PORT ARTHUR, Texas — After almost nine decades, St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur closed its doors Thursday.
The tough decision to close the hospital was made early last month.
Many gathered to honor St. Mary's legacy on Thursday.
The hospital that has served Southeast Texas for almost 90 years has finally closed its doors.
Juanita Castillo walked out of St. Mary in Port Arthur for the last time Thursday.
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"This hospital is the best," Castillo said.
Castillo walked out of St. Mary in Port Arthur for the last time Thursday.
She's worked at the hospital for more than 18 years as a cleaner.
Castillo says what's been the most memorable about the job is being able to share her faith with patients.
"Thank god because I believed he helped me get this job," Castillo said.
A CHRISTUS spokesperson says the facility had seen "decreasing demand for inpatient care."
Most of the care provided at the facility was outpatient.
Dr. Isam Anabtawi was one of St. Mary's longest serving physicians. He worked at the hospital for more than 20 years.
"We did the first heart surgery on a very complicated case that has never been done since then," Anabtawi said.
Dr. Anabtawi says he performed many complicated surgeries at St. Mary.
"It was the only place you can do heart surgery in the Golden Triangle. We were very active of that," Wass said.
About 150 jobs at the hospital will be affected as a result of the close.
Dr. Anabtawi believes it was a matter of time until St. Mary closed as he's seen it become more fragile over the years.
"It takes a lot of money to get a hospital running and the demands of the government is a lot. So have to hire more people and pay them more," Anabtawi said.
CHRISTUS says they only have about 70-75 openings right now.