Sister Catherine Hellmann always said her work building the Bend medical community, including the current hospital, was akin to setting the table for a feast she may not be able to attend. Her life of 88 years ended on Sunday in Tipton, Ind., but her vision for a robust, patient-centered medical community in Central Oregon continues.
Sister Catherine Hellmann always said her work building the Bend medical community, including the current hospital, was akin to setting the table for a feast she may not be able to attend. Her life of 88 years ended on Sunday in Tipton, Ind., but her vision for a robust, patient-centered medical community in Central Oregon continues.
SCHS asked that caregivers share their thoughts and memories about Sister Catherine. Here are some of those submissions:
"When I arrived in Bend 11 and a half years ago, Jim Lussier and I had a vision for the Heart Institute which we were just starting. We were committed to make it the best Heart Institute in the world. It was sometimes difficult to get other people to share our vision except for one person - Sister Catherine. She said 'Bruce you can do this, I have always had the vision that we would make St. Charles the Mayo Clinic of the west.' I still share Sister's vision and I hope everyone else in our medical community will as well. There could be no better tribute to her than to make her vision a reality."
Dr. Bruce H. Brundage, MD, MACC
Medical Director, Heart Institute of the Cascades
"Sister Catherine first came into my life on the elevator in the old St. Charles Hospital on 'hospital hill.' Sister asked me if I was a new employee. I said that I was and that I worked in Respiratory Therapy. She then shook my hand and said, 'Welcome, keep your nose clean and you will be a good employee.'
"We had many encounters in the following years. One was when she invited me to go wood cutting with her and Sister Ruth. We took my Jeep pick up up to the lava land area and cut most of the morning. We filled the pick up full of good pine and headed back to the Sisters' home, un-loaded and went in to wash up. Following we had a chili feed made by Sister Ann Rita. Boy, was that chili great. We went wood cutting several times after that. Sometimes with other St. Charles employees over the years. She was quite a lady!
Rod McPheeters
Respiratory Therapist
"When I went to employee orientation in July of 1990, Sister came and talked to us about St. Charles and its' history. She also talked about her history and her experiences. One of my favorite and memorable stories was the one that she told us about winter time. She told us about how in the old hospital downtown, there was some kind of chute from the operating rooms to the outside of the building and it was made of cement. Therefore in the winter it was covered with ice and she and some of the other nuns would slide down it while sitting on metal bedpans and still wearing their habits!!
While we all know of her faith, ministry and devotion she had towards her everything, she also had a wonderful sense of delight and humor!"
Georgia Grigsby, RN
Clinical Analyst for Information Technology
"My stepfather worked in Plant Operations when he was diagnosed with Cancer. My mother had also worked for St. Charles when it was on the hill downtown.
Sister Catherine and Sister Ann Rita came to my parents' home one afternoon and spent time with us and shared some suggestions that were very helpful during this very distressful time. She knew that I also worked at St. Charles and told me to take what time I needed to support my mother and stepdad during this time.
Sister Catherine and Sister Ann Rita had traveled at least 40 miles to come and share this time with us. We live eight miles south of La Pine. Our family felt this was above and beyond what most would have felt was necessary and we appreciated it more than words can express."
Minnie Gravitt
Environmental Services
"When we were building the addition to St. Charles Bend and we had no money for the chapel we have today. There was flat out no money. We had to use any money we had for patient rooms. Sister Catherine never took no for an answer very well, so off she went. She went to the Warm Springs Tribe, all of the different churches, Baja, even the Rhanzjessh and she got the money to build what the beauty of our chapel today. The chapel represents all of the diversity in faith and God. She crossed all the barriers and shared that gift with all of us... There was a presence about her. I felt like I was in the presence of greatness whenever I was around her. She touched you and like magic everything was ok. She was the most self actualize person I will ever know..."
Marty Betsch, RN, BSN