. John Randall will officiate.
In lieu of flowers friends are asked to donate to UTMC Kidney Transplant Program, 3000 Arlington Avenue
Mail Stop, 1186 Toledo, Ohio 43614.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
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