Page 3 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Summer Giver 2024

HOSPICE MIRAMICHI INC

Names Vondy House

Hospice Miramichi Inc is proud to interred in St Paul’s churchyard at
announce the naming of their hospice Bushville. A plaque bearing the
home, “Vondy House”, located at 51 following words was erected at the
Lobban Ave, 4th floor. We thank John church by public subscription:
Bosma for his research into Dr. Vondy’s This memorial was erected as a
work as the first palliative physician in public testimonial of respect to the
Miramichi. memory of John Vondy, esq., surgeon,
Given Dr. Vondy’s voluntary who in the faithful discharge of his
dedication to providing medical care to professional duty, fell victim of
quarantined refugees, we believe it is most malignant fever which prevailed on
fitting that we view him as Miramichi’s Middle Island among the passengers
first palliative physician and name our of the ship Looshtauk.
hospice after him. Dr. John Vondy gave his life
Dr. John Vondy set up practice in trying to help suffering immigrants at
Chatham, NB in April 1847. Thousands a time when many other doctors
of refugees from the famine in Ireland refused to tend to them.
arrived that year, many with the disease of
typhus. The barque Looshtauk arrived About Hospice Miramichi Inc.
June 2, 1847, with several ill passengers. Dr. John Vondy died at age 26 in 1847, Hospice Miramichi Inc, a
after caring for more than 300 immigrant
A temporary shelter was built on patients who were quarantined on Middle registered not for profit charity
Middle Island, about two miles from Island, before falling ill himself. established in 2011, welcomed our
Chatham and passengers were discharged first patient in January 2024 to our 24-
there. The port medical officers refused to go to the island. hour, six bed home-like Vondy House hospice at 51 Lobban
The authorities had to find a doctor and John Vondy Ave, 4th floor.
volunteered his services. Our licensed nursing staff, specialized in palliative care,
Facilities were completely inadequate, dysentery ensued, work in collaboration with Extra Mural to offer end-of-life
and with the arrival of two additional ships, Dr. Vondy cared care. All services are provided at no charge, except for
for more than 300 patients, his only help one man and a boy. medical co-pays.
He became ill, and eventually Dr John Thomson agreed Our hospice services are available to any of the
to visit daily. Dr. Vondy’s sister arrived to nurse him, but he approximately 65,000 people in the Miramichi Horizon
died on June 29, aged 26 years and only 27 days after he Health Zone 7 Region. We have created nine full-time, one
volunteered to help the ill. part-time and six casual job positions.
Although all the victims of the fever were buried on the For more information on Vondy House or Hospice
island, the authorities agreed to allow Vondy’s body to be Miramichi, contact us at info@hospicemiramichi.com or
506-773-7607.

Cover Photo: A painting in acrylic by Anne Maloney Assaff titled, Catch of the Day.

Giv’er is about enjoying your day, giving it your all, putting some muscle behind it, giving it some gas, all the while staying
true to good Miramichi values. Send us your good stuff to talk about on the river! We’re looking for events, stories,
celebrations, pictures and articles about what’s up, what’s new, what’s happening. Keep it positive, and we’ll promote it .

Editor/Layout Design: Stacy Underhill Ad Design: Cindy MacLean Submissions: submit@mcgmedia.net
Advertising: sales@mcgmedia.net
Giv’er Miramichi is published and copyrighted by MCG Media, a Tel: 506-352-7668
division of Mighty Miramichi Inc., PO Box 4166, Station D, Miramichi, Facebook: www.Facebook.com/mightymiramichi
NB, E1V 7K9. www.MightyMiramichi.com Web: www.GiverMiramichi.com

With the participation of the Government of Canada.
Giv’er Miramichi is published by MCG Media 3