Angels of Westmoreland Honor Guard, 409 West Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, PA (2025)

11/04/2025

Kathleen M. Fritz always wanted to be a nurse. It was what she was meant to be, alongside being a devoted wife, mother, Nana, and friend. She was always willing to help wherever needed.
Kathy earned her BSN from Northern Michigan University in 1983. Early in her career, she worked with preemies. While raising her five children with her husband, Dennis, she worked in the emergency department at the local hospital and later in an orthopedic office while they lived in Dover, Delaware. In 1997 she helped develop an in-home hospice program while living in Delaware, and when the family relocated to Greensburg, she worked for Excela Health and Heartland Hospice. Kathy later transitioned to the VA Pittsburgh Health System until 2012, then transferred to the VA Health System in Salisbury, North Carolina, where she retired from nursing in 2014.
Beyond her love of nursing and family, Kathleen cherished learning, sewing, and camping with her husband. While in Greensburg, she attended Seton Hill University, earning a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing in 2001. She authored a book that is now housed in the Library of Congress. Many friends and relatives were the recipients of her handmade blankets, pillowcases, and crafts. She will be fondly remembered by her children and grandchildren each Christmas season when they hear or see scenes from the Nutcracker, a yearly ballet tradition they shared.
Kathleen demonstrated the makings of a good nurse: devotion, dependability, intelligence, integrity, creativity, flexibility, and perseverance. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

10/23/2025

When God Wore Scrubs

They said God works in mysterious ways,
but no one told me He’d clock in beside me.
With a stethoscope slung like a halo,
and hands that trembled — just like mine.

Some miracles don’t happen —
they show up for shift.
They wash their hands.
They whisper, *“You’re safe.”*
They clean wounds the world ignored.
They pray with their eyes open
and their masks on tight.

I’ve seen Him in the nurse who stayed
after her shift ended,
still holding a hand that had gone cold.
In the one who cried quietly in the linen room
and came back smiling,
because someone still needed her strength.

I’ve seen God in chart notes written at 3 a.m.,
in IVs hung like blessings,
in the rhythm of a pulse
that refused to quit.

We are taught to document vitals —
but not miracles.
To count drips — but not prayers.
To record outcomes —
but not the grace it took to keep going.

Maybe God never left heaven.
Maybe heaven just learned how to work weekends.

Because every time a nurse kneels to tie a patient’s gown,
every time we say, “It’s okay,”
when it isn’t —
something divine happens.

And if you listen closely,
beneath the beeps and alarms,
you might just hear it
the sound of faith
disguised as care.

10/12/2025

Lisa Mensch shared this for anyone who wants a great medical volunteer opportunity

https://mompgh.org/

09/28/2025

Theresa Benedict graduated from The Westmoreland School of Nursing in 1964. From as far back as her cousin could remember, she had always wanted to be a nurse. Theresa worked in the Operating Room at Westmoreland Hospital and served as the surgical nurse for Drs. Gilcrest, Maxwell and Dull, Traverse and Fahmy, Mark Costa, and Christine O’Brien. She also assisted in the Operating Rooms of various area hospitals, often being called out in the middle of the night to assist the doctors that she worked for. For a time, she taught OR Tech classes at Westmoreland County Community College. Theresa was a member of the Westmoreland Area Nurses Association. She was widely regarded as an intelligent, loyal, and devoted nurse who earned the respect of her peers and the physicians she worked with. She was compassionate, caring, and had a wonderful sense of humor.

A nursing classmate of Theresa’s, who has remained a close friend and considered her a “Bonus Sister” for over sixty years, recalled that Theresa had a way of making things fun in an effortless way. In nursing school, she was known for her outrageous stories. During their Psych rotation at Torrance State Hospital, she was telling a story so loudly that the whole group was laughing and carrying on, earning them a “timeout” and confinement to their dorm rooms except for clinicals and classes. Theresa was also known for her lack of homemaking skills; once, while in charge of laundry, she spilled too much detergent into the front-loading machine, and she and friends had to clean up ankle-deep bubbles that covered the laundry room floor. Later in life, she boasted that she was a “Master of the Microwave,” though her true calling was undoubtedly in the OR, not the kitchen or the laundry room.

Theresa was the “Go to Person” for medical advice and help among family and friends. Having never married or had children, she devoted herself to the family she did have, especially her brother and her parents. She enjoyed traveling, playing golf, writing stories, and always prioritized others’ needs over her own. She was a lover of animals, especially her cats and was a proud member of the Cat Committee. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, she remained steadfast in her faith, never complained, and valiantly fought the disease that limited her mobility and independence. She remained alert and caring. At Harmon House, where she lived, she was often consulted by staff for medical advice. She continued to call her friends and family to check in and stay connected.

