Gunhild M. "Gunny" (Hallstrom) Cacace

Weston – Maya Angelou said that "They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel." . . . and while that sentiment can apply to lots of situations, none come to mind better than to nurses.

During a lifetime spent working as a nurse, Gunny Cacace had a knack for making her patients feel loved and special, calm and cared about. Most got better and when they could not she held their hand and their heart and let them know that they were never alone. Nursing was her ministry and she pursued it with both skill and compassion.

Gunhild M. "Gunny" (Hallström) Cacace, of Weston, died Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham after a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia. She was 80.

Gunny was born in Finspång, Sweden on July 26, 1935, a daughter of the late Lovitz and Anna (Alm) Hallström. She earned a master's degree in nursing in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1959 she immigrated to the United States where she went to work at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and at around the same time met Waltham native Salvatore G. Cacace. A year later the couple married and soon settled in Weston where they became lifelong residents.

For twenty-three years Gunny worked as a nurse at Waltham Hospital, mainly in the maternity unit, where her talent, skill and demeanor nurtured new babies and new mothers alike. When she retired from working at the hospital to take care of her two grandchildren, Kurt and Kristina, she still cared for friends and neighbors who needed her gifts of time and ability.

It was to First Lutheran Church in Waltham where Gunny first came when she left her native Sweden to find a new home, new friends and a new spiritual family. Her faith-filled life was an example of a quote attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi . . . "Preach the gospel at all time; when necessary, use words." Those closest to Gunny can testify that faith was an action word to her; never allowing a need or a duty to go unfulfilled if she could help. Most of her volunteering was at First Lutheran Church where she helped many people.

Gardening, cooking and baking were among her many hobbies. She also was an avid reader. Gunny said, "when you read you are never alone and you can travel the world."

In addition to her husband of nearly fifty-five years, Sal, she leaves her daughter, Marie C. Brumme and her husband, Peter, of Lincoln; her grandchildren, Kurt A. Brumme and his wife, Caitlin, of Boston and Kristina M. Brumme and long-time significant other Tony Rianprakaisang of Berlin, Connecticut; her niece and nephew; Anna-Karin Holmberg and Anders Dahlberg and her extended family of Cacace relatives.

Gunny was the sister of the late Anne-Marie Dahlberg of Trangsund, Sweden.

Family and friends will remember and celebrate Gunny's life by gathering for her memorial service at the First Lutheran Church, corner of Weston and Eddy Streets, Waltham on Tuesday, September 8th at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Lutheran Church, 6 Eddy Street, Waltham, MA 02453.