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Commemorating 90 years of St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital Auxiliary

By Staff report Mahoning Matters

October 9, 2023 1:18 PM

Mercy Health’s St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital employees celebrating Sweet 16 anniversary this August Kara Franz

The Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital Auxiliary has announced they’ve reached a milestone: 90 years of service to the Youngstown community.

Who makes up the St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital Auxiliary?

According to Mercy Health, there are 70 St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital Auxiliary members.

Their mission is to organize fundraisers like book sales for St. Elizabeth in Youngstown and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Boardman.

They started serving St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital 15 years ago but have volunteered for 90 years in Youngstown.

“With 90 years of service, the St. Elizabeth Auxiliary carries on a rich history of caring for the people of the Mahoning Valley through our support of our area hospitals,” said Joyce Kester, president of the St. Elizabeth Auxiliary. “It is our honor to serve these hospitals and this community, and we look forward to continuing this service for years to come.”

Many members worked as nurses or health care professionals before retiring and now volunteer their time with the auxiliary.

The group also provides volunteers at the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center.

Volunteers make hand-knitted and crocheted blankets for newborns in the St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital maternity unit and pillows for post-abdominal surgical patients.

Celebrating 90 years of service

According to Kathy Harley, president of Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, the auxiliary is “a blessing to the Mahoning Valley.”

“From raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to volunteering in our hospitals, their contributions to our community are innumerable. We share our immense gratitude to the members of the Auxiliary for all they have done, and continue to do, for Youngstown. When many hospital auxiliaries are closing, ours is thriving due to all the great works from Rita Havas and her auxiliary team,” said Harley.

The milestone will be commemorated with a luncheon on Monday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center in Austintown.

During the event, auxiliary members will be presented a memento gift donated by the Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley in honor of their service.

“For 15 years, St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital has benefited from the many contributions of the St. Elizabeth Auxiliary, and we could not be more grateful for their commitment to our hospital and community,” said Genie Aubel, president – of St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital. “Today, we celebrate nearly a century’s worth of volunteering and fundraising to support Mahoning Valley patients and the people who are the heart of our auxiliary.”

Members will share memories of the many services provided to patients and staff at St. Elizabeth Youngstown and St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospitals.