Maren Marie Sundt Chappell

Maren Marie Sundt Chappell, resident of Westminster, Colorado, met her death from Covid-19, June 16, 2020, with the strength and vigor she use when approaching her life; she was sweet and kind to all those around her, and she “got it done” quickly and efficiently.

A Dear Friend, Grandma, Great-grandma, Aunt Yarn, Mother – so many terms of endearment for this warm, loving 92 year old woman. Born July 7, 1927 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Maren was raised by Martin C. and Annie Maud Sundt. Their family business, The Las Vegas Brick Company, provided the brick for many of the buildings in Las Vegas, NM. Annie Maud, Martin, and family [Bill, Maren, Neil, and Ann] took many  a long car trip to visit relatives and national parks. They camped and enjoyed the outdoors, values that Maren passed to her children Carol, Marty, and Sally.

Maren loved to drive, ride, and explore the world. She traveled to Alaska, China, and British Isles, and Scandinavia with sisters-in-law Polly and Dolores Sundt and daughter Sally. She drove across the US many a time; a first trip to the ocean for the family, a visit to the grandparents in New Mexico, Arizona, or Nebraska, driving a van full of furniture to the growing Maine family, each trip was an adventure. Maren always had her camera, ready to document every detail of the trip in her vast collection of photo albums.

Maren was proud to have been the first nurse practitioner in the state of Ohio and to have been involved with the growing women’s reproductive health movement of the early 70s. She graduated from the Las Vegas, New Mexico High School in 1945. Maren earned her RN from the St. Luke’s School of Nursing, Denver in 1947, her BS from the University of Cincinnati in 1971, and her obstetric-gynecological nurse practitioner certification from the Planned Parenthood and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1974. Maren worked for Planned Parenthood in Cincinnati and Kaiser Health Care in Denver for over 20 years as a Nurse Practitioner. Her work touched many hearts as she moved through her career.

Maren was active in the first Unitarian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio and later she made the Jefferson Unitarian church in Colorado her place of worship and friendship.

The family’s land in the mountains of Colorado was always a special place for Maren and her off and on again, late husband, James Carroll Chappell. They bought the land from friends, the Reverend Cap and Jennie Perrigo. Time spent on that land, with the neighboring Jean family, and at Jennie and Cap’s Lodge, was very special to us all as we grew up. Maren is survived by her sister, Ann Marlene Sundt Burg’ children Carol Marie Chappell and husband James O’Connell; Martin James Chappell; Sally Ann Chappell; grandchildren, Davin Patrick Chappell O’Connell and wife Sara Hurd O’Connell; Brian Ives Chappell O’Connell; and great-grandchild, Ella Hurd O’Connell.

Someday, when it is safe to gather once again, we will visit the land in Colorado, “the shack”, and the meadow. We will honor the life Maren Marie Sundt Chappell lived.

With love

Sally, Marty and Carol