Helene Fontaine, legend of Seychelles operating theatre, passes away |15 November 2021

Helene Fontaine

Another stalwart of the Seychelles’ nursing community has passed away.

Theatre nurse Helene Flora Fontaine, née Albest, died peacefully on November 7, 2021, in the presence of her three daughters, at her residence in Saint Louis.

Health Minister Peggy Vidot led the mourning at the health ministry and recalls how Sister Fontaine “was remarkable among other nurses throughout her entire career and throughout the entire hospital for being so humble and for embodying the true nursing spirit”.

Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon and chief medical officer, Dr Susan Fock Tave, who worked alongside her in the operating theatre, concurs.

“That spirit that we all saw and felt lives on in everyone who worked with her or knew her,” she says.

Most nurses refer to the late Mrs Fontaine as "a legend” who has closely accompanied the evolution of the operating theatre over the years.

She was born on May 5, 1938. She lived most of her childhood during the Second World War and most of her adolescence and early adulthood in the aftermath of the war, when diseases like tuberculosis were rife in Seychelles.

In 1954, at the sweet age of 16, she began her nursing training. Four years later, in 1959, the nursing school of the time certified her as a staff nurse. Many relatives of hers preceded or followed her in the health professions. Her brother was a public health officer and her sister was also a nurse.

Helene Fontaine spent most of her nursing career as a theatre nurse.

“Records indicate that when the renowned Sister Patrick left the Ministry of Health in July 1974, Mrs Fontaine became a theatre sister. She was promoted to theatre superintendent in 1981. She retired on September 30, 2004, after 50 years of service,” says chief nursing officer Dr Gylian Mein.

Nurse manager at the hemodialysis unit, Elsia Sinon, recalls how she was “an inspiration to many nurses because she took great pride in her work”.

“She would ensure that after each visit of a specialist surgeon, she would place an order to replenish and update equipment so that the theatre would always be adequately equipped,” says nurse Monica Amade, a younger colleague of Mrs Fontaine.

Other younger colleagues recount that she was a real teacher for student nurses who worked in the operating room and how, often, she displayed motherly love to them. They say she enjoyed sharing her knowledge.

Seasoned nursing colleagues like Ramona Bristol and Josepha Labrosse also recall that Mrs Fontaine was always very welcoming and understanding and listened attentively to everyone's problems.

Physiotherapist Patricia Rene, who has recently retired from the Ministry of Health as chief allied health officer, recalls how Mrs Fontaine had a great sense of humor and how she would crack jokes with her colleagues, especially when they were having a bad day.

“She got along well with everyone,” says Mrs Rene. “She has earned the respect of all of her co-workers.”

The Ministry of Health, particularly the nursing community, extends its condolences to her three daughters and other members of her family.

Contributed