Elizabeth Lawrence Gunselman

Elizabeth Lawrence was born in Durham, NC on February 26, 1950, the third child of Mildred and Eugene Lawrence. Growing up she lived in Apex, New Bern, and Raleigh, where she graduated from Enloe High School. She attended her first three years of college at Western Carolina, and graduated from East Carolina, after which she became certified as a Registered Dietician.

Her profession as a registered dietician began at a hospital in Charleston, SC for two years, and then took a position with the Health Department in Johnson City, TN. While in Johnson City, she met and fell in love with the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life, Dan Gunselman, an Ohio native. Liz and Dan were married in a beautiful outdoor wedding on October 2nd, 1976, in the mountains of North Carolina at her brother Gene’s home in Franklin, North Carolina. The leaves and the weather were perfect and the new couple, family, and friends all had a wonderful weekend together.

Soon after their marriage, they moved to Miami, Florida where Dan had accepted a job and Elizabeth continued her work as a dietician at Jackson Memorial Hospital, They lived in Coral Gables and enjoyed everything that a young couple could enjoy in southern Florida, including trips to the Keys and year-round outdoor activities with friends. Both growing up with a love of seasonal changes, and family in NC, Miami was never planned as a permanent stop. After two years, they moved back to NC, where they settled in Chapel Hill. Liz took a dietetics position with Lennox Baker and Dan with Blue Cross Blue Shield. They lived in Chapel Hill for a number of years and then Durham, during which time they raised three sons, Lawrence, Louis (Patrick) and Lee.

Elizabeth always loved family gatherings and making sure that birthdays, holidays, and family members’ special dates were never missed. She was the town crier for the family and always stressed the importance of getting everyone together whenever possible. After many years as working as a dietician, later in life she switched occupations and became a realtor, where she enjoyed a second successful career. This came as no surprise to her mother, based on the fact that even as a young child, Elizabeth would ask her to drive around the “nice” neighborhoods in Raleigh so that she could look at the many different designs and grounds.

She continued to work in Real estate even after receiving her cancer diagnosis. She eventually retired from real estate but remained active, and she and Dan enjoyed many tripes across the US and abroad. She stoically fought cancer for 14 years and did not let it define her or interfere with family activities. Her last family gathering was travelling down Fayetteville to celebrate her 74th birthday.

Liz is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Dan Gunselman, her three sons, Lawrence of Durham, and Patrick and Lee of Atlanta Georgia, Sister Sarah Childers (Ken) Roxboro, Brothers Andy Lawrence of Raleigh and Steve Lawrence (Georgiann) of Fayetteville, Sister-in-Law, Liza Lawrence of Franklin, former Sister-in-Law, Luanne Lawrence of Raleigh, and many nephews and nieces, all of whom were very special to her.

There will be a private ceremony for family at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at Noon Saturday, April 13, 2024.

The family would like to thank friends and the physicians and staff with the Duke Cancer Center, and its Hospice staff for all the excellent care consideration during her years of treatment and in helping to allow her a peaceful transition into eternity.