Grace M. Cavanaugh

At peace on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at age 86.  Born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, her younger years were spent both in school and playing in the streets with her siblings. Growing up in the Gerritsen Beach neighborhood during the depression, she became fond of swimming in the nearby river with the neighborhood children and lamented the scarcity of books at home.

As a young woman, Grace followed her sense of spirituality, a longing for education, and a commitment to social justice issues by entering the religious life right out of high school. After a cross-country train ride, her first time out of the state, she arrived in Wausau, WI, as a member of the Sisters of the Divine Savior.  While in community for over 20 years, she both held the office of Novice Mistress and served as an educator in various parochial schools in Wisconsin.

At first she taught grade school, then science at Divine Savior High School after finishing her B.S. in Botany at Marquette University. After some years and seeking to further her education, she was finally granted permission to take a Master’s in Psychology, her new found passion.  After she left the religious life, she found work as a psychologist at St. Michael’s Hospital. Continuing with her commitments and studies, and understanding that she would need to further her education to enter private practice, she commenced working toward a Doctorate in Psychology.  This was perhaps her most cherished personal accomplishment. Her professional life flourished in private practice, and she gained a well-deserved reputation while nurturing a heightened sense of action toward greater justice and fairness in the world.  She was a longtime member of many professional organizations including the American Psychological Association, the Wisconsin Psychological Association, and the Society of Professional in Dispute Mediators. Along with her growing professional career, she met and married her husband of some 20 years, Russell Bumbalek and his family.  Grace stepped into her role as stepmother to Russell’s children with her usual wit and wisdom.  Five years into their marriage, Grace’s life changed again when she shouldered the job of caring for Russell after he survived a serious health issue. For the next 15 years, she and his son Ken cared for Russell at home until his needs grew greater than could be provided for there.  Until his death in 1991, Grace visited Russell every day and watched over his care at the facility while continuing to work full-time and honing her craft as a skilled mediator. Grace also maintained a close relationship to her family by continuing family gatherings several times a year.

After retirement in 2000, Grace amplified her patronage of the arts.  She traveled the world and certainly kept her interest in worldwide civil affairs and politics alive.  Many afternoons were spent walking along and admiring the Lake Michigan shore, taking in an exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum, attending an opera or play, visiting the Domes or botanical gardens with her dear friend Caroline, or simply watching the sunset. Her love of flowers and nature was evident throughout.

Grace never tired of learning, especially in the realm of spiritual subjects which varied from theological to philosophical to theosophical and more. She was also instrumental in forming an eclectic spiritual community here in Milwaukee, and a meditation, retreat and educational center in Massachusetts called Spiritfire.  Many lives have been touched by her compassion, kindness, deep spiritual commitment, and her passion for right human relationship in all its forms.

Grace is the loving sister of William (June) Ray of California, Pat (Tom) Eagleton of Brooklyn, New York, the stepmother to Ken (Rochelle) Bumbalek, and Linda (John) LaPin.  Beloved grandmother to Gianna (Jennifer) Pfister-LaPin, and aunt to numerous family members, as well as a dear friend and spiritual mother to many.

She requested donations be made to your charity of choice.

A family and friendship gathering will be held at Hawthorne Terrace, 7700 Portland Avenue, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, on Sunday, February 26, 2017. Gathering from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM, a Memorial Service to follow from 1:00 PM-2:00 PM. Reception will be held from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM.