I grew up in the midst of cornfields and went to a small town college in the midst of cornfields. Illinois has a lot of cornfields. Going to elementary and high school in a small town surrounded by farms, most kids knew me and knew I had a Japanese mom. But in college, nobody knew me and kids thought nothing of asking “what are you” and “where are you from—no, really.” Sometimes I wanted to say I was from Mars, but other times I wanted to scream, “I am a human being born in Chicago—Illinois!” Some years ago I learned there is a term for this being sick and tired of being asked about your race by strangers, it’s called “racial fatigue.”
Recently, while working on my big project digitizing old print photos—still not done and I have “digitizing fatigue”—I came across a very old photo of the Chicago lakefront hospital where I was born. I couldn’t find any lakefront hospital on Google Maps and asked my dad its whereabouts. All he remembered was that it was in Lincoln Park (not in the zoo!). Nope, no lakefront hospital but I saw a park pavilion that is in my old photo. Then I remembered I was born in Columbus Hospital. I researched it.
Columbus Hospital was founded by Italian Catholic immigrant Mother Frances Cabrini in 1905. Mother Cabrini worked in this hospital and died there in 1917. She is known in New York, Chicago, and across the U.S. and worldwide for her missions to educate and provide health care for the poor, especially immigrants and orphans. Many churches, schools, and hospitals are named after her. Mother Cabrini was the first U.S. person to be canonized as a saint (1946). After her death, her room at Columbus Hospital became a pilgrimage destination until a shrine was built for her on the grounds in 1955. My parents, not being Catholic, did not bring newborn me to pay homage to Saint Cabrini else maybe I would not have gotten that terrible sickness when I was a wee tot (apparently measles complications, prior to vaccine development). On the other hand, perhaps by nearness of her caring spirit I did survive.
In 2002 Columbus Hospital was closed and, lakefront property being in high demand, later demolished to build a luxury condo. A big miracle was that Mother Cabrini’s shrine was left alone to be refurbished and re-dedicated in 2012. I can see the very tall high rise on Google Maps, with the short national shrine attached behind it—a strange combination. Across the street from the high rise is the Lincoln Park Gazebo along the shore of the North Pond. That gazebo is in the old photo I have! It helped me find where the hospital used to be, before I remembered the name. Mother Cabrini is thought of as Chicago’s saint and is the patron saint of immigrants.
UPDATE! Angel Studios is releasing “Cabrini,” an indie film about Mother Cabrini, starting March 8, 2024, which is International Women’s Day. Watch for it to come near you!
SECOND UPDATE: This October 2012 WTTW article “Chicago’s Mother Cabrini Shrine Reopens” gives more history and a video of the beautiful shrine. I found a Facebook group Columbus, Cuneo, and Cabrini Hospital Friends, not very active but anyone with these hospital connections can post and maybe find answers and fellow staff/nursing students. Also, someone asked about finding old patient records from Columbus and a genealogy friend suggested contacting the Cook County Health Department.
I found only a couple actual photos of Columbus Hospital, Chicago, online so am posting mine (from my dad) here in case others want to see it within its setting of late 1950s. It is taken from the east side of the North Pond, looking west to the hospital and the gazebo that’s still there.
moonbridgebooks 
Thank you for this detailed information. I came across your article doing some research about my great aunt, Mother Prisca Bocchicchio, who was the Director of Nursing at Columbus long ago. In fact, she was the last girl accepted into the Sisters of Sacred Heart by Mother Cabrini in 1917 just before she died.
My 95 year old mother often tells us how her aunt, my great Aunt Violet, worked as a nurse with Mother Cabrini. I’ve not been able to locate any colaborating evidence of this and was hoping you know of where I can research the Chicago nurses that worked with Mother Cabrini.
Thank you for reading! I hope you find lots of interesting information about your great aunt.
I went to school at Columbus Hospital School of Nursing..graduated in 1967, I worked there until it closed. Mother Cabrini is ever present And her work is
done,threw the order of Sisters she founded so many years The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
and from
I’m thrilled to find someone from those years at the nursing school. My name then was Mary Jean West. I would have graduated that same year except I dropped out half-way through my second year. I’m sorry I don’t remember you personally, but I fondly remember my roommate, Sandy Popovich and another classmate with the first name of Pat. If you have any contact on either of them, I’d appreciate it. Wishing you well — and glad to know a bit of your life. Sincerely, Mary Jean Kledzik
hi Linda, I was searching about CCC hospitals and came across this article- sad to see the place close, but it is what it is. Anyway, I see you worked throughout your career at the hospital! I was an intern there in 1976 and we probably seen each other. Wish you well from California.
gopal,k
sure you must have seen me..I was the head nurse on the eighth floor…so many.residents we had in the days…great memories ,,after 55 years a nurse ,..moved to St Joseph down the block when they merged and stayed there until I
Retired in 2021…it was the best if medicine at Columbus ..I
still dream of that place…
Thank you for reading and commenting about your experience, Linda. Yes, she lives forever in history for her good works that continued through you and go on today. I am glad her shrine still exists there.
