Gayle L. Nylander, 39 of Medway died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family and friends on Thursday, August 20, 2009 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Milford on June 20, 1970, she was a daughter of Mary June (Bartlett) Nylander of Medway and the late Gary K. Nylander. Gayle was a Medway resident for most of her life and had also resided in Boston for 10 years.
She graduated from Medway High School in 1988 where she was Class Treasurer and Captain in the sport of Cheerleading. After completing high school she went on to the N.E. Baptist School of Nursing graduating in 1991 as president of her class. She continued on earning her Bachelor’s of Science Degree from UMass Boston in 2001.
Gayle was a registered nurse at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston in the Hematology Oncology unit for 17 years. There Gayle had an extensive family of nurse friends who she loved and cared for deeply.
Gayle’s hobbies included dancing at Fred Lucier’s School of Dance from a young age into her late teens. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling to such places as Spain and Greece. She was an active volunteer at the annual Relay for Life in Medway. She loved nature and the outdoors, especially camping with her family as a child. She also loved spending time at her parent’s pool always taking photos of special moments with her family.
Gayle’s daughter Abigayle was the light of her life. Gayle cherished each and every moment with her whether at Choate Park looking for frogs or spending the day at the zoo.
Besides her mother, she is survived by her fiancé, Joseph Simpson and daughter, Abigayle Erica Nylander-Simpson, two sisters, Patricia Spitnale and her husband Brent of Sparta, NJ and Heather Duke and her husband Jay of Newburyport and two brothers, Gary Nylander Jr. and his wife Lisa of Milford and Eric Nylander and his wife Rosemary Suty of Medway, her brother-in-law Michael Souza of Medway, and many nieces and nephews.
She was a sister of the late Mary June Souza and aunt of the late Nicholas Souza.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Mass on Thursday, August 27 at 11 a.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church, 14 School St. in Medway. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in West Medway.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday evening from 5 – 9 p.m. at the Ginley-Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber Street in Medway.