A Life of Compassion: Laurie McCann’s 50-Year Legacy of Faith, Service, and Community in Defiance Healthcare

Laurie McCann

One face has been a constant of faith and service in the Defiance healthcare field for as long as many people can remember.

Laurie McCann, community relations manager, is celebrating 50 years at the Defiance Clinic/Mercy Health Defiance.

She said it’s hard to put into words how she feels about reaching this milestone.

“I feel humbled, grateful and deeply honored,” she uttered. “Defiance Clinic/Mercy Health has never been just a workplace – it has been a ministry and a second family. It has shaped who I am, strengthened my faith and given my life purpose in ways I could have never imagined as a young girl starting her first job.”

McCann began her journey at Defiance Clinic/Mercy Health while still in high school. She started in the medical records department.

“At the time, I simply hoped for a job that allowed me to learn and contribute, but I quickly realized I had stepped into something much bigger,” reflected McCann. “Even though I worked behind the scenes, I felt connected to the mission of caring for people, and that sense of purpose captured my heart from the very beginning.”

Since that humble beginning, she has had several different roles at the clinic/hospital including data processing, coding manager, practice manager and others before coming to her current role.

“Over the past 50 years, I have had the privilege of serving in many roles, each one shaping me in different ways,” McCann observed. “What never changed was the people – the caregivers, the patients, the families – who became part of my story. My work eventually led me into community relations, where I found my deepest joy: connecting people, building relationships and extending Mercy’s mission beyond the walls of the hospital and clinic.”

In 2020, when the COVID pandemic hit the region, McCann found another way to help support patients and their families by becoming a Chaplain as well as a death doula.

“Becoming a death doula was not a career decision, but a calling placed on my heart,” explained McCann. “Walking with individuals and families at the end of life has been some of the most meaningful work I have ever done. In those quiet, sacred moments, I have witnessed the depth of love, the power of presence, and the grace that surrounds a life coming full circle.”

Her time at the Defiance Clinic/Mercy Health also led her to something unexpected – being published in a medical journal. 

As a certified medical coder, she was asked by one of the hospital’s dermatologists to co-author an article on coding excisions in the “Family Practice Journal of Medicine.”

“... It was meaningful to know that experiences from our community could contribute to a broader conversation in healthcare,” McCann noted. “It reinforced for me that every story and every lesson learned has value beyond our local walls.”

Reflecting back on the healthcare industry during her tenure, McCann said things have changed “tremendously” with technology, electric records and healthcare advancements.

“Yet the heart of Mercy has never changed: compassionate people caring for others with dignity and respect,” she declared. “That mission has been the constant thread through every generation of caregivers.”

Laurie and Mike McCann

Outside of Defiance Clinic/Mercy Health, McCann and her family are very active in the community.

McCann and her husband, Defiance Mayor Mike McCann have five children and 12 grandchildren whom McCann states “are my heart and my greatest legacy.”

“They (my family) are the reason behind everything I do and the joy that fills my life beyond measure,” she praised.

McCann is a member of several area organizations. She is the president of the board of trustees for the Defiance Community Cultural Council, board member of the Defiance Area Foundation, member of the board of the United Way of Defiance County, past chair of the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and more.

“My life outside the hospital has always been intertwined with service,” she declared. “I have had the privilege of serving on community boards and organizations, and alongside my husband, who serves as mayor of the city of Defiance, I have been honored to embrace the role of first lady of our city. Together, we share a deep love for this community and a commitment to lifting others up. It has been a joy to serve not only within the hospital, but throughout the place we call home.”

In 2015, the couple founded the Good Citizen Award in the community. The award is presented annually to an individual or couple in the area who has been active in organizations that provide services to Defiance County, in leadership positions of a nonprofit and/or volunteers at one and is associated with at least one accomplishment in the county. 

“...we believe the true strength of a community lies in its people – the quiet servants, the givers, the ones who show up everyday with kindness and humility,” McCann explained. “Recognizing them has been one of our greatest joys.”

Service is truly a cornerstone for McCann – both in the community and the hospital.

“When I look back over these 50-plus years, it’s not titles or milestones that stand out – it is the people,” she stated, adding that what is truly recalled is “the hands I have held, the tears I have shared, the laughter in the hallways, and the lives that have forever touched mine.

“This journey has been about love, service, and faith lived out day by day. If there is one thing I have learned, it is this: a life spent caring for others is never wasted. It is, in fact, the most meaningful life of all.”