Mercy Sister Gwendolyn (Mary Catherine) Durkin, 91, died July 30. She had been a Sister of Mercy for nearly 67 years.

Born in Chicago, she graduated from the Academy of Our Lady, and in 1947, earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Saint Xavier College. She began her ministry at Catholic Charities for two years while attending graduate school.

After two years as a social worker and eight years as director of Mercy Clinics, Sister Gwendolyn became administrator/ chief executive officer of Mercy Hospital in 1963. She led what was then a 350-bed hospital, and helped plan and build the new Mercy Hospital and Medical Center that opened in 1968.

Just three weeks after being named CEO, Sister Gwendolyn was faced with a fire that broke out at the hospital. They safely evacuated 160 patients and had the fire under control before the fire department arrived. In the Daily Southtown, Sister Gwendolyn was quoted later as saying, “When I got through that, I realized I could get through anything.”

She would be tested again in 1967 when a major snow storm hit Chicago stranding thousands. The hospital opened its doors, providing shelter for some 250 who had made their way there.

According to Mercy Sister Susan Butters, to help feed the guests, she and Sister Gwendolyn went out into the street and brought back bread from several stalled bread trucks. “We met the driver of one of the trucks in our auditorium,” she said.

After 15 years with Mercy Hospital, she filled a variety of roles. From 1969 to 1970, she was a supervisor for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. After serving a brief time as a staff advisor for the Sisters of Mercy-Chicago Province, she was assistant administrator at Misericordia Home for a year.

From 1972 to 1976, she was director of outpatient services and then assistant administrator for Holy Cross Hospital, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Casimir.

Sister Gwendolyn returned to Mercy Hospital as vice president of human resources and general administration from 1976 to 1992. In 1994 she served as cochief executive officer for one year.