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The Foundresses of St. Joseph's Villa
Sister St. Louis (Beauchamp)
Sister St. Louis came from Hotel Dieu, Montreal as one of the foundresses of Hotel Dieu, Chatham on July 16, 1869. She held the offices of Assistant Superior and Mistress of Novices. Recalled to Montreal in 1877, where she died in the office of Superior in 1884. Foundresses of Hotel Dieu, Chatham, July 16, 1869.
Sister Helen McGurty
Sister Helen McGurty of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph; chief hospitaller at Chatham; b. Ireland, 1 Sep 1837, d/o Peter McGurty and Helen Flanagan; entered religious life, 1852; d. Montreal, 22 Feb 1913. Helen McGurty was one of the four members of the Religious Hospitallers who arrived in Chatham in 1869 under the leadership of Louise Davignon to establish and conduct the Hotel Dieu Hospital. As she was the only native English speaker of the group, it was appropriate for her to be made "chief hospitaller." This position required her to be present in the hospital at most times, and it was she with whom the patients and members of the public ordinarily communicated.
McGurty spent thirteen years in Chatham before being recalled to Montreal. During that time, she worked in three successive Hotel Dieu hospitals. The first was a makeshift one set up in the bishop's tiny former residence. In spite of the cramped quarters, sixty patients were admitted during the first year of operation, and 500 outpatients were treated. The second hospital, which was built in 1870, was spacious enough, but it was cold and sparsely equippied The third, which was open in 1876, was an elaborate T-shaped structure, which remained in use as a hospital until 1913. At the conclusion of McGurty's service in 1883, admissions were averaging more than 100 patients annually. In 1993, a plaque honouring McGurty's memory was placed on the original Hotel Dieu Hospital building, which now houses St. Michael's Museum & Genealogical Centre.
McGurty spent thirteen years in Chatham before being recalled to Montreal. During that time, she worked in three successive Hotel Dieu hospitals. The first was a makeshift one set up in the bishop's tiny former residence. In spite of the cramped quarters, sixty patients were admitted during the first year of operation, and 500 outpatients were treated. The second hospital, which was built in 1870, was spacious enough, but it was cold and sparsely equippied The third, which was open in 1876, was an elaborate T-shaped structure, which remained in use as a hospital until 1913. At the conclusion of McGurty's service in 1883, admissions were averaging more than 100 patients annually. In 1993, a plaque honouring McGurty's memory was placed on the original Hotel Dieu Hospital building, which now houses St. Michael's Museum & Genealogical Centre.
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