It is my privilege to recognize the family of Edith Cavaluzzo for their generosity in selecting the Institute for Nursing as the recipient of donations in her memory.  The generous gifts from her family and friends are a fitting tribute to her legacy. By supporting the next generation of nurses, they are ensuring that Edith’s spirit of service will live on. I had the honor of attending her memorial mass in August and thanked her family for their kindness. Here are some excerpts from the obituary that describes her life and dedication to the service of others.

Thanks to an education provided by the Eleanor Roosevelt Cadet Nurses Corps, Edith became a Registered Nurse and worked for many years at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Lyons.  It was there that she met John, cementing her lifelong connection to the Bernardsville area.

Edith was a great proponent of community involvement and service, lending her efforts to many civic organizations – from Borough governing boards to the VFW Auxiliary and the Bonafides to the senior citizens group, Chapter II, and the local chapter of AARP (both of which she helped found).  She also gave her time freely to her neighbors, family and friends, never hesitating to lend a hand in a health emergency or time of need.  A lifelong Catholic, she believed that we all have a responsibility to our fellow humans and lived her life in service to others.

Over the years, Edith’s generous spirit earned her several awards, including the VA Hospital Heart and Hands Award, the Bernardsville Outstanding Volunteer Award, the Somerset County Commission on Women Volunteerism Award, and the Millicent Fenwick Award, to name a few.