A Legacy of Love

Eileen Walsh considers Saint Francis a part of her family. Eileen’s mother, Marie, was born at Saint Francis Hospital in 1930 and went on to graduate from the Saint Francis School of Nursing in 1950 which launched her 40-year career as a nurse. Eileen and her two siblings were both delivered at Saint Francis too. She cared for hundreds of patients and made life-long friends while working as a nurse and later as an active volunteer on the Junior Board until her passing 2011.

“Thank you to the Saint Francis team and to the broader family of Trinity Health. I am grateful to be able to offer a measure of support as you continue your work to be a compassionate and healing presence for those most in need in the communities you serve.” — Eileen Walsh

“My mom was passionate about Saint Francis and the importance of its role in the community, especially caring for the most vulnerable among us.” Upon her retirement, Marie shared “my life has been truly enriched by being a member of the Saint Francis Hospital team. It has provided me the opportunity to care for the sick and the privilege to be associated with many fine people dedicated to that goal. I’m sure Saint Francis and I will continue to be partners in some way in the future because, as you can see, we’ve been close friends for a long, long time.”

For Eileen, she sees her philanthropic commitments as privilege to continue the family relationship with Saint Francis and a special way to honor her mother. Her gifts have contributed to the renovations of the intensive care unit, Saint Francis LIFE, and the family medicine residency clinic as well as funded Community Health and Well-Being outreach programs. As Eileen put it, she remains inspired by the 97 years of extraordinary people, like her mother, who have worked in the service of others. “Their collective spirit echoes through the hallways and powers the unique heartbeat that is Saint Francis Hospital. It is the heartbeat of a community treasure.”