Dr. Faustina Kelly-Cook

Dr. Faustina Kelly-Cook (1895-1979)

 Dr. Cook was born Faustina Adelaide Kelly (in) September 1895, in Sudbury.  She was the daughter of a CPR Roadmaster.

 She attended primary school in Sudbury, in North Bay (for a few months) and in Verner.  Her mother, being an ardent lover of her mother tongue (French) and having an Irish husband, moved her family to the French community of Verner in order that her children become bilingual.  And in that community they were known as ‘the French Kellys’.  Upon the family’s return to Sudbury, Faustina entered Sudbury High School in 1909, and obtained her Senior Matriculation in 1913, winning the W.J. Scholarship.

 The former Faustina Adelaide Kelly obtained a B.A. from Queen’s University in 1916 and entered the University of Toronto’s School of Medicine from which she graduated in 1920.  Having interned in the Hamilton General Hospital, she started a general practice in Sudbury and was a member of the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital, the only hospital in Sudbury for many years.

(In her general practice)… she covered a wide territory in her ministrations.  Many times she travelled in horse-drawn vehicles and in vans for CPR freight trains, to visit the sick in and around small communities along the railway.  Those were days and nights of arduous work, with few modern conveniences.  Much hardship was experienced, especially during the lean years of the depression beginning in the fall of 1929, when doctors were called upon to make long and hazardous trips in all seasons.

 In July, 1935, she married Dr. William John Cook, pioneer surgeon in Sudbury and the town’s medical officer of health for over 30 years until he was succeeded by his son J.B. Cook following his retirement.  Her husband predeceased her in 1948. 

 Dr. Faustina Cook continued her medical practice until through illness, her husband became her sole patient.  After his death in 1948, she turned her energies to community work.

 She was charter president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club and was a regent of the Elizabeth Fry chapter of IODE.  Dr. Cook was also past-president of St. Joseph’s Hospital Women’s Auxiliary and an honorary life member of the Ontario Association of Women’s Hospital Auxiliaries.

 Elected in 1951, she served one term on city council and also several years as a member of the high school board.

 Breaking all precedents, two alderwomen were elected in the year 1951: the other was Mrs. Grace Hartman.

 In the early 1950’s Dr. Faustina was Vice President of the Council of Friendship and did much to welcome the strangers from foreign lands who chose to make Sudbury their new home.

 Dr. Cook was a member of the Laurentian University board of governors from 1960 to 1969; Dr. Cook was one of the original members of the Board and an enthusiastic member of the committee which choose the magnificent site for the university.

 She had been a member of the University Women’s Club since its inception.  In 1972 she was presented with an Honourary Life Membership in recognition of devoted Leadership and Service in many Fields of Development in her Community.

 She was a member of the Sudbury and District Red Cross board from which she received the ‘distinguished service award.’  For several years she was physician in charge of its Blood Donors Clinic since its inception (in) 1956.

 At annual dinner meeting she was told that, ‘This award the highest known in Red Cross is a token of your time and talents as the Medical Director of our Blood Transfusion Service since its inception.  Without your able assistance our present blood donor service would have been a much harder task to administer and operate.’

 When the Sudbury-Algoma Sanatorium was built, Dr. Cook assisted Dr. Chris Doherty in the early days of its operation; and she loved the work.  She was a member of the Sanatorium Board and was made an honourary member in 1974.

 In 1967, she was Chairman of the Beautification Section of the Sudbury Centennial Committee.

 She was also a member of La Federation des Femmes Canadiennes Francaise, of which her mother was the charter president; and a former member of the Sudbury Library Board.

 Dr. Cook was a member of the St. Anne’s Church and a member of the Third Order of St. Francis.

 Faustina was named the first woman, to be given an honorary life membership in the Sudbury University Women’s Club.  It was tribute for her unselfish work with several city service organizations and an active life in community affairs for over 30 years.

 (Compiled from an Obituary, Dr. Faustina Cook, Sudbury Star, May 28, 1979 and a biography written by her friend Mary Whalen, prepared on March 28, 1974.  She credits the Sudbury Star, May 14, 1970, p.21 c7 bio part “Graduate of First High School Class has Played Active Role in City History.”)

 (Derived from Sudbury Star article Jan 13, 1972, “Life Membership to be Conferred by Women’s Club.”) that is The Sudbury Business & Professional Women’s Club