Virginia L. Schwager

Virginia L. Schwager Sister Gertrude of Providence, Age 89 Born in Royal Oak, November 15, 1924 – Deceased December 8, 2013 Director of Dietetics, Providence Hospital, Seattle, WA 1948 – 1955, Administrative Resident, St. Francis Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, PA 1956 – 1957, Assistant Administrator, St. Vincent Hospital, Portland, OR 1957 – 1958, Administrator, Providence Hospital, Everett, WA 1958 – 1961, Administrator, Providence Hospital, Seattle, WA 1961 – 1972, Director Division of Health Affairs, United States Catholic Conference, Washington DC 1972 – 1975, Assistant to the Chancellor, Georgetown Medical Center, Washington DC 1972 – 1975, President, Michigan Catholic Hospital Association, Lansing, MI 1976 – 1989, President Schwager Foundation 1988 – 2011 During her career, Virginia was an active member of the healthcare community in the United States. She was instrumental in many of the changes to patient care and healthcare legislation that we enjoy today. She held many state and national positions, including Commissioner of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals from 1973 – 1976. She authored numerous papers on improving patient care through the creation of standard menus, single patient rooms and nursing station design, and was influential in working with Medicare to allow patients to stay in single patient rooms. She traveled extensively through Australia presenting the concepts that were implemented at Providence Hospital. Awards Received: 1964 - Seattle's Top Ten Women 1965 - Theta Sigma Phi – Matrix Award 1968 - Who's Who of American Women 1970 - Phi Khi Theta, Women of the Year 1975 - Who's Who of International People 1989 - Distinguished Alumni Award, St Louis University, Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration In her retirement, she started the Schwager Foundation, in the 22 years that the foundation existed, provided 185 scholarships to college students. She believed that higher education was very important and she wanted to provide assistance to the "young people" of her community. She loved her family and enjoyed the births, graduation parties and weddings of her many nieces and nephews once she returned to Michigan. She loved technology and thought the creation of the internet and email was one of life's great joys. She corresponded frequently with her friends throughout the world and her many nieces and nephews, taking and sharing pictures. She lived the majority of her retirement in a senior community, appropriately named Providence, where she cherished the friends she made and enjoyed the many trips organized within the community. She had a great love of life and lifelong yearning for knowledge. She was fascinated to meet new people and to ask them about their personal journey. Parents: The Late Henry and Agnes Schwager Brothers and Sisters: Eleanor Raylea Orchard Park, NY, Gertrude Sam Fabiano, Sisters-in-law Peg Schwager, Rosemary Schwager, 163 Nieces and Nephews and the late George Shirley and Carol Schwager, Henry Dorothy Schwager, Elizabeth Paul Janness, Ralph Schwager, Robert Kay Schwager, Bernadette Charles Lowe, Rev. Edmund Schwager and Raymond Schwager In remembrance of Virginia Schwager, donations may be made to: Hospice Compassus 30665 Northwestern Highway Farmington Hills, MI 48334

Virginia L. Schwager

November 15, 1924 - December 8, 2013