Sister Anne Virginie, the woman who as much as anyone else oversaw the rise of the Hospital of St. Raphael and presented the institution’s caring human face to New Haven, died Saturday at the age of 84.
Sister Anne passed away at a nursing home run by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, N.J.
Her passing comes at a time the hospital she spent decades building up is about to become part of Yale-New Haven Hospital, which has promised to maintain the campus’s religious mission.
Sister Anne dedicated her life to the work of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth starting in 1949. The organization founded St. Raphael’s. For 34 years, Sister Anne was based here working for the hospital.
Starting in 1967, she joined the hospital’s board. “She subsequently served as administrator of the hospital, president of the parent system, president of the Saint Raphael Foundation and vice chairperson of the board,” according to a hospital press release. “Under Sister Anne’s leadership, Saint Raphael’s grew physically, technologically and clinically. She oversaw the $33 million expansion project that included construction of the Dr. Luca E. Celentano, Sister Louise Anthony, Center for Caring and Orchard Medical Center buildings; as well as construction of the Father Michael J. McGivney Center for Cancer Care and the acquisition of Saint Regis Health Center, Saint Raphael’s 125-bed skilled nursing and short-term rehabilitation facility that was subsequently renamed in Sister Anne’s honor.
“Reflecting the mission of the Sisters and Saint Raphael’s, Sister Anne also championed community outreach activities including Project MotherCare, Project ElderCare, the Smiles to Go dental van and the HOPE welfare-to-work skills development program.”
Sister Anne’s wake is scheduled for Tuesday in Convent Station, N.J., “followed by a funeral Mass at 6 p.m. The burial will be Wednesday morning, July 18, also in Convent Station,” according to the release.
