Heritage Wall Unveiling at Mercy Washington Marks 50th and 100th Anniversaries

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Heritage Wall Unveiling at Mercy Washington Marks 50th and 100th Anniversaries

Bethany Pope

Phone: 314-251-4472

Quick Facts: Washington

WASHINGTON, Mo. - Throughout 2026, Mercy Washington caregivers have celebrated a legacy of care dating back 100 years when the hospital opened its doors to the community and 50 years with Mercy. The culminating event was revealing a new Heritage Wall, a permanent installation on the second floor of Mercy Hospital Washington outside the chapel. The installation brings together two histories – that of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis and the Sisters of Mercy – with a shared legacy of compassionate care.

The celebration started with Mass in the chapel followed by the reveal of the Heritage Wall and an interactive archival display where caregivers are able to share memories and add themselves to the 100 years banner, showing their place in the legacy.

Sister Mary Roch Rocklage signing contract for transfer of ownership to Sisters of Mercy from Hospital Sisters of St. Francis.

History

In 1926, a three-story, 50-bed hospital opened under the name of St. Francis Hospital and run by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. In 1947, an east wing was added increasing the number of beds to 130.

In 1969, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis transferred ownership of the hospital to a lay board that decided to build a new facility in response to continually growing needs.

In 1976, ownership of the hospital was transferred to the Sisters of Mercy at the same time the new 185-bed hospital opened.

Quick Facts Over the Years

1928 1976 1999 2026

Licensed Beds 50 187 187 187

Physicians n/a 60 133 288

Caregivers n/a 450 736 1,244

Admissions 600 n/a 6,176 7,486

Babies Born n/a 474 908 739

ER Visits n/a 8,966 24,717 42,139

Surgeries 387 n/a 4,650 7,938

Visiting Hospital Sisters of St. Francis with Marie Moore and Sister Cabrini in front of the heritage wall noting histories from both orders. Left to right: Ritamary Brown, OSF; Marie Moore; Cabrini Koelsch, RSM; Annice McClure, OSF; Janelle Athorp, OSF; Maureen O'Conner, OSF. Sr. Annice and Sr. Janice both worked at the hospital in the 1960s.

Leaders Through the Years - Administrators

1926-1933 Sr. Mary Gerolda Kettman, OSF

1933-1936 Sr. Adelina Clever, OSF

1942-1943 Sr. Redempta Heuble, OSF

1943-1944 Sr. Eleuteria Hoeger, OSF

1944-1950 Sr. Carmelita Reisch, OSF

1950-1956 Sr. Blanche Siudzinski, OSF

1956-1961 Sr. Lenore Baranczyk, OSF

1961-1968 Sr. Augusta Sperl, OSF

1968-1969 Sr. Gerald Bailey, OSF

1969-1971 Sr. Miriam Therese Issinghoff, ASC

1971-1976 Sr. Mary Rita Basgall, ASC

1976-1986 Charles Thoele

1976-1980 John T. Farrell

1980-1986 Sr. Edel Dunne, RSM

1986-1997 Terry Rose

1997-1999 Patrick G. Bira

Presidents - During this time, the president title referred to the person leading both in St. Louis and Washington.

1976-1979 Sr. Mary Roch Rocklage, RSM

1979-1986 Charles Thoele

1986-1995 John T. Farrell

1995-2000 Mark Weber

President in Washington, Missouri

2000-2006 Michael Zilm

2007-2016 Terri McLain

2016-2024 Eric Eoloff

2025-current Marie Moore

Mercy Washington's newly installed Heritage Wall, located on the second floor outside of the chapel.

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state healthcare system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 6,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.