Ducky---I really believe that your dear Great Aunt was looking down and made sure you were there at that moment to rescue her quilt. Thank you from all of us. It is beautiful!
It may not be an heirloom to your DIL but we all appreciate the work and effort that went into that quilt. And, to handquilt it??? That in itself is a labor of love.
I agree with someone else's comment that maybe we had better think hard about the people we give our quilts to.