Hospital reunion planned

What do you do when you are missing family members? You hold a family reunion, or in this case, a workplace reunion.

That’s exactly what Carla Brown and Cathy Ruttle are doing. Both are former employees of St. Joseph’s Hospital and they are organizing a reunion dinner and dance set for April 28 at Parkway Place.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and dinner will start between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Advance tickets are $42 and available from Carla Brown, 705874-5968, Cathy Ruttle, 705748-6849, or Al McIntyre, 705931-3054. No tickets at the door.

“We are expecting about 300 people,” said Ruttle.

The event is open to all former St. Joe’s employees, including volunteers.

“Anyone having anything to do with the hospital is invited,” she said.

The idea for the reunion came from Brown, who missed connecting with her co-workers. She worked in housekeeping for most of her tenure and also worked in the kitchen for two years until the hospital closed in 2008.

“I realized how much I missed them. We all worked together as a family,” said Brown.

“The place was more like family and the nuns made it that way,” said Ruttle.

Brown and Ruttle would occasionally run into co-workers, but the unplanned connections left Brown looking for a way to get everyone together.

“There is excitement that happens when we meet people we used to work with,” said Ruttle.

So when Brown asked Ruttle for her help, she quickly got on board.

Ruttle works in the palliative care unit at PRHC and is in touch with many former St. Joe’s employees. She also has connections to the St. Joe’s retiree group and reached out to them.

The event has come together quickly, in just a couple of months.

“There is still a lot of work to be done in the last couple of weeks,” said Ruttle.

The duo has rounded up speakers for the event, including Sister Eileen McManus, who will also say the grace before dinner.

In addition to the dinner and dance, there will be a memorabilia table with photos and other pieces from the past.

A photographer will also be on hand to capture the evening for posterity. Plans are also in the works for a tarot card reader, spot dances and door prizes donated by local merchants.

But the best part of the evening will be the chance to get together and reminisce with co-workers.

“The majority of time will be spent visiting and catching up,” said Brown.

The event will also give reunion guests a chance to renew connections and exchange contact info.

“Our hope is for people to come to re-connect and for the joy of it, said Brown.

Brown and Ruttle hope to make the reunion an annual event.

“People are already asking us if it there will be one next year,” said Ruttle.

For Brown and Ruttle, holding the reunion has brought back the spirit of working together and the coming together of family.