Sr. Julie Cannon, CSJ '51

Sr. Julie Cannon, CSJ

Sr. Julie Cannon’s life philosophy is to always be alert to opportunities to serve and to learn. Her openness to both has led her to five advanced degrees, travel to six of the seven continents and untold numbers of friendships. She traces this philosophy back to her Nazareth days, where she was inspired by “teachers who were giants of education. Sister Aquinas, Sister Constance and Sister Paulita [Ellen Springer] made learning so interesting that I never wanted to stop.”

And she hasn’t. Her love, particularly of science, led her first into teaching (including a stint as Nazareth’s Biology instructor), and then into nursing. “I was pretty content teaching when a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph community asked if I had ever considered nursing. It wasn’t something I planned for, but it’s where I specialized for the next 40 years.”

She worked clinically in both critical care and psych and was instrumental at Rush Hospital in helping to develop a stress unit with dual diagnosis from each department. Even when she took up

teaching nursing at North Park University, she continued her clinical work. “I loved working with patients so I made sure to keep a clinical rotation, particularly at Chicago Read Mental Health Center.”

The development of an international nursing program at North Park led Sr. Julie to her next great passion - travelling. “I am so blessed to have travelled to six continents and practiced nursing on five of them. Learning about cultures is so different than the technical approach of learning about nursing. It has added richness to my life.”

At the age of 85, Sr. Julie is still “alert and quite mobile so off I go,” most recently to Croatia. She takes immense pride in both Nazareth Academy and the Congregation of St. Joseph, recognizing the power of the gifts she received from both and the grace that comes from passing those gifts on to others. When given the chance, she reminds students that “love is always the answer. Whatever the problem or challenge, a kind and loving heart opens the door to the future.”

Nazareth Academy Class of 1951

“I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE TRAVELLED TO SIX CONTINENTS AND PRACTICED NURSING ON FIVE OF THEM. LEARNING ABOUT CULTURES IS SO DIFFERENT THAN THE TECHNICAL APPROACH OF LEARNING ABOUT NURSING. IT HAS ADDED RICHNESS TO MY LIFE.”