A beginner cook with high aspirations

An elderly woman ... where weight is a major factor

In both cases, I will be buying select pans around how they cook/eat-- not (likely) a whole set.

Niece has high aspirations but not a lot of experience as yet. She loves good food but needs to build up to cooking the food she most enjoys. We attended a cooking class (demonstration really) a few weeks ago and she LOVED it. 20 mins in, she told me she wanted pans for Christmas. She likes to cook shrimp, scallops, steak, risotto. Her mom and I both like All-Clad .., her mom also loves Hexclad. I am thinking good quality pieces she can grow into. She does have one of my Staub coquettes .. she needs a high-sided skillet, a couple of fry pans, good quality sheet pans ... and I have already bought her a thermopen.

Mom has clung on to her old pans and it really is past time for new pans. We are doing a "Cooking with Grandma" family gift that has a child, grandchild or great grandchild cooking with mom every month/few weeks throughout the year (and stocking her freezer). The truth is, Dad was the cook in the family but Mom has been cooking simple dishes semi-regularly and now that it will be a regular thing with the family, she deserves to have nice pans! They will need to be lightweight and I am thinking she will need a medium sized soup pot, a few sizes of fry pans, a braiser and a scone pan! Again, lightweight is key. Sister is liking the hexpans for mom but I think we can go lighter.

What are your recommendations? All-Clad is usually my go-to (and the max price point I am willing to go) .. I don't think I can go wrong with All-Clad for either person but is it the best choice? What about hexclad? I think they are sexy but are they good pans for a beginner?

Bonus: do you have a recommendation for a good chopper? I gave her a pampered chef manual chopper but she needs something easier since she broke her shoulder ... maybe a mini cuisinart? will they do a dice?

I will be watching for sales as we approach prime days and black friday!