I was born in Columbus hospital in March, 1968. Lived in the Chicago area for 50 years but never heard of Sister Cabrini until today. I’ll have to ask my parents about the view from the room.
See the newly released movie Cabrini! I grew up in Chicago and was taught about her when iI was in Catholic schools. Movie is excellent and getting great reviews, bring your Kleenex box with you.
Hi Julie, thanks for reading! I knew of Cabrini Green in Chicago but never thought about the name. I did not know anything about Sister Cabrini until I looked up Columbus Hospital for this post.
Thank you so much for sharing your picture of the hospital! It brings back memories. My mom and aunts were nurses and they worked at Columbus Hospital from late 1960s to late 1970s. I remember what the lobby looked like because my mom and I would visit the chapel and Mother Cabrini’s room (museum) after my dentist appointments in the adjacent professional building. Mother Cabrini has been a big part of my life for a long time. 🙂
I’ve since visited since the renovations… Mother Cabrini’s shrine is beautiful, and her room and museum/artifact section are full of wonderful information. I highly recommend a visit!
I’ve never seen the shrine/museum and don’t think my parents were aware of it or the hospital history. Someday I should go see it, to honor Mother Cabrini’s work – and for my history’s sake!
it was our parish in Lincoln oark. A beautiful place
This was very interesting as I was born at Columbus hospital along with my sister and brother
In 1955,1957,&1965
My mother was hospitalized at Columbus quite a few times and I remember she always had a room looking out over the park and lake . Beautiful
We did get to see the shrine over the years growing up.. we had met a nun named Sister Mary Rita who was very nice
My mom enjoyed her company .
My mom was taken care of by quite a few doctors all named Dr Nora ..they were so compassionate and I believe were a big part of that hospital.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting. That would have been a lovely view from the hospital windows, inducive to healing. Mother Cabrini’s kind spirit lived on.
Thank you so much for sharing your article and picture. My grandfather Dr Rocco Nigro was a doctor there , and worked with Mother Cabrini. He passed away in 1945. There was a room with a plaque dedicated to my grandmother. I reached out to the hospital before they tore it down to see if I could get that plaque but did not have any luck. I was born there in 1956 .
Thank you for stopping by and reading! The plaque would have made a great keepsake to remember your grandfather’s legacy of caring – with the famed Mother Cabrini!
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My brother and sister both said that they were born in Cabrini Hospital in 1942 and 1943, but Cabrini Hospital wasn’t built until 1950. At any time, did Columbus Hospital become Cabrini Hospital? I am asking because both are now deceased, and I would like to find the correct information for their children. Thank you to anyone who can help. We are Catholic, and since Mother Cabrini died in Columbus Hospital, it would be a happy coincidence to share with the children.
This is interesting, Marty. With a little online research I found there was a western annex of Columbus Hospital built at 1200 W. Gilpin Place in 1910, to provide care to a lower-income Italian area of the city (Columbus attracted too many affluent patients). This annex was later renamed Mother Cabrini Hospital and the street renamed Cabrini Street. The annex closed in 1995. (The names Columbus and Cabrini were used for other hospitals besides in Chicago.) Here’s a blog post about the annex: https://www.cabriniworld.org/blog/sabotage-at-the-hospital/
The original Columbus Hospital Chicago was built in 1905, so 5 years later the annex was built.
I work at Columbus Hospital from 1976 thru 1981 as a CNA, then left to go to nursing school..I have so many fond memories of people who I worked with and many of the nuns who worked in the hospital. Sister Ferdinand is of of the nuns I remember..I worked 9th floor VIP unit, 11 North and 10 North..
Having grown up in suburban Chicago and having gone to DePaul, I knew all about St. Cabrini, or thought I did. I just saw the movie Cabrini and highly recommend it. It concentrates on her time in New York, but very good nonetheless.
Thank you for your review, Bill. I hope to see the movie soon!
