Mary Ierullo had her own children, but she was also the “other mother” to countless young women in Ottawa. After immigrating to Ottawa from Italy as a young girl in 1928, Mary was always inspired to help others.
In the 1950s, she saw young pregnant women from back home struggling, so despite not holding a formal role at the hospital, she helped set up the first prenatal clinic for immigrant women at the Civic. She held their hands, literally and figuratively, as they transitioned into motherhood in their new country. Mary’s children say she never forgot where she came from, and to this day, they often run into people who haven’t forgotten their mother, either.
In Mary’s own words, which still ring true today: “Deal from the heart … Open up to one another and understand each other. We are part of a community and knowing each other makes all the difference.”
