Bridgettine sister Nunzia was born on 10 October 1935 in Sturno, Italy. She was the second daughter in a family of nine children. The family consisted of two boys and seven girls.
She entered the convent shortly before her fifteenth birthday, on 14 February 1950, at the convent of Piazza Farnese in Rome. At that time, the founder, Saint Elisabeth Hesselblad, was still alive (she died in 1957). Sister Nunzia made her first vows on 10 August 1956 in Vadstena and her perpetual vows on 12 September 1961 in Djursholm. She served in several convents before arriving in Turku on 13 July 1987, where she also passed away on 31 July 2025.
Her final years were marked by suffering. On 21 December 2019, shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, she suffered a stroke. Until April 2020 she remained in hospital, after which she moved to a Swedish-speaking nursing home. She was paralysed and in poor health, but every Monday a special taxi brought her to the convent. There she spent the day with the sisters, and Father Stan celebrated Mass for her. In the last months she no longer had the strength to travel, and the priest brought her Holy Communion at the nursing home.
The sisters visited her daily, and many parishioners also came to see her. In her final days, the sisters took turns keeping vigil at her bedside, and they were gathered together when she died on 31 July 2025 during Compline.
The cooperation between the sisters and the nursing home staff was warm and uncomplicated. Many will remember Sister Nunzia tending the small garden in front of the house or sitting and knitting socks.
May she rest in peace.
Florence Schmitt