February 25, 2025

Former TriHealth nurse Jeanne Hayes lived one hundred years full of love for her children and for the countless children she helped bring into the world as a Labor and Delivery nurse.

Born on July 4, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, Hayes lived in several states before settling in Cincinnati. While raising her family, she worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and obtained additional certifications to distribute medications. With a deep love for babies and children, she worked in labor and delivery, postpartum care, and as a childbirth and parenting educator.

Hayes’s nursing career began at the Salvation Army Catherine Booth Hospital and Jewish Hospital before she found her longest tenure at Bethesda Oak Hospital in 1974. For 27 years, Hayes worked primarily in labor and delivery and was proud to become one of the original nurses for the high-risk Antepartum unit when it was added to maternity services. She also held several roles as a childbirth educator and in nursery care, highlighting her versatility.

Her daughters, Kathy and Natalie, described their mother as an advocate for families, saying, “She would often pray over the mothers and babies she took care of and knew how to treat others with dignity and respect. She was a nurse ahead of her time, and for years embodied the ‘holistic’ approach to caring for her patients and their families long before it became a practice in more current healthcare.”

After leaving the labor and delivery department, Hayes still wanted to continue working with families. She became a doula after retiring from active nursing so she could remain involved in obstetrical care. She volunteered for various organizations and worked at the TriHealth Fitness Pavilion Kids Life Center for five years before retiring at the age of 78.

In 2024, Hayes shared her life story with a new generation, focusing on the struggles she faced during segregation. She was featured in the documentary “Breaking the Silence – A Black Nursing Documentary,” which highlighted systemic racism in healthcare and the challenges of becoming a nurse.

Hayes was affectionately known as the “Card Lady” by her family and friends. She sent thousands of greeting cards throughout her life, writing personal, uplifting messages of encouragement, birthday wishes, and notes of kindness. She also loved writing poetry, and a book of her poems, “Poetic Things n’ Such,” was published in honor of her 100th birthday.

Jeanne Hayes passed away on August 13, 2024, shortly after her centennial celebration. She left an enduring legacy of family and service, touching the lives of countless TriHealth families. Her skilled hands and compassionate care brought many children into the world, making a lasting impact on those she helped.