Leonarda Casiraghi

Leonarda Casiraghi (born Angela Casiraghi), popularly known as Doddamma, was an Italian-born naturalised Indian Catholic missionary and social worker, known for her medical service in Dharwad, in the south Indian state of Karnataka. She founded a small medical dispensary in Dharwad in 1958, which later grew to become a full-fledged hospital by name, Our Lady of Lourdes Charitable Hospital.

Life Born in Biassono, Casiraghi joined the Novitiate of Bergamo of the Sisters of Charity at the age of 23. She was awarded the fourth highest civilian award of the Padma Shri by the Government of India, in 1998, for her services to the society

Casiraghi died on 27 August 2011, at Dharwad.