Fundación Santa Casa de Misericordia San Juan - San Juan Egoitza Zestoa (1919-2019)

Abstract

We describe the development of a charitable foundation over the last hundred years. In 1919, two single sisters from Zestoa put all their resources into building a house for the elderly population of the town. The building was raised on their own property. The mayor was the president of the foundation and all the parish priests form the local area along with other people were involved. The Congregación Hijas de la Caridad ran the establishment, which for some time was also a school. When they stepped back due to a lack of staff, this caused an institutional conflict which would transform the old charity into a modern home for the elderly.