Janet Trede Memorial Nursing Scholarship

Two weeks before she passed, Jan Trede made one final decision.

After months in and out of hospitals and skilled nursing care, Jan chose to enter hospice, understanding that her time was limited. In those tender days, surrounded by family, she began thinking about what would matter most. When her daughter, Lori Eschenbaum, asked what she would like people to support in lieu of flowers, Jan did not hesitate.

She wanted to help nurses.

During her final months, she had grown close to the nurses who cared for her. She saw their long hours, their patience, and their compassion. Many were balancing families while continuing their education. She often wondered how they managed it all and hoped to ease that burden for someone else.

Jan’s connection to Harper College ran deep. She worked in Information Systems (now Information Technology) for 15 years, eventually serving as Executive Secretary to the Vice President. Harper was not simply her workplace; it was her community. Known as one of the beloved “bridge ladies”, she gathered with coworkers during lunch breaks to play cards and build friendships that lasted long after retirement. She and her husband, Ralph, hosted colleagues in their home, forming lifelong bonds.

Education was central to Jan’s life and to the life of her family. Jan and Ralph stressed the importance of education while raising their children, Cindy, Chris and Lori, and encouraged their grandchildren. Over the years, four generations of the Trede family have been connected to Harper.

After Jan’s passing, Lori and her siblings established the Janet Trede Memorial Nursing Scholarship to fulfill their mother’s wish. Awarded to second year Harper nursing students who demonstrate financial need and maintain strong academic standing, the scholarship supports those pursuing one of the most demanding and compassionate professions.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Lori shares. “Their hard work will pay off, and they will truly make a difference.”

Through this scholarship, Jan’s encouragement lives on in every future nurse it supports. Her belief in education and in caring for others continues with each life they touch.