TOWNSHEND — Two women were honored Oct. 13 at separate ribbon-cutting ceremonies at Grace Cottage.
The husband of Sheila B. Friedli and the family of Catherine N. Stratton provided the funds to create a new hospital entrance and reception area.
Both donations were made in thanks for the care their loved ones received at Grace Cottage over many years and at the end of their lives.
“We are so pleased that the Friedli and Stratton families have stepped forward to fund the new entrance and reception area, uniting the names Sheila B. Friedli and Catherine N. Stratton forever with Grace Cottage,” said Grace Cottage CEO Roger Allbee in a news release. “This exciting new project, now completed, increases patient privacy and infection control, both in our Emergency Department and for those receiving outpatient services in our lab and diagnostic imaging departments.”
The new entrance will now serve as the main entrance, reducing the amount of non-emergency traffic through the Emergency Department. Registration for outpatient services is now offered in the new reception area.
Ernie Friedli, of Windham, funded the new front entrance, in memory of his late wife, Sheila B. Friedli. The entire family of Catherine “Kay” Stratton funded the new reception room. At separate ceremonies, relatives shared stories of their longtime interactions with Grace Cottage and their appreciation for the care their family members received.
John Brunelle and Son Construction of Brattleboro performed the work on both projects and contributed to the entrance. The reception room will be adorned with furniture provided by proceeds from Grace Cottage Hospital Auxiliary's 2015 Fair Day.
The new hospital entrance is to the left of the emergency room entrance, behind Grace Cottage Family Health on 185 Grafton Rd.