Dedicated to God and Compassionate Care Recently, Mary Susann Gobber, SCN, celebrated 60 years as a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, with most of those years in health care ministries. She was also recognized for decades of dedicated care to patients in hospital and geriatric care facilities, as a nominee for one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s 25th Annual Governor’s Service Awards. A ball of energy, Sister Susann is a familiar and much-loved member of the St. Joseph Health Care family. After decades of being in ministry at the hospital, she retired but continued in ministry at the Lexington, Kentucky institution as a volunteer. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sister spent over 800 volunteer hours helping in admissions and escorting patients to procedures.
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Sister Susann would also visit physicians and members of their office staff to pray for them, a ministry she continues from home now. She says throughout her life, she has truly felt God’s blessings and presence. With a lifelong ministry in health care, her calling to this path began not long after entering the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in 1958. In 1962, Sister Susann began ministry as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), serving
SIS TERS OF CHARIT Y OF NA Z ARE TH • VOL . I 2021
patients in a number of capacities over the years. In 1974, she began studies to become a Physical Therapy Assistant and ministered in this role from 1976 until 2004. After joining the Saint Joseph Hospital family in 1994, her primary assignments included the Sub-Acute Care Unit as well as in-patient rehab. Nancy Fister first met Sister Susann in 1997 at St. Joseph’s. The two were on the same unit offering physical therapy. They are close and Nancy describes her as gifted with patients. Adding, she’s become a dear friend and over the years has been “a true reflection of God’s love, grace, and mercy.” S C N FA M I LY.O R G
