Mary Hartshorne is one of the 1,100 former Saint Clare’s workers whose pension was slashed six months ago. 

"When you’re missing a large amount of money, $800-900 a month for six months, then you become emotionally, physically, and health-wise in a very bad position," Hartshorne said.

The hospital merged with Ellis a decade ago. After that, the pension fund was the corporation's only responsibility — until last November, when it announced the money was gone. 

"All of a sudden, a letter in the mail, and it’s done," Hartshorne said.

Now, as more than a thousand workers are left empty-handed, the company is trying to dissolve. 

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and State Senator Jim Tedisco have been advocates for the workers. The two are proposing a bill to stop the company from closing down until they have answers.

Right now, there’s no indication if there was a misuse of funds, but either way, Santabarbara says it’s unacceptable.

"I wanna see if something was done wrong here. People need to be held accountable," Santabarbara said.

Hartshorne says she hopes to find a solution, possibly by the end of the month, to help those who are used to helping others.

"We took care of people as if they were our own; however, we never agreed to forego our pension," she said.

Hartshorne says she’s been meeting with the diocese and they have another meeting planned with the bishop at the end of the month. She says they may be able to come to a resolution of a payout by then. That money would come from avenues within the diocese.