The Arthur and Ruth Browne St. Vincent house honors the legacy of service

Every hospital has spaces where care happens in quiet, powerful ways beyond the operating rooms and patient bedsides. At Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis, Indiana, one of those spaces is a welcoming home nestled on the edge of the hospital campus, where families can retreat for moments of peace, rest and comfort as they navigate some of life's hardest moments. That home now carries a new name and, with it, a legacy of love and generosity.

Ascension St. Vincent has renamed its patient and family hospitality house the Arthur and Ruth Browne St. Vincent House in recognition of a legacy gift from a couple whose deep gratitude for the care they received inspired a remarkable act of giving. Their story is one of service, compassion and a lasting commitment to helping others feel less alone. Since opening in 2017, the hospitality house has become a home away from home for more than 27,000 guests from across 44 states and five countries. The hospitality house has provided access to safe, supportive accommodations, regardless of financial circumstances, a true reflection of the St. Vincent Mission and its commitment to removing barriers to care and creating space for human dignity, and fostering healing. 

Arthur A. Browne was not only a former member of the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation board but also a grateful patient. Alongside his wife, Ruth S. Browne, the couple chose to name Ascension St. Vincent as a beneficiary of their estate. Their gift, deeply rooted in gratitude and a desire to help others, ensures that families navigating medical crises can continue to find comfort, support and peace while staying close to their loved ones’ hospital rooms.

“I am certain that Arthur and Ruth would have been deeply touched by this celebration,” shared Bill Browne, their great-nephew. “While our family is honored by the renaming of the hospitality house, what means even more is knowing that their name is now a lasting part of Ascension St. Vincent’s mission. Their legacy of generosity, kindness and service lives on through this space.”

The 20-room guest house offers more than just a place to sleep. The private bedrooms, shared kitchen and laundry facilities are complemented by family-friendly common spaces, a prayer chapel and a free shuttle service to and from the main hospital campus. Each element is thoughtfully designed to care for the whole person - mind, body and spirit - and give families one less thing to worry about when facing a medical emergency.

“Arthur and Ruth Browne’s generosity embodies the spirit of Ascension St. Vincent,” said Ann Haupt, Vice President of the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation. “Through their legacy gift, they have extended a hand of comfort to thousands of families who find themselves far from home during some of life’s most difficult moments. It is a privilege to honor their name in this special way.”

The history of the hospitality house dates back to the founding of St. Vincent Hospital, as it was previously the site of the Daughters of Charity's residence. That space, once home to women who dedicated their lives to serving others, was gifted by the Daughters to continue their legacy of healing and hospitality. Today, that legacy lives on in every hug, prayer and restful night’s sleep offered inside the Arthur and Ruth Browne St. Vincent House.

To learn more about how you can support the Mission of the Arthur and Ruth Browne St. Vincent House, visit give.stvincent.org/stvhouse.