I would hope that if these passage quilts are intended for members of the family or friends, that the family members be consulted. Everyone might not be receptive to the idea of receiving something which had adorned a casket.

My son of 32 years passed away on January 30 of this year. Just a few short weeks before, my (his hometown) community had a benefit supper for him and his young family. I got everyone at the benefit to sign a long panel of muslin. I then constructed a quilt for him with the well wishes on it. I was able to give it to him just before he died and he enjoyed it a lot. He kept a sharpie at his bedside and asked all of the staff that came in contact with him to also sign it. After he passed many staff came into his room to say good bye. those who hadn't yet signed the quilt did so at that time. As we gathered up his belongings and prepared to leave him one of the nurses came to replace his quilt with another blanket. I could not bear to let him go without a piece of his mommy protecting him. That quilt followed him on his journey from his room to the morgue and the crematorium so I know that he is wrapped in a town's love forever. It gives me a lot of comfort to know that I could continue to protect him in death.

One of my daughter-in-laws has taken a job with a hospice organization as a grief counselor. One of the job requirements was a master's degree in social welfare. There was a period of training for the job to learn customs of different cultures in the US so that the grief counselor would not offend someone. The different culture customs that she has come into contact with are very diverse and extremely divergent from each other. It is a very difficult to tactfully procede even when you know the religion of the family and the dying person. Flowers and quilts are welcomed by some and refused by others. Solitude are sought by some and keening by others. There is nothing that can be presumed to be welcomed or to be refused by a grieving family.

I should add that if the family does not want to keep the quilt, it is washed and put back on the comfort cart.

When my grandmother was in the Hospice Unit at