When the Pallottine Missionary Sisters acquired the former St. Edwards' Preparatory School for Boys to house their new hospital, the property was in deplorable shape – many of the windows had been smashed, wallpaper was hanging from the walls and rats, roaches and other vermin had taken up residence.

Because the Sisters had little money, they did much of the cleaning and repairs themselves, assisted by volunteers from St. Joseph's Parish. Carpenters were employed to do the most complicated repairs, although the Sisters were more than willing to try their hand at laying brick.

Once the hospital was ready for its first patients, the eight pioneer Sisters who opened St. Mary's Hospital divided up their duties, with each taking on multiple tasks:

Sister Carola Jehle became the hospital's administrator, as well as overseeing the operating room with Sister Damiana Quack as her assistant.

Sister Pia Polke became the general housekeeper, as well as office manager and chief accountant.

Sister Anastasia Raker worked tirelessly as general floor nurse. Her side job was taking care of the boiler room. Sometimes it was midnight before she could get to that last job.

Sister Amalia Bauer took care of the laboratory and assisted in the operating room when needed. An early history of St. Mary's credits her with insisting on the hospital's policy that none of the sick and injured coming to St. Mary's would be refused care because they couldn't pay.

Sister Valeria Frengel oversaw the x-ray department and was a general floor nurse. When she was around, things were done in a jiffy. She moved around so fast – usually with her rosary in hand – that she earned the title of "The Flying Angel."

Sister Laurentia Kuhn was also a general floor nurse. When not tending to her patients, she could be found taking care of the hospital laundry.

Sister Gerarda Mueller became the hospital's cook, feeding the patients with an ever-present smile on her face. It's said that the new hospital's budget was so tight that when some of the worn cooking pots developed holes she patched them with bread dough.

St. Mary's Medical Center is proud to induct the Pioneer Sisters of St. Mary's Hospital into our Wall of Fame.