Maria Gay was a Girona nun who founded the congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Girona. She was born in Llagostera in 1813, in the middle of the War of Independence. The village was totally destroyed by Napoleonic troops and it was in misery. In addition, in 1815 the father of the family died and the mother had to take care of Maria and her brother, who would be born shortly after, Pedro. From an early age she received a good religious education both at home and abroad.

In 1850 her mother was moved to Girona to be admitted to the Santa Caterina Hospital, where she died. Mary stayed in the city and the following year she became a lay person in the Third Order of Saint Dominic. She was helping the family she was living with, helping with housework and taking care of their children, while also receiving sick patients from her father, Dr. Emeri Ros. Later he joined the Brotherhood of the Most Holy, where he cared for the sick for twenty years. Later, she wanted to go further and founded a religious institute dedicated to the service and care of the sick ones, along with seven other companions. It ended up being converted into a religious congregation called the Institute of the Religious of Sant Josep of Girona, known as “Vetlladores”, which was officially founded in Girona in 1870 by her. The primary purpose of the congregation was to support the needy , the elderly, and to care for the sick people, both physically and spiritually. And because of the success of this congregation, it continued to grow and expand until it is now in three continents (Europe, America, and Africa). Specifically in Girona, today there are two residences: the Residence of Santa Maria del Tura (in Olot) and the Geriatric Center of Maria Gay

The Bishop of Girona, Jaume Camprodon, proclaimed her a servant of God in the name of the Catholic church. In addition, in 2013, Pope Francis granted her the title of venerable, praising her heroic virtues.