Marie-Françoise Collière (1930-2005) was a great lady of the nursing profession, recognized worldwide for her expertise. As a historian, a pioneer, and an activist for the cause of female nurses and health care, she devoted her life to steering the profession toward the primary meaning of care, i.e. accompanying patients through their life, from birth to death, through diseases, accidents, and ageing. Thus, for Marie-Françoise Collière, “Caring means health care through the satisfaction of a series of needs that are indispensable for life but which have diverse manifestations.” Here is the story of her life and her trajectory.