Theresa was a caregiver who dedicated her life to those who needed her. She will be remembered by those who loved her—her family, her coworkers, and those she cared for—as a dedicated, loyal, respectful, and compassionate nurse.

09/27/2025

Name: Amy Kubic Hall

Do You Have a Nickname? None

Where did you go to Nursing School and when did you graduate?
WCCC—LPN—1998, WCCC—Associate Degree—1999, Carlow University—BSN—2007 NIFA—RN First Assistant--2017

Where have you worked during your career and what specialty?
Jeannette Hospital from Graduate Nurse until 2008 In Rehab and OR, Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery 2008-2009, Greensburg Care Center—RN Supervisor 2009-2001, UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital—OR Clinician 2011-2013 & Highlands Hospital OR/RNFA 2014-2020. I would consider OR my specialty and I love it!!

What was the reason you decided to become a nurse and how old were you when that was decided? I didn’t actually want to be a nurse but rather a physical therapist. However, life intervened and a nurse I became. I can’t imagine being anything else

Are you currently working (and if so, how long) or if retired, when did you retire? Unfortunately, I am not currently able to work due to Long Haul COVID. However I worked for 21 years.

Are you married/in a relationship, and if so, for how long and feel free to include the name? I’m as single as they come!

How many children and if you would like to give their names, feel free!
One amazing son, Zachary (29)

How many grandchildren do you have and their ages?
One beautiful red headed granddaughter, 3 months old, Taryn

Any Pets? If so, what kind and what is his/her/their names?
No pets of my own however I do have 4 grandanimals—Dog Jack, Cat Marilyn, Cat Sonny and Cat Big Tex

List any hobbies, churches, clubs or organizations that you belong to or enjoy doing.
I love to read and watch True Crime! I love to cruise with my family or just travel in general. I’m a die hard Pirates fan! I also love football and hockey. I guess you could say I’m a sports girlie

Favorite Foods:
Pizza, Mexican and Hungarian

Favorite Holiday and Why?
Christmas. I have loved Christmas since I was a little girl. I think my dad singing me Christmas carols all during the year when I was small has stuck with me and it makes my heart happy!

Favorite Vacation Spot or Memory.
I don’t know that I have one specific vacation spot. I think my top 3 spots would be Bermuda, Aruba & St. John. The crystal blue waters just wash all your worries out to sea.

Favorite Childhood Memory.
My favorite memory is going to the fire hall with my Dad. I knew more about the fire trucks than some of the fireman did! Every time I pass one of the fire halls the wonderful memories come flooding back and it’s so special.

Favorite Book/Movie/Genre of Music.
I definitely don’t have a favorite book but anything True Crime Count me in! My favorite movie(s) are Dirty Dancing, Top Gun and Mannequin.
I definitely have an eclectic music list. It can be anything from Polkas to Pop/Rock, some Hip Hop to Country and a lot in between!

09/21/2025

Scrubs at the Funeral

They came in scrubs.
Not black suits.
Not grey hats.
Scrubs.
Because that’s how she knew them.
Because that’s how she served the world.

Rows of navy.
Rows of teal.
A silent army lining the pews.
Badges still clipped.
Hands folded.
Hearts breaking.

They came not as coworkers,
but as family.
To honor a sister who stood beside them
in code blues and break rooms,
in midnight shifts and morning prayers.

The minister spoke of heaven.
They thought of hallways.
Of her laugh echoing past the nurse’s station,
of her hands steady in the storm.

When the casket passed,
stethoscopes glinted under the church lights
like medals earned in a war no one saw.

Because that’s what nursing is
warfare of the soul.
And she fought well.

Somewhere a patient took a first breath
while they watched her take her last ride.
Life never pauses,
even for its guardians.

They did not bring flowers.
They brought memory—
of whispered comfort,
of steady presence,
of her lamp burning long after shifts ended.

And as the casket lowered,
they did what nurses always do—
they reached for each other’s hands,
steadying, anchoring,
because even now,
care does not stop.

Scrubs at the funeral.
A uniform of honor.
A badge of belonging.
A promise:
that though one has fallen,
the line still holds.

And somewhere,
in a ward beyond this world,
she pulls on fresh scrubs,
smiles,
and says,
“Who needs me?”

09/20/2025

Never regret a single day in your nursing journey.
Some days are gentle, bringing peace and laughter.
Other days are heavy, filled with pressure and pain.
But each one has its own purpose.

The easy shifts remind you why you chose this path.
The tough shifts test your patience and your courage.
The joyful shifts fill your heart with gratitude.
The painful shifts shape your character with resilience.

