Feature Story
Leach College of Nursing Expands
Rendering of new nursing facility at St. Clare Campus.
M
Sisters in town longer than antici-
house at Plainfield Road and Taylor
of St. Francis, the Cecily
pated, and after working tirelessly in
Street (now part of the University of
a registered nurse, began teaching a
& John Leach College
a community they grew to care for,
St. Francis main campus and current
two-year nurse training program for
of Nursing (LCON) has a rich history
they elected to stay permanently to
home of LCON). The old convent
members of the Sacred Heart con-
and strong foundation, built on the
continue to provide medical services
was quickly converted into a func-
gregation. As demands for skilled
needs of the Joliet community.
for the people of Joliet and the sur-
tional hospital, complete with 20
nurses grew, the Sisters decided
rounding region.
beds, and was eventually dedicated
to open the St. Joseph School of
back to 1880, when the Franciscan
to St. Joseph. With that purchase,
Nursing to the public in 1920. That
Sisters of the Sacred Heart were
convent on Broadway and Division
the Joliet Franciscans, renowned for
same year, the College of St. Francis
called to the Joliet area to care
Streets from the Sisters of St. Francis
teaching, agreed to provide educa-
(CSF) was established by the Joliet
for those afflicted by a devastat-
of Mary Immaculate, referred to as
tion for the Sisters of the Sacred
Franciscans, who offered tuition
ing typhoid epidemic. A smallpox
the “Joliet Franciscan Sisters,� who
Heart in exchange for their medical
gratis to the St. Joseph nursing
outbreak two years later kept the
were moving into a new mother-
services.
students.
Its humble beginnings reach
LC O N T I M E L I N E St. Joseph School of Nursing (SJSN) founded
1920
2
In 1911, Sr. M. Liliosa Limacher,
uch like the University
University of St. Francis Magazine
They purchased a two-story
SJSN becomes first day school of nursing in Illinois
1964
B.S. in Health Arts established
1972
M.S. in Health Services Administration established
1980