Gundy passed away on Monday, May 20, 2024, surrounded by her family, after a brief illness. Even though Gundy lost this fierce battle we all know she never gave up. We would like to thank all of the Doctors, Nurses and support staff at both North Bay Regional Health Centre’s Emergency and ICU Departments, and Sudbury’s Health Sciences North ICU Department. You were there for us when we were scared and didn’t know what was going to happen next. Your compassion, patience and thoughtful explanations, along with your first class care of Gundy, helped us through this most difficult time.
Gundy was born on August 15, 1976, in Antofagasta, Chile, to proud parents Deisi Elizabeth Guitierrez Cisternas and Luis Armando Moreno Gaitero.
In 2005 she took the brave and independent step of leaving her home and country and relocating to North Bay, Ontario. Even though she left the homeland she loved so much, her new home was a place her children were able to grow and flourish with the love and support of her new friends and family in Canada.
Having grown up in the northern part of Chile, just south of the equator, where north means hot and south means cold, she thought that North Bay would be a nice warm place to settle. After all, it was called “NORTH” Bay. Needless to say, she endured quite a bit of teasing from her new Canadian community over her shock at the harsh realities of winters in the Bay. Truth be told, she came to join her Mom and sister who were already here…but who somehow forgot to mention the cold. Despite never really embracing North Bay winters, Gundy grew to love both the City and it’s people and simply turned up the heat whenever necessary.
Her loss is felt first and foremost by Matt Butterworth, her partner in life and love, and by her mother, Deisi, her children Miguel, Destiny and Valentin, along with Matt’s children Chris and Izzy, and her three sisters, Yanina (and Leo), Dayan, and Janahan (and Jose), her Godson and nephew Jorge, and nieces Nanni, Javiera, Josefa and Ashley and other nephews Matias, Rylan and Ignacio, as well as her in-laws, Rick and Kathy Butterworth and all of Matt’s extended Butterworth family.
Also feeling her loss are numerous friends and work colleagues throughout North Bay, particularly at St. Hubert Catholic School and the incredible community at Parents Lending Autistic Youth Support (PLAYS) which welcomed her diverse family with open arms.
Gundy loved her family above all else. Together, she and Matt created a happy and lively home for their blended family of five very busy kids and one very happy dog, Laika. She loved nothing better than taking each and every opportunity to surround herself with family. Barbecues, campfires, or just sitting around the kitchen table laughing and telling stories into the wee hours were some of her favourite things. She was a fierce UNO player.
Some of her kids favourite memories are of her cuddling them when they were little, while singing their favourite lullabies and in more recent times reading stories with them before bed. She was so proud of the amazing people her kids are becoming.
She spent her life and career helping people, first as a Personal Support Worker (PSW), and then as an Early Childhood Educator (ECE), where she spent most of her time working with special needs kids. Inspired by her Mom, her firstborn, Miguel, will be entering a similar field of study to advocate for disabled children in our local school systems.
Gundy will be remembered for her compassion, her joy in just living every day to the fullest, her love for her family and her absolutely outrageous “no-holds-barred” passion for Bono and U2 and absolutely anything “ROOTS”. She was clever, kind and funny. Anyone who knew Gundy would agree she is gone far too soon.
Finally, We want to say thank you to anyone who might wish to make a donation in Gundy’s memory. All of you who knew Gundy knew that she was very much an advocate for autism awareness and mental health issues. One suggestion would be Community Living North Bay, at 741 Wallace Rd, North Bay or to any charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements have been private. However, we would like to invite family, friends and colleagues to join us at a Celebration of Life for Gundy to take place at the North Bay Elk’s Lodge #25, 325 Elks Lane, North Bay, on June 15th from 1:00 to 4:00. Arrangements have been entrusted with Ranger’s Cremation and Burial Services Ltd. Online condolences can be posted at www.RangersSudbury.com.