[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E261-E262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF SISTER WILLIAM EILEEN DUNN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2012

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sister William Eileen Dunn, 
a dear friend who

[[Page E262]]

is leaving Seton Medical Center after 30 years of compassionate care 
and service. Her dedication to the Daly City community and to the 
health and betterment of the sick and less fortunate has been deeply 
inspirational. It is impossible to not feel blessed by her presence and 
her healing touch.
  Sister William Eileen was born in San Francisco as one of two twin 
sisters to the late William and Eileen Dunn. She attended St. John's 
Ursuline grade and high school and then earned her R.N. diploma from 
Mary's Help School of Nursing in San Francisco. The school was 
sponsored and operated by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de 
Paul. She then entered the Daughters of Charity religious community and 
earned her BSN from Marillace College in St. Louis, Missouri.
  Her assignments from the Daughters of Charity took Sister Eileen 
across the country. In 1964, she started out as a staff nurse at St. 
Joseph's Hospital in Alton, Illinois and continued on to Hotel Dieu 
Hospital in El Paso, Texas as the supervisor of OB/GYN and emergency 
services. In 1968 she came back to California and worked as supervisor 
of emergency services at Mary's Help Hospital--today's Seton Medical 
Center--in Daly City. In 1978 she transferred to O'Connor Hospital in 
Campbell as patient advocate, then as administrative coordinator of the 
chemical abuse unit, emergency and outpatient/OR services, and 
subsequently as director of the pastoral care department.
  In 1984, Sister William Eileen moved south to Los Angeles and became 
the patient advocate at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Three years later 
she returned to the Bay Area as the administrator of Laboure Residence 
in Los Altos Hills and in 1992, she became chair of the board of 
directors at O'Connor Hospital. Simultaneously, she managed the 
St.Vincent de Paul free dining room in Oakland from 1992 2002.
  In 2002, Sister William Eileen returned to Seton Medical Center and 
the following year started serving as Vice-President of Mission 
Integration, a position she held until today. She will now move on to 
Villa Sienna in Mountain View and serve as the mission leader at this 
Daughters of Charity assisted living facility.
  This year she celebrates 50 years as a Daughter of Charity of St. 
Vincent de Paul. Last year she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement 
Award from the Daly City/Colma Chamber of Commerce. In 2008, she 
received the Daly City Mayor's Citizen of the Year Award.
  It may come as a surprise that Sister William Eileen--or Sister 
Miscellaneous as she calls herself--is an avid sports fan. She barely 
misses a game on TV. Every year she kicks off the annual Seton golf 
tournament and is known to have promised divine intervention--for a 
certain fee.
  About four years ago, Sister William Eileen and Kathy King, executive 
director of Seton, got wind that Jerry Rice would be playing a golf 
tournament at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay. They may have had some 
heavenly help and found out exactly when Jerry Rice was playing. Both 
of them literally ran up a hill, chasing him and asking to have their 
picture taken with him. It's a true story! Sister has the photo to 
prove it.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor the selfless 
service of Sister William Eileen Dunn, a guardian angel for every 
person she befriends, and wish her the best for her new assignment at 
Villa Sienna.

                          ____________________