Every smile from a patient is a gift to treasure.
Every tear is a silent reminder of your humanity.
Every struggle teaches a lesson you will never forget.
Every success reminds you that healing is possible.

You cannot have the light without the shadows.
You cannot know strength without facing weakness.
You cannot celebrate victories without enduring battles.

So embrace each moment, for they all matter.
Adversity is not the end of your story—it is the beginning of growth.
Let it guide you, mold you, and make you stronger.

For in every heartbeat, every step, every challenge—
you carry the spirit of a Nurse. 🩺💙

09/19/2025

Meet the members of Angels of Westmoreland Honor Guard

Name: Lori Hank

Do You Have a Nickname? Hank

Where did you go to Nursing School and when did you graduate?
Citizens School of Nursing 1996
Penn State BSN 1997.

Where have you worked during your career and what specialty?
I worked at a variety of places early in my nursing career -
Passavant step-down open heart unit
Allegheny Valley hospital PCU
Healthsouth Harmarville Rehab on the stroke unit
Medi home health for 14 years as a marketer/nurse liaison
Bridges Hospice (and a few other home healths and hospices)
My specialty is hospice. I currently own Monarch Hospice and am very proud of my staff and what we’ve created.

What was the reason you decided to become a nurse and how old were you when that was decided? I was 23 when I decided to go back to nursing school.
I went to Penn State for chemistry for 3 years and then decided that's not what I wanted to do. My parents were ready to disown me at that point - and started charging me rent to live with them. I became an aide, only because it paid more than minimum wage at that time and I knew I needed to make sure I paid my rent.
I loved it so much that I decided to go to nursing school so I could be more help and answer people's questions about their illnesses and medications.

Are you currently working (and if so, how long) or if retired, when did you retire?
I was ready to throw in the towel in the medical field about 12 years ago. The system is broken and, from my perspective, is focused on money and not people. I was tired of not being allowed to get the things my patients needed because of cost. Instead of quitting and becoming the perfume girl at Macys, Rich (my significant other) and I decided to open Monarch Hospice. We celebrated 10 years since opening Monarch earlier this year!
I love what I do and am happy to report that I am finally able to make the decisions that allow my patients to have what they need.

Are you married/in a relationship, and if so, for how long and feel free to include the name? I have been dating Rich Siefert for 13, 14, 15 years maybe??? Lol (This relationship has lasted longer than both of our marriages combined!!!)

How many children and if you would like to give their names, feel free! No children, i have a small family. I have only one nephew, Steven- 22yrs old (my sister's son), that I am very close with.

How many grandchildren do you have and their ages? No grandchildren

Any Pets? If so, what kind and what is his/her/their names? I have 2 shih tzus that I rescued about 11 years ago. Their owner passed away and the family didn't want them. They are now 15 and 16 years old and still don't listen to anything I say, but I love my Reggie and Lunnah. They are super spoiled. Just saying.

List any hobbies, churches, clubs or organizations that you belong to or enjoy doing. I live and breathe Monarch Hospice. I dont have much time for anything else… lol but its worth it! I occasionally spend time with 4 friends I graduated from high school with. They get me and understand my need to be ‘last minute Lori’ because I never know what's going to come up at Monarch.

Favorite Foods: Chicken Romano, Filet Mignon and Totinos frozen pizza (seems like it doesn't fit with the others, right?) Wine. I also like wine. I think that's it.

Favorite Holiday and Why? Thanksgiving. It's more laid back than Christmas, which is always so rushed, too commercialized. People have forgotten the meaning of Christmas. :( Thanksgiving is all about spending time with your family and eating, two of my favorite things.

Favorite Vacation Spot or Memory. I love the Grand Canyon. I went 2 years in a row for vacation! It's breathtaking - reminds me that there is a much slower pace to life out there. I prefer to be in the country than at a beach. I am an outdoors type of gal. I also loved seeing the bears in Gatlinburg. I love wildlife! (meaning the animals, not the wine .. lol)

Favorite Childhood Memory: I loved spending the holidays with my extended family, there were about 30-40 of us. But since my dad passed away 15 years ago, we do not do that anymore and there are less than 10 of us that get together for the holidays now. I miss those days of my large dysfunctional family– eating, drinking, opening gifts and spending time together.

Favorite Book/Movie/Genre of Music. I love music from the 70s and 80s. (omg thats 40-50 years ago! When did I get old?!) Movie: I would have to say Stepbrothers vs Something about Mary would be my favorites. (My second nickname is Nighthawk- for anyone who has seen Stepbrothers lol) I love corny no brainers, it helps destress from work. But then on the flip side, I love true life crime movies. Again, makes no sense, right?

