Research shows that generosity can lower stress levels and create a more meaningful life. Shirley Moretti, St. Joseph Hospital Foundation Board Member, Legacy Society member and friend to the Ministry, viewed generosity as a way of life and believed that it could change hearts and minds.  

As a breast cancer survivor and patient of St. Joseph Hospital, Shirley experienced the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange first-hand. The Sisters’ service to the Hospital and its patients was something that stuck with her throughout her life. Inspired by their commitment, kindness and compassion, Shirley began thinking of how she could give back.  

Shirley later began to volunteer at St. Joseph Hospital, assisting newly diagnosed cancer patients with needed support, two of which were her own sisters, with needed support. Personally invested in the fight against cancer, Shirley became a member of the Cordelia Knott Wellness Foundation (CKWF) and eventually directed the merger between CKWF and the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation. One of the many positive outcomes from the merger includes the establishment of Ginny’s Shop at St. Joseph Hospital, which provides products and services for patients undergoing cancer treatment or follow-up care.  

Realizing that her personal values aligned with that of St. Joseph Hospital, Shirley joined the Foundation Board in 2012, which she called “the experience of a lifetime.” Her leadership and generosity were key components in the success of the Foundation over the years. In 2014, she was named the Spirit of St. Joseph Award Honoree in recognition of her outstanding contributions of time, talent and treasure.  

Shirley established a charitable remainder trust with St. Joseph Hospital as the beneficiary. Just last year, she made an extraordinary planned gift and established the Shirley J. Moretti Nurse Navigator Endowment, which will fund the Nurse Navigator Program, as a way to help many other patients throughout the Hospital. The program offers patients and their families the valuable resources they need to not only navigate through the campus, but calm the mind, strengthen the spirit and concentrate on what matters most — healing.  

Shirley passed away in November 2019, but her generous gifts will serve patients for years to come, and her passionate spirit will long be remembered. Giving back to others was one of Shirley’s greatest joys in life — it filled her heart and has inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps. We, here at St. Joseph Hospital, miss her partnership, advocacy and especially her warmth and friendship.