CHICAGO, IL (April 13, 2010) – A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday for Dr. Virginia M. Ohlson, 95, who died Saturday at Covenant Village of Northbrook.

The service will be at North Park Covenant Church, 5250 N. Christiana Avenue in Chicago. Ohlson died last Saturday, April 10, at Northbrook.

Ohlson was well known in the healthcare field, having been affiliated with Swedish Covenant Hospital since she was admitted to the hospital’s nursing school in 1934. She was internationally known as a public health nurse, serving as a nurse administrator and care advisor throughout Asia, particularly in Japan where she worked in health care administration under Gen. Douglas MacArthur following the end of World War II.

In 1991, Ohlson was the first non-Japanese citizen to be awarded the Prestigious Butterfly, the Third Order of the Precious Crown, by his Majesty the Emperor of Japan, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to shaping and developing nursing in Japan from the close of World War II to the present. “I never forgot my impressions of meeting people in their homes and the opportunities to develop relationships with families, caring and helping them to be well – physically, emotionally and spiritually,” said Ohlson at the time.

To learn more about Ohlson’s service in Japan, click here to read an article – “Global Leaders Cast a Vision for Nursing” – published in the Summer 2004 issue of Journal of Christian Nursing.

Ohlson, was recognized in 2002 with the Spirit of Compassion Award presented by Swedish Covenant Hospital during its 47th annual Gala at Navy Pier. The award is presented to members of the Swedish Covenant family to honor their humanitarian spirit and excellence in medical care, as well as their spirit of compassion.

Survivors include her sister, Dorothy Lundbom, also a resident at Covenant Village of Northbrook, as well as nieces and nephews.

More information will be published in this online news report as it becomes available.