Family obit - names children - [private]

ATTLEBORO - Gerda Alice Marguerite Stenfeldt died Sunday, June 22, 2008 at the age of 87. She was the widow of Nils T. Stenfeldt, a longtime employee of Englehard Industries, and the daughter of the late Gerda Anderson Moreau and Jean Moreau.

Mrs. Stenfeldt was born in Barrowsville, but lived most of her life in Attleboro.

Gerda was a registered nurse and an employee of Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro for more than 40 years until retiring in 1993 at age 72. She was also employed part time by Swank, did years of private nursing and was a lifetime volunteer for the United Way.

She was a member of the Brown University and Johns Hopkins Nursing School Alumni Associations. She enjoyed membership in many nurses groups over the years and OPEL (Old People Enjoying Life).

She graduated from Pembroke University in 1941, Johns Hopkins Nursing School in 1944 and completed additional coursework at Bryn Mawr.

She taught nursing at Grady Hospital in Atlanta and then opened a nursing school at the Sylacauga Hospital in Alabama from 1944 to 1946. She thereafter taught nursing at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro for 40-plus years, from 1946 to 1991. She was also the evening nursing supervisor at Sturdy Memorial Hospital for many years.

She was a devoted friend to many colleagues, students and patients over the years. She shared her humor generously and always enjoyed making those around her see the funny side of even grim situations. Her loud boisterous laugh and voice were her trademarks.

She leaves two children,

of Attleboro and Lillian Mansour Stenfeldt of Hillsborough, Calif. She leaves seven grandchildren: Sergeant First Class (U.S. Army) Lance Stenfeldt of Adams, N.Y., who just returned from a 16-month tour of duty in Afghanistan; Mimi and Michael Mansour of Hillsborough; and

of Plainville. She also leaves three great-grandchildren, Cassia, Lance and Angela of Adams, N.Y.

In recognition of her lifetime love of learning and the nursing profession, and all the fun she had while teaching and working at Sturdy, donations in lieu of flowers would be appreciated. Please send donations to the Sturdy Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 2963, Attleboro, MA 02703 and indicate the funds are to be applied to the "Gerda Stenfeldt Nursing Education Fund."

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 5 at 11 a.m. at the Florence H. Sweet Club House, 44 Peck St., Attleboro, MA 02703. Their Web site, for directions, is www.sweetclubhouse.com.