Mary Jane Bublitz dedicated more than 30 years, 10,000 hours to health system
Bellin Health honored a longtime hospital and community volunteer Monday, unveiling a plaque in honor of the late Mary Jane Bublitz that will hang outside the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
A small gathering of Bellin Health team members and Mary Jane’s family members and fellow volunteers came together for a brief ceremony honoring Mary Jane, who died in August of 2021.
Mary Jane volunteered more than 10,000 hours at Bellin alone, serving as an active member of Bellin’s Concerned Hearts Club for more than 30 years. The Concerned Hearts Club provides support for individuals who have had heart surgery, as well as their loved ones. Mary Jane coordinated the Concerned Hearts ICU desk for nearly a quarter of a century. She was chief editor for the Quarterly Concerned Hearts newsletter, “Heart Beat,” and she trained new club volunteer members and ensured that the Concerned Hearts ICU desk was staffed adequately. While at the desk, Mary Jane provided a warm welcome, checking in families and going out of her way to help them in their time of need, providing advice, consolation or simply a cup of coffee.
Mary Jane also served on Bellin’s Patient Advisory Board, helping to suggest and recommend new ways to improve healthcare services for patients, their families and caregivers. The information provided has helped Bellin, as a major healthcare provider in our region, improve its services and the many ways in which it serves patients. Mary Jane’s assistance with Bellin’s Patient Advisory Board even earned her an invitation to the annual International Convention of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Outside of Bellin, Mary Jane volunteered with the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Brown County Community Women’s Club, and within her faith community, just to name a few. Her volunteerism in our community was recognized by the Green Bay Packers organization in 2016 when she was honored with the Packers Give Back Award. This annual honor recognizes outstanding volunteers within the State of Wisconsin.