09/17/2025

From the time she was a little girl, Patricia A. Debich knew she wanted to be a nurse. Her quiet, mild manner, along with her compassion and kindness, were perfect qualities for the making of an excellent caregiver. She graduated from Westmoreland Hospital School of Nursing in 1957 and began her career on Pediatrics and Med/Surg floors at the same hospital. She later changed course and joined Monsour Hospital, where she worked for WIC, a program that supported new mothers and infants.
During this time, Patty and her husband had four children—ranging from middle school to high school and college—and, for a year, she cared for her mother, who had been diagnosed with colon cancer and was bedridden. Patty’s devotion continued as she became a dedicated caregiver at home, caring for her mother in the evenings and through the night until her mother’s passing.
Patty then began a new chapter as an ER nurse, working third shift on weekends to be home with her family while her husband worked during the week. Sherry Kimmel, an ER unit secretary and longtime friend who worked with Patricia for twenty-five years at Monsour, recalls her as caring and giving, always going the extra mile for those in need. She was conscientious, knowledgeable, and deeply respected by staff and doctors alike. Patty treated everyone like family and was affectionately known as the “Mother of the Ship.” Sherry’s words reflect a common sentiment: if the world had more people as kind as Patty, it would be a better place. Patty retired in 2004 but continued to share her healing touch as the “neighborhood nurse,” administering allergy shots, taking blood pressures, and checking stitches, bumps, and bruises.
Patty’s daughter Karen has vivid memories of never missing a major holiday with her mom. Because she worked night shifts, Patty would always be home in time for celebrations. Later, after becoming a grandmother, she would check in with her family to see if there was anything they needed or anything coming up she wouldn’t want to miss before confirming her schedule. When Karen’s children were young, Patty would work the night shift, come home to sleep until noon, and then pick up her grandchildren from daycare and transport them to preschool, always ensuring everyone arrived safely. She was very proud of her nephew and two great-nephews and a great-niece who followed in her footsteps to become nurses.
Patty was forever a caregiver, caring for her husband at home until he passed away eighteen months ago. Her family was her life, but she gave to many others as well. She volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul, was a member of the Westmoreland Area Nurses Association, and regularly attended Monsour ER Retiree gatherings to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.
May we all learn from Patricia Debich and strive to treat everyone with the same generosity, dignity, and quiet kindness she embodied.

09/14/2025

Noel Claire Porsching Stine was an only child until the age of thirteen, when her brother Paul was born. Three years later, her baby brother passed away from what they believed was pneumonia. At the young age of seventeen, Noel decided to pursue nursing and began her schooling at Allegheny General School of Nursing, alongside her friend Franny Philisausky (pronounced Phil-a-sauce-ski). Franny described Noel as a beautiful French girl who was always kind to everyone and saw the good in all she met. Frannie, in contrast, was a sassy, sometimes “crass” Polish girl. They were “two peas in a pod.” Their friendship lasted through nursing school, where they were roommates for two years, and remained strong through marriages, divorces, changes in careers, and even when they did not live in the same state—sixty-two years of friendship. Noel was there when Frannie’s daughter Mona was born. Frannie, who now lives in Texas and is caring for her husband who has health issues, was unable to attend Noel’s services but spoke with Noel two weeks prior to say, “I love you” and “goodbye.”
After graduating from Allegheny General School of Nursing, Noel worked in the recovery room. She was fortunate to be able to stay at home while Mona was young. When Mona was about four years old, Noel attended night classes at Penn State New Kensington to earn her BSN, and then went on to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) for her Master’s degree, all while raising a family and continuing to work.
After receiving her Master’s Degree, Noel taught at St. Margaret’s School of Nursing for 23 years. Brigitte Carilli and her family were family friends of the Stines. When Brigitte went away to college with dreams of becoming a doctor, she eventually realized that path wasn’t for her. Her father encouraged a conversation with Noel, which inspired Brigitte to pursue nursing and join St. Margaret’s program. Brigitte described Noel as approachable and comfortable as an instructor, yet with high expectations and strong values she hoped her students would uphold to succeed.
Mona recalls a story of a physician from Egypt who had come to America, was unable to practice medicine, and chose nursing instead—he became Noel’s admirer and, when Noel was hospitalized, brought a group of nursing students to meet her and told them that Noel was a nurse whom everyone in nursing school should emulate.
Noel Stine’s caring, kind, and loving demeanor touched everyone who knew her. She was the first nursing instructor to be awarded the UPMC Cameo of Caring Award.

Angels of Westmoreland Honor Guard

11/04/2025

10/23/2025

10/12/2025

09/28/2025

09/27/2025

09/21/2025

09/20/2025

09/19/2025

09/17/2025

09/14/2025

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