Sister Mary Charles Fields, the former Mildred Fields, died Thursday, April 17, 2008 at Villa Maria Community Center.
Sister Mary Charles was born 82 years ago in Akron, Ohio, one of the three daughters of Joseph and Leona [nee May] Fields. She was born second after her twin, Margaret [nicknamed Chubby] and is survived by her two sisters, Margaret [Mrs. Martin] Begue of Tallmadge, Ohio and Denise [Mrs. Jack] Resser of Palm Coast, Florida; her nieces and nephews and their families whom she loved dearly.
A 1944 graduate of Villa Maria High School, Villa Maria, Pennsylvania, she entered the Humility of Mary Congregation on January 13, 1946 and professed first vows July 17, 1948. Her profession of perpetual vows was July 17, 1951. Sister Mary Charles celebrated her 60th anniversary as a Sister of the Humility of Mary in 2006.
Sister Mary Charles received her nursing degree from St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing, Youngstown, Ohio in 1953 and her BSN from St. Louis University, School of Nursing and Allied Health, St. Louis, Missouri in 1960. In 1968 she completed her MSW from Loyola University, School of Social Work, Chicago, Illinois. Her graduate field placement work included the Department of Public Welfare, Chicago; the Jane Addams Community Center [Hull House] in Chicago; and Rose-Mary Home, Euclid, Ohio. In 1976 she spent a year doing post-graduate social work at Our Lady of the Lake at the University of San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
Over 14 years she gained invaluable nursing experience from her one year as staff nurse and head nurse, three years as obstetrical nursing supervisor and three years as psychiatric nursing supervisor at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown. She was supervisor of medical nursing for one year at St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain, Ohio and served one year as night hospital supervisor at St. Joseph Riverside Hospital, Warren, Ohio. Sister Mary Charles served as director of nursing for two years at Villa Maria Community Center, Villa Maria, Pennsylvania.
Beginning in 1966 she was completely dedicated to her studies in social work at Loyola University of Chicago and in the work that followed, including 22 years as Director of Medical Social Services at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center, Youngstown, Ohio. She was a social work field instructor for programs out of Kent State University, Youngstown State University and the Case Western Reserve School of Applied Social Sciences.
Sister Mary Charles served as Quality Assessment Review Nurse from 1992-99 at which time she officially retired. Yet for nearly nine more years she volunteered in the Performance Improvement and the Patient Advocacy Departments and continued to give presence and witness to her concern for all at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown.
“Involved” is a word that shortchanges the degree of participation that Sister Mary Charles offered to the Mahoning Valley civic community. She was a member of the Board of Trustees at St. Joseph Riverside Hospital, Warren, Ohio; Aging Network Coordinating Council, District XI Area Office on Aging; Advisory Board, Youngstown State University Social Work Program; Mahoning County Task Force on AIDS; Family Preservation Council – Teen Pregnancy Project; Hillside Hospital Citizens Advisory Committee. At one time or another she also served as a member of the Health and Welfare Council of United Way; the Board of Trustees of St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center; Catholic Charities Board; Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Child and Adult Mental Health; Mahoning County Child Abuse Task Force and the Board of Catholic Service League of Mahoning County, Inc. She was a very involved member of the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association and served as its president as well as held that office for the Board of the Catholic Service League of Youngstown, Inc. She was secretary of the Northeastern Ohio Society of the National Association of Social Workers which in 1987 named her Social Worker of the Year. In 1986 she received the Ohio Society of Hospital Social Work Directors Community Service Award.
Sister Mary Charles returned to Villa Maria Community Center in early April, 2008 due to illness. Since 2005 she had participated formally in the Ministry of Prayer with one of her assigned intentions Humility of Mary Health Partners, Youngstown/Warren.
May Sister Mary Charles be blessed in an eternity of joy.
Memorial contributions may be forwarded to the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Development Office, PO Box 534, Villa Maria PA 16155.
Close Article