2025 At a Glance

For almost three decades, Barbara Brandlin Hines and Sister Ruth Agee, Order of Saint Francis (OSF), have been at the heart of QueensCare’s mission to serve Los Angeles County. Together, they built a partnership with a foundation of humility, trust, and an unwavering commitment to the underserved members of our community during some of its most transformative years.

Sister Ruth’s journey at QueensCare began through Sister Diane Martin, OSF, who introduced her to the organization. Sister Ruth had been working at Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in nursing administration for ten years, after previously serving as a hospital chaplain over several summers. “Mary Jane Cox, who worked with QueensCare at the time, encouraged me to apply for an administrative position,” she recalls. “The ‘job’ became a ministry of love.” Sister’s presence was a living expression of the single purpose set forth by her community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart—quiet, steady works of neighborly love for the vulnerable and for the staff who served them. Sister’s role carried weight. “To some it was an inspiration to carry on the mission; to others it was seeing someone committed to working for something bigger than themselves,” she reflected.

Barbara Hines, who contributed 27 years to QueensCare, continued a legacy of service that began with the vision of her father, Joe Brandlin. She fondly looks back on her early days working with Sister. “I had never had an assistant before. She just took over, and she was right every time. It was obvious that her only agenda was advancing the good QueensCare could do for those in need in the community.” Their relationship evolved naturally from colleagues, to confidantes, to the best of friends. “Working with Barbara was a privilege,” Sister said. “I admired her principled, disciplined work ethic and her transparency.”

Trust became the foundation of their bond. “We had to trust each other,” Barbara emphasized. “I had absolute confidence in her. She put the mission first–always.” Sister saw in Barbara a leader who balanced strength with compassion. “She supported managers and directors, helped advance careers, visited the sick, and attended staff and board members’ funerals,” she recalls. “Together, we extended our ministry beyond the office—sending flowers, attending wakes, offering care in times of need.” Their shared service extended to daily life at QueensCare including holiday potlucks, celebrations of diverse cultures, and the small acts of kindness that made
the organization feel like family.

Both women carry memories that define QueensCare’s benevolent spirit. “The inspiring stories from our Community Health Workers, how they were hands-on in helping, and going the extra mile, showcased real compassion in action,” Sister said. She also remembered early visits with the mobile programs, where she learned how a simple pair of glasses or a dental hygiene lesson could reshape a child’s life. For Barbara, one story stands out above all. A woman once told her daughter, “Your mother saved my mother’s life,” after QueensCare covered lifesaving inpatient care that the family could not afford. “That’s what we do,” Barbara said. “We change lives, even when we don’t always hear about it.”

Together, Barbara and Sister Ruth helped foster QueensCare’s identity as an organization defined not only by programs, but by the people who show up, care deeply, and lead with heart.