Joella Adina Spaine

Joella Adina Elizabeth Spaine was born on March 14, 1978, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where her life’s journey first began. At the age of nine, she immigrated to the United States, embracing a new culture, new opportunities, and a future filled with promise. It was during this time that she met Renee Hardman through the Big Brother/Big Sister program, forming a connection that would help shape her early years. Joella approached life with determination, resilience, and a quiet strength that would continue to define her character throughout her life.

Joella graduated from high school in 1997 and continued her education at Iowa State University in writing and communication, where she earned her degree and began laying the foundation for a successful and meaningful career. Education was not simply a stepping stone for Joella—it was one of her greatest passions. She had a deep love for learning, research, and the pursuit of knowledge. Whether through formal education, reading, or exploring new ideas, she found joy in continually expanding her understanding of the world around her.

Around 2017, Joella answered her calling to nursing and embarked on a career dedicated to caring for others. Her compassion, intelligence, and commitment to excellence made her an exceptional nurse. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she embraced the challenges of travel nursing, serving communities where she was needed most during one of the most difficult periods in modern healthcare.

Eventually, Joella found her professional home in Baltimore at University of Maryland Medical Center. There, she became part of a historic milestone as one of the first nurses in the hospital to care for patients in the newly opened heart unit. She was called the “Queen of Heart.” Alongside a fellow nurses, she helped care for the unit's very first heart patient, contributing to a program that would go on to impact countless lives. She remained dedicated to her profession and her patients throughout her career, serving with skill, dignity, and compassion until her final days.

While many find joy in travel, entertainment, or social gatherings, Joella found fulfillment in knowledge. She was a lifelong learner whose curiosity never faded. Her passion for education, research, and personal growth remained constant throughout her life. She valued wisdom, understanding, and the opportunity to learn something new each day.

Joella's legacy is one of perseverance, service, intelligence, and compassion. She touched the lives of countless patients, colleagues, friends, and family members through her dedication and caring spirit. Though her time with us was far too short, the impact she made will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.

"Those we love never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they shared, the lives they touched, and the memories we hold close in our hearts."

May Joella Spaine rest in eternal peace. 

Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00PM Saturday, June 27, 2026, visitation being at 1:00PM at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home and Crematory, located at 8201 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322.

Interment will be at the Glendale Cemetery following the service.