In May of 2008 I made my first real quilt. As I was making it I had no idea what I was going to do with it but then it dawned on me, I always gave the first of anything I make to my parents. I had many hobbies. From woodwork to handmade ornaments and everything in between. My parents always got the first and sometime the only one I made. So my quilt had a home. I didn't tell them what I was doing. After I got it back from the quilter, I did the binding, found a box that would hold it and some other things I had for them. The quilt,king size, was on the bottom. I let them know a package was coming, I'm in GA they lived in Fl, and it was a wee bit on the heavy side so be careful. After they recieved the box of goodies my mom called me. She said my dad had tears in his eyes because he always wanted a quilt. I had no idea. They loved it.
In Dec of 2008 my dad ended up being placed in a nursing home. I made him a rag quilt with a pocket on the back out of fleece so he could slide his feet in there to keep them warm. My dad loved his lap quilt. My dad had dementia and he got worse daily it seemed, but he knew he had a quilt at the home with him and would get very upset when he didn't have it.
In March of 2009 I was finally able to make it to Fl. to see my parents. My mom was in the hospital and I had to get there. I was making my mom a lap quilt for her 90th birthday which was March 29th so I took it with me to finish while I was there. My mom never got to see it. I wished mom Happy Birthday at midnight on her b-day and at 1:30 she was back in the hospital with pneumonia. She died on April 6th never seeing her quilt. I have her quilt. I have the quilt I made both of them. On June 18th my dad died. I have the lap quilt my dad so loved. I have everything I made my parents or gave my parents over the years with me. I know how much they loved everything I made them and I find comfort in having those things in my possession. Because they loved and used them I feel comfort in them. No I don't have all the things out or in use but knowing I have them is a great comfort to me and when I am ready I will pull everything out. My sister wanted everything but I told her no. That's a whole other story but suffice it to say I won.
Don't give anything away until you are sure you can part with it and not regret it later. There's no rush. Put them away like others have said on the board to have and go through at a later date.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Sheri