Providence Regional Medical Center Everett

Description

The Providence Story Begins
In celebrating its Centennial year Providence Regional Medical Center Everett recognizes its foundresses Mother Gamelin and Mother Joseph These dynamic women of faith and perseverance dedicated their lives to those in need Their legacy provides the inspirational mission for Providence Everett Medical Center today Here are their stories

Triumph Through Trials
While the presence of Providence in Everett began in 1905 the story begins a century earlier in Quebec Montreal with one womans vision and vow to simply care for and serve others

Eacutemilie Tavernier was born in Montreal in 1800 At age 23 she married John Baptiste Gamelin Happiness was shortlived her first two children died within months of their birth In 1827 her husband died after a long illness and a year later her third and last child died

In her grief Eacutemilie Gamelin plunged into the work of the Ladies of Charity in Montreal an association for the relief of the citys poor She came to see all the poor and needy as her new family using her home and her inheritance to shelter the orphaned abandoned or runaway children the mentally ill homeless handicapped immigrants and destitute people of all kinds

After working on her own for 15 years Emilie and the Most Reverent Ignace Bourget Bishop of Montreal founded the Daughters of Charity Servants of the Poorknown to all as the Sisters of Providenceon March 25 1843 After pronouncing her religious vows on March 29 1844 Emilie was appointed as the first Superior of the congregation

The Sisters of Providence grew rapidly and achieved much under Mother Gamelins direction She died of cholera on September 23 1851 From her deathbed she urged her Sisters to be ever mindful of the virtues she herself had embraced throughout life quotHumility simplicity and charity Above all charityquot

Although Mother Gamelin founded the Sisters of Providence it was another amazing womanMother Josephwho brought the Sisters of Providence to the Northwest

Pioneering Passion
Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart was born Esther Pariseau on April 16 1823 in St Elzeacutear Quebec Raised on a farm the third of twelve children Esther learned many skills through her rural lifestyle sewing weaving carding wool and caring for children In addition her father an expert coach maker taught his daughter carpentry and design skills that she later applied to construction of some of the Northwests first hospitals and schools

Esther decided to enter the Sisters of Providence where as a novice she was trained in nursing in the Sisters pharmacy and infirmary Her sewing skills were utilized making robes habits and vestments and she learned to carve fine wax figures She also assisted the treasurer with financial matters Additional daily tasks included marketing baking and the laundry In 1845 Esther Pariseau took her vows of poverty chastity obedience and service to the poor and received her name in religion Sister Joseph

In 1856 Sister Joseph led a group of four Sisters of Providence from Montreal to the Washington Territory Bishop Bourget dedicated the new mission in the west to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and bestowed a new name on its young superior Sister Joseph would be known as Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart Under her leadership and trusting in divine direction more than 30 hospitals schools and homes were opened for orphans the elderly and the sick in Washington Oregon Idaho Montana and southern British Columbia

Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart died on January 19 1902 at the age of 79 Her last words to the Sisters gathered around her bed were My dear Sisters allow me to recommend to you the care of the poor in our houses as well as those without Take good care of them have no fear of them assist them and receive them Then you will have no regrets Do not say Ah this does not concern me let others see to them My Sisters whatever concerns the poor is always our affair

Hall of Honor
Mother Josephs contributions to education health care and the social services continue to be recognized a century after her death In 1980 she was named as Washington States second representative in National Statuary Hall in Washington DC And in 1999 at the request of a group of Vancouver sixthgrade students the legislature passed a bill declaring her birthday April 16 as Mother Joseph Day in Washington State

History

History of Providence Hospital
Providence Everett Medical Center
In 1975 General Hospital Medical Center and
Providence Hospital began to consider a merger of
the two institutions An extensive study was
undertaken to determine the future needs of the two
hospitals but no further action was taken until
1994


1994 Exactly 100 years after the founding of
Everetts first hospital General Hospital and
Providence Hospital joined forces The merger took
effect on March 1 1994

Providence and General Hospitals became a new
entity Providence General Medical Center under
the sponsorship of the Sisters of Providence Health
Systems General and Providence joined forces
pledging to focus on improving the health status of
the community while maintaining the quality of care
they so highly valued throughout their histories

2000 In the year 2000 the hospitals name was
changed to Providence Everett Medical Center

2004 Providence Everett Medical Center opened a
first of its kind healthcare clinic Providence
Everett Healthcare Clinic was established to
provide basic medical care for people in our
community who have had difficulty gaining access to
healthcare providers Providence Everett Healthcare
Clinic welcomes patients with Medicare Medicaid as
well as the uninsured

2008 Providence Everett Medical Center changed its
name to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett

Today Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
serves patients from Snohomish Skagit Whatcom
Island and San Juan counties