I am of Sicilian ancestry at the time Mother came to Chicago . my family lived in the tenement rampant with pestilence and disease. People very poor no jobs if your name ended in a vowel. Sicilian. The worse. My g grandmother died and was buried without a headstone. At 23. Then . Mother came to Chicago. I do not would have happened if she had not come and I do know what happened that she did. I am not fatigued by relating my story and who I am.i explain and encourage question. Let stereotypes be damned I stand on the shoulders of those who came with hope and crossed an ocean to escape famine , worse poverty, and injustice.
Thank you for writing, Rosalie. Immigrants had a very hard life, often coming from poverty to more poverty. You have important family stories to tell and I hope you will write them, perhaps with help from a younger family member. I read “When We Were Strangers” by Pamela Schoenewalt, historical fiction about a young woman from central Italy who came to America in the late 1800s, and it opened my eyes to the hardships they faced.
Going tomorrow to see the movie. I’m so excited. I was born in August 11, 1946 at Mother Cabrini in Chicago on 811 So. Lyle St. My aunt ( Theresa Pastore Mategrano) was a seamstress and made the nuns the worde robes when needed or if problems accrued with sewing needs. It was a wonderful and caring hospital. I am so happy this movie has been made to show her love and caring for so many people.
God Bless Mother Cabrini
Francine Bartilotta Ciulla
( Birth Name: Mary Frances Bartilotta)
I’m so glad I found this post! I was also born at Columbus Hospital in 1988, and was disappointed to learn that the hospital was demolished.
I was born very premature (at six months), and my mom says she prayed for days and days at a chapel in the hospital. She did not know how to read English at the time so, it’s likely she didn’t know about the connection to Mother Frances Cabrini. I need to tell her about this, she will be delighted!
Thank you for the blogpost and providing a photo of what Columbus Hospital looked like 🙂
Glad this was a help to you, and glad your mother’s prayers (and Mother Cabrini’s spirit) worked to help you survive such an early birth. Miracles do happen!
I worked at Columbus Hospital as an RN in Labor and Delivery from 1982 until Columbus merged with St. Joseph Hospital. Many of us subsequently went to work at St. Joe’s.
Some of my most treasured memories of my time at Columbus are that of attending Mass during my lunch break. The chapel balcony opened directly onto the post partum unit on the second floor( right behind the nurse’s station).
So awesome to go on break and easily attend mass or just take time to pray. Spent many hours in the chapel after work as well. So peaceful. Received many blessings there. Have only been back once to visit since we relocated to Arizona. Plan to visit again soon.
The Mother Cabrini Movie is excellent. Definitely worth seeing. Mother Cabrini, pray for us.
One fun fact. On the day the unit closed, I got to keep the sign on the door to the Labor and Delivery Unit “LABOR ROOM”.
HELLO I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN THERE AT THIS HOSPITAL IN 1990….. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CHICAGO AND NEVER HAD HEARD OF THIS HOSPITAL!! MY COUSIN ACTUALLY GAVE BIRTH THERE FROM WHAT I GATHERED…… IS THEIR ANYONE THAT WAS THERE DURING THAT TIME OR HOSPITAL RECORDS OF BIRTHS???? I NEED ANSWERS FOR THE PERSON WHO WAS BORN THERE!!! WHO CAN WE TALK TO??? THANKS 😊
I think all records transferred to St. Joseph’s across the street (
I was born at Columbus Hospital in 55. I also gave birth there in 1970. I have not been able to find records of that birth. I was a young girl who got pregnant by the man I married 10 years later and had a wonderful life with. The birth was a hush hush affair . My mother drank and didn’t talk about it, my dad wouldn’t either. I wish I could find these records.
Hi Karen, in the comments people have suggested contacting St. Joseph’s “across the street” or Cook County health records. Yes, back in those days, things were very different concerning unmarried pregnant women – glad life turned out well for you.
Hi! Thank you for providing this information on Columbus Hospital. I am now watching Cabrini the movie from Angel Stidios.
I was born there on December 5, 1957 along with my Triplet sisters… my name is Darlene and my sisters, Charlene and Marlene.
thank you for the picture of the hospital. It would have been great to visit before it was gone. Next time I travel back to Chicago, I’ll go see the shrine dedicated to Mother Cabrini.
Best,
Darlene Gorzela
I worked at Columbus from 1966 to 2000….it was a place filled with good memories and great care for their patients….Mother Cabrini would be proud
Linda Grassi, RN