A Loving Tribute to Mothers…

Grace and Bernard Fried established the Mother’s Garden at St. Luke’s Warren Hospital in memory of their mothers. The hospital created access to the garden from the cafeteria so employees and visitors can enjoy their meals outdoors in a calm and quiet setting. To ensure the garden remains viable and well-maintained, Grace and Bernard included St. Luke’s Warren in their estate plan. “Giving back through your estate plan is an easy way to leave a legacy to a place that is meaningful in your life,” shares Grace. “I am pleased we are able to share this gift with St. Luke’s Warren.”

Although rewarding, working in healthcare can be stressful at times. “The Mother’s Garden means so much to me personally and having a beautiful space for the hospital employees is important too,” says Grace. “Administration was so supportive of me, which is why I enjoyed my work at Warren Hospital.

Grace joined Warren Hospital in 1963 when the hospital had three beds per room and the “Dietary Department” had two dietitians. By the time she retired in 1998, Grace was the Director of Food and Nutrition Services, overseeing 65 employees and six registered dietitians.

While in high school in Wilkes-Barre, she worked in the food services department of a local hospital and was influenced by the dietitians there. Following graduation from Penn State, Grace completed a dietetic internship at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Grace’s husband, Bernard, was a professor at Lafayette College in Easton. He passed away in 2021.

Still a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), Grace volunteers at Third Street Alliance in Easton, meets friends for lunch, and enjoys activities at Kirkland Village Retirement Community where she now lives.