WILMINGTON — For years, Saint Francis Hospital not only provided healthcare for residents of Wilmington and beyond. The hospital also trained those who administered that care through its nursing school.
The Saint Francis School of Nursing closed in 1976 after 50 years in existence, and this fall, alumni are getting together to celebrate the century anniversary of its opening and the 50th year since the last class graduated. The celebration will be held Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. at Ed Oliver Golf Club in Wilmington. Bishop Koenig will attend and offer a blessing. Father Jack Kolodziej, provincial of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, also will be there. The day will include a luncheon and a digital photo presentation, said Gerri Irish, a member of the Class of 1969 and one of the organizers.
“We’re just going to enjoy ourselves,” said Irish, a member of St. Dennis Parish in Galena, Md.
Phila Breeding, who graduated in 1976, said most of the nurses worked elsewhere but stayed in touch.
“We didn’t see each other very often, but we stayed in touch through Facebook or whatever,” she said.
Irish said the hospital marked a century of service a few years ago and was looking for its nursing alumni. A group of nurses who have stayed in touch wanted to do something for the school’s centennial and, “after that, the ball started rolling.”
Saint Francis Hospital opened in 1924 with 50 beds, and two years later the Sisters of St. Francis began the nursing school, which was located in the old Hilles mansion at Seventh and Clayton streets. The new nursing school was completed in 1939 with classrooms, a laboratory, auditorium, library and residence facilities.
Marilyn Martin, a member of the Class of 1973, recalled the good times living at the nursing school.
“I’ve been up on the roof, a lot,” Martin said. “That was to sunbathe, and just because of the camaraderie. The best thing about nursing school is the camaraderie.”
Irish said the nursing school was “an old, dark building.
“We all lived there until about 1971, ’72. I loved it there. It was a great community. Plus, they had a back yard. We used to play games out there,” she said.
Chris Wasylynn, a member of the Class of 1976 who attends St. Peter the Apostle Parish in New Castle, said the lessons she learned in nursing school remain with her.
They were taught to take care of their patients “and to take care of them like we would take care of family,” she said. “I’ve heard that in my head over and over. You can’t stop thinking about it.
“I came here because they made us better than other places made nurses.”
Irish said the organizers have heard from members of many classes, including one woman who graduated in 1955. That lady is 92 years old. The last alumni are in their 70s, so they don’t know how much longer they have to gather together.
The group of organizers have been meeting for several months putting the event together. Irish said workers at Saint Francis Hospital found a lot of nursing memorabilia when they were renovating the seventh floor. That, along with yearbooks, letters and other items, have unlocked many memories.
“You’re sitting there looking at things and you think, ‘This is amazing,’” Irish said. “You can see us looking at yearbooks back then.”
Martin said workers found her class ring when they were doing work on the seventh floor about 10 years ago. It was returned to her in 2018 at her class’ 45th reunion. She worked in Richmond, Va., and the ring was stolen when her apartment there was broken into. She has no idea how it ended up back at Saint Francis.
“I was so surprised,” she said.
The nurses said they sometimes hear about the impact they made on their patients. Wasylynn experienced that with a former patient who happens to be a nurse herself.
“She was telling me how much I made a difference in her life,” Wasylynn said. “That’s how they made us here.”
In addition to the reunion, there are plans for a permanent display at the hospital to showcase memorabilia from the nursing school. For more information about the reunion or about donations to that display, contact Irish at GIrish9@verizon.net.
