Nurse worked 35 years at Riverside Hospital

1/1/2008

Prudence A. McIntire, 71, of Holland, retired director of surgical services for the former Riverside Hospital, died Sunday in her home.

She was diagnosed with lung cancer about 30 months ago, her son Timothy said.

Mrs. McIntire, who was known as Prudy, retired in 1998 as the director of surgical services for Riverside Hospital, where she had worked for more than 35 years, primarily as a registered nurse, her son said.

A 1954 graduate of Central Catholic High School, Mrs. McIntire attended the former Riverside School of Nursing, graduating in 1957 and becoming a registered nurse.

"She started out as a Candy Striper at Riverside when she was 16 and still in high school," Mr. McIntire explained. "Her mother was the bookkeeper there, and she loved working in the hospital, being around patients and helping them."

Mrs. McIntire was a fixture around Riverside, and maintained many of the friendships she developed during her career there even after the hospital closed in 2002, her son said.

"She was a very social person," he said. "She had a very close network of friends from the hospital, and they loved to keep in touch."

Mrs. McIntire was a member of the Riverside School of Nursing Alumni Association, Riverside Pastimers' Association, and the American Operating Room Nurses Association, of which she was a past president of the local chapter.

Surviving Mrs. McIntire are her husband, Clifford; sons, Jeffrey and Timothy; daughter, Alisa Krumnow; brothers, Timothy and Richard Ueberroth, and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Thursday in the Coyle Funeral Home, with recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Joan of Arc Church.

The family requests that any contributions be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, St. Joan of Arc Parish, or a charity of the donor's choice.