SEMC Celebrates 149th Anniversary of Service to the Community

From left, Scott Perra, MVHS president/ CEO; Nancy Eannace, Bunny Gottuso and Robert Scholefield, MVHS executive vice president/COO, on Founder’s Day.

UTICA, N.Y. – St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) celebrated its 149th anniversary Friday, December 11 by honoring an employee and a recipient of its community award.

Following a 12 p.m. Founder’s Day service in the SEMC Saint Marianne Cope Chapel, Nancy Eannace of Eannace Funeral Home received the Founder’s Day Community Award and Bunny Gottuso received the Mother Bernardina Award, which is named after SEMC’s founder and is presented to an employee. The winner of this award is chosen by SEMC employees for significant contributions to the medical center, exemplifying its mission, vision and philosophy and for always going the extra mile.

The Eannace Funeral Home, Inc. is located in Utica at 932 South Street at the corner of Hammond Avenue. It serves families of Whitesboro, Yorkville, New York Mills, New Hartford, Washington Mills, and many other towns throughout the Greater Utica area.

Eannace Funeral Home was first established in 1947 at 917 Third Avenue by its founders, Carmine V. Eannace and Nancy (Pacciarelli) Eannace. Known for honorable business practices and high standards of service, it is under the guidance and administration of Nancy L. Eannace, a Licensed New York State funeral director, and a highly-regarded staff.

“The Eannace Funeral Home plays an important role our community,” said Scott H. Perra, president/CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System and SEMC. “Its leader and her staff help families at a most difficult time and we are grateful to have them in the Mohawk Valley.”

Bunny Gottuso has been employed at SEMC for 31 years. She currently works as executive assistant to the senior vice president and chief medical officer of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). She spent most of her career in this position after 10 years as secretary in the Emergency Department. A graduate of Proctor High School in Utica, Gottuso is committed to her job and is a strong supporter of the St. Elizabeth Foundation and its fund-raising events, serving as co-chair of the Lights of Love Committee for 10 years. She has also often organized assistance for employees when their families have undergone difficult circumstances.

She and her daughter, Tracy, son-in-law, Dominick, and granddaughter, Bianca Nitti, reside in Utica.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.