Grateful Patient Profiles


Jean Schuhmacher

Jean Schuhmacher graduated from Seton’s Nursing School in 1945. It was a time when the “Seton Family of Hospitals” wasn’t a “family” yet – only the Seton Infirmary, a 40-bed facility nestled close to the University of Texas Campus, founded in 1902 by the Daughters of Charity. Three years of tuition, books, room and board cost Jean $95.

“My aunt gave me a check for $100 when I graduated from high school in La Grange,” remembers Jean. “It was just enough for me to live out my dream.”

Jean Schumacher

That dream of becoming a nurse came from two definitive experiences. The first: being a patient in La Grange. Understanding what a difference nurses could make on a patient’s hospital stay helped push Jean to choose it as a career. So, why Seton? Jean’s sister – who today is 92 years old – had a sister-in-law who just so happened to graduate from the Seton School of Nursing in 1938. The seed was firmly planted. Of course, there was nothing easy about Nursing School – any more than there is today.

“Days at school were tough,” admits Jean. “We took classes at St. Edwards in the morning and then worked at the Infirmary in the afternoon usually putting in at least 12-hour days. For the first month, we were able to shadow seniors at the Infirmary but really jumped into everything with both feet after that.”

As hard as it may have been, it was just as rewarding. Jean grew close to a number of the students -- one of the largest classes for the School up to that time – as well as the teachers.

“I distinctly remember Sr. Philomena,” recalls Jean. “My brother had to be admitted to the Infirmary after falling into a diabetic coma. Sr. Philomena took such amazing care of him and she was also so wonderful to all the nurses.”

After graduating, Jean and several of her colleagues were eager to find a job.

“I never thought I’d leave Austin, but several of us learned about an opportunity at St. Joseph’s in Houston. We wanted to stay together, so four of us shared a house when we moved there.”

But the incessant rain and humidity proved too much. Six months later, Jean decided to take a job in Del Rio, where her parents were living at the time.

“They were looking for nurses to actually run the hospital there,” explains Jean. “I was the only RN available in town, so I took on the challenge, but it was truly too much for me as inexperienced as I was. I worked there about a month or so but then decided it was time to move on and headed to San Antonio.”

In San Antonio, Jean found work at a hospital and did some private duty nursing as well. It also ended up being where she met her husband, George. In April 1947, the two were married in Uvalde where her parents had since moved. December that same year they moved to Dallas where George joined the police force and Jean worked at Baylor Hospital.

“It was one building,” recalls Jean. “And, it reminded me so much of Seton’s Infirmary.”

After leaving Baylor, Jean became part of the Visiting Nurses Association and ended up involved in home healthcare for 30 years. She spent the last 11 of those 30 years involved in Hospice.

“I finally decided to leave Hospice care so that I could devote more volunteer hours at the Veterans’ Administration Hospital. Unfortunately, I’ve had to cut back a bit as some health issues have arisen, but I still serve as the Secretary for The Voluntary Service Executive Committee -- a Committee that helps to plan activities for the VA patients as well as volunteer programs and activities.”

George passed away in 1965, but left Jean with three daughters, identical twins, Joan and June – whom she currently lives with in Dallas – and her older daughter, Donna, the only one to follow in her footsteps, serving as a school nurse in the Richardson Independent School District.

Today, Jean is the last living graduate from her close-knit group at Seton’s Nursing School and to this day, still enjoys attending Seton Nursing School alumni events.

In reflecting on what she has witnessed over her decades of nursing experience, she notes that: “the care given at so many hospitals these days is so incredibly different from what I was taught at Seton. Seton has always provided excellent care and focuses on the patient … that caring, compassionate touch is not often found in other systems.” When Jean found out that Seton had built a facility in Kyle, she was thrilled. While two of her daughters live in Dallas, her other daughter, Joan, lives with her husband in Kyle.

“I’m so glad that Seton Medical Center Hays is here since I visit Joan often and knowing that there is a Seton facility right here in Kyle is very reassuring.”

Even though Jean Schuhmacher Accurso never worked at Seton after graduating from the Nursing School, her experience has always stayed with her. In fact, so much so that when Joan’s husband asked about a possible charitable donation, Jean immediately responded: “Seton.”

Seton then – Seton today. Yes, the Seton Family of Hospitals has grown considerably since Jean worked in the Infirmary, but the impression – the lasting positive impression – has lasted for more than six decades.


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