Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Statue Unveiling Ceremony

Enumclaw, WA — Saint Elizabeth Hospital is delighted to announce the unveiling of a new bronze statue of its namesake, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, crafted by acclaimed artist Mardie Rees. This significant event celebrates the hospital’s heritage and its dedication to serving the Enumclaw community.

Commissioned by Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH), the statue portrays Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (b.1207–1231), a princess celebrated for her compassion for the poor. Known for the "Miracle of the Roses," she secretly carried food from the castle to the needy, once revealing a cascade of roses when asked to show her cloak’s contents. At age twenty, after her husband’s death, she used her dowry to build a hospital for the poor at the base of a mountain, embodying her legacy of care and compassion.

The project began in 2022 when Rees visited Saint Elizabeth Hospital, set against the stunning backdrop of Mount Rainier. VMFH sought to honor Sister Jude Connelly, who served the health system for over forty years by commissioning a bronze statue. Although Sister Jude’s battle with cancer prevented frequent studio visits before her passing in March 2024, Rees used photos of her as a young woman to capture her kind, generous, and spirited essence in the statue’s design and portrait.

The bronze sculpture depicts Saint Elizabeth descending with a basket of bread for the hungry, her wind-swept cloak adorned with over fifty blooming roses symbolizing divine miracles. “This piece blends nourishment (bread) and divine grace (roses), creating a complex yet vibrant design,” said Rees. “The quantity of roses coming alive, spiraling, tumbling, and blowing out of her cape really mattered to me because I wanted people to feel God’s abundant love, bringing her story to life.” The statue, showing a young woman in period clothing with a crown and flowing cloak complete with roses and bread, symbolizes Saint Elizabeth’s storied devotion to her community.

Rees’ process involved small clay studies, a quarter-scale maquette, and a foam armature enlarged for the final clay sculpture. A model posed in period clothing to perfect the dress folds, ensuring authenticity. The result, cast at Reinmuth Bronze Foundry, is a dynamic bronze masterpiece, captivating from every angle.

An internationally recognized artist, Rees is an elected member of the National Sculpture Society and a multiple award winner from the Portrait Society of America, Marine Heritage Foundation, and Art Renewal Center. Her prior works include “Saint Anne” (Saint Anne Hospital, Burien, 2023) and “Saint Anthony & Child” (Saint Anthony Hospital, Gig Harbor, 2008).

Event Details:

What: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Statue Unveiling Ceremony, including speeches, dedication, blessing, and unveiling.
When: September 29, 2025, at 1:00 PM.
Where: Saint Elizabeth Hospital, 1455 Battersby Ave, Enumclaw, WA 98022 (outdoor event).

Photo Credit: https://www.ryanjlane.com/

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary was completed in clay in fall of 2024 and is currently at Reinmuth Bronze Foundry in Oregon being cast in bronze. She will be installed in front of Saint Elizabeth Hospital (VMFH), Enumclaw, Washington State in summer of 2025. Last December, Mardie Rees received the 2nd Place Award for a commissioned portrait with Portrait Society of America for her sculpture of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. It was a huge honor to be recognized amoung the greatest Portrait Artists working in the field today.

Here you can see photos of the arrival of Saint Elizabeth’s body at Reinmuth Foundry. Pieces of her body had to be removed for transportation (see video of pieces removed here) and then a special frame had to be constructed in order to place her in the truck and deliver her for the bronze casting part of the project (see video). Now her head is being molded and prepared for wax. The playing cards are placed to begin creating the parting line so the “print coat” can be added. The original clay sculpture is destroyed in the process to make a bronze.