In March 1958, Mary Donohoe was a surgical nurse when the first operation was performed at the new hospital in town.

On Saturday, the retired nurse was among the docents who gave tours of the older section of Queen of the Valley Medical Center, which celebrated its 50th anniversary with a parade, food, music, and other activities.

“This is my home,” said the retired nurse before leading a tour of the operation room where she worked. “I spent the better part of my life here.”

The day began with a foot race and a parade that retraced the route staff and patients took five decades ago when they moved Parks Victory Hospital on Jefferson Street to Queen of the Valley Hospital, the facility Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange opened on Trancas.

The hospital, which expanded gradually over the decades, was renamed in 2007.

Richard Green, vice president and chief development officer, welcomed the community in front of the old entrance, where about 100 people sang “Happy Birthday” to the Napa institution.

“We have a heritage of 50 years to celebrate today,” he said, as he acknowledged guests, including Sister Marian Schubert, a vice president at the hospital; Janice Magana, the first baby girl born at the hospital, who rode in the parade on the front seat of a 1918 Grant Six. Magana rode the vintage car with Sister Lorraine Thibault, a pastoral volunteer, dressed in a traditional black and white nun garment and Laura Merkner, a nurse for three decades at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, who wore her mother’s uniform nurse coat from the 1940s.

Sister Patricia Haley who works for the hospital, a 179-bed facility that employs 1,600 people, was pleased with the turnout.

“We see ourselves as a community asset and an integral part of Napa County,” she said. “This ministry is alive and well,” she said, referring to the hospital.

Among the activities were cake decorating by local chefs, a wine pavilion, a birthday tent, food booths by local merchants, face painting and other activities.

“The hospital is a big part of the community here,” said Nancy Green, who came with her family to celebrate the hospital’s 50th birthday.

Teresa Navarro, who was born at the hospital in 1965, said she came with her three sons for the children’s activities.

Laura Garcia brought her baby daughter, Yamilet Lepe, who was born nine months ago at Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

As she held Yamilet at La Morenita Market’s table, Garcia said she wanted her daughter to know the place she was born.

Others, including Sherry Whitteker came with her husband, Boyd, two children, Noah, 7, and Ella,7, and other relatives, including Dr. Hougton Gifford, her husband’s grandfather, a longtime physician and former chief of staff at the hospital.

Sherry Whitteker may carry on the family tradition and work at the hospital someday. — She is studying to be a nurse.

Queen of the Valley timeline

1958 March 3: Official opening of Queen of the Valley Hospital.

1962: Addition of an Intensive Care Unit

1969: Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation is formed

1973: Stress testing lab, mammography unit, cardiac monitors installed and groundbreaking for construction of west wing takes place

1976: The hospital’s first CT scanner installed

1980: Emergency Department designated trauma center of Napa County

1985: Established maternity center and area’s 1st neonatal intensive care unit

1986: Cardiac Cath lab added

1988: Regional Cancer Center opens

1993: Community Outreach department opened

1995: The Gasser Emergency Center expansion

2002: Da Vinci Robotic Surgery System

2003: First robotic-assisted coronary bypass and first epicardial lead placement procedure preformed in Northern California

2006: Wellness Center opens

2007: Center Maternal and Infant Center expansion

 

2007: Outpatient Surgery & Procedure Center opens

2007: Queen of the Valley Hospital changes name to Queen of the Valley Medical Center