Gundula "Gundi" Hinze McCandless

The light of our lives has gone out but she lives on in our hearts. Gundi was born to Otto and Gertrude Hinze and grew up in Gardelegen, East Germany. She went on to graduate from nursing school in Dessau. With some difficulty, she managed to escape to West Germany and was employed at a hospital in Hamburg.

She joined an adventurous group of German nurses and came to Galveston to work at the John Sealy Hospital. There she worked in a Pediatric ward caring for burn children. During this time, she met and subsequently married a medical student, Bob McCandless. The ensuing years were spent in Iowa City while her husband completed an internship and radiology residency. They were blessed with three beautiful daughters –Edda, Tracy, Claire.

On returning to Texas, they settled in Houston where they raised their family. Gundi went on to become an accomplished tennis player at championship level at Houston Racquet Club. When she was no longer able to play tennis, she spent more time gardening as a master gardener. As a lifelong art aficionado, she was a dedicated art student and astute collector - “art is for the soul.”

Family was always first and foremost. She was a devoted, caring, and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She welcomed son-in-laws, Paul and Bruce. Later, grandchildren Haley, Erin, AJ, Tessa, and Sofija were her pride and joy.

As we now say good-bye, let it be known that you are our heroine, our inspiration, and our role model on how to live life. You have enriched our lives beyond measure and your indomitable spirit will never die.

A celebration of Gundi’s life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 22nd of May, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. For those unable to attend the Celebration of Life a livestream will be accessible by selecting the "Join Livestream" icon on the "Celebration of Life" below.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, memorial contributions in honor of Gundi may be direct to the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave., Houston, TX, 77002. (www.AlleyTheatre.org)

It is finished. God Bless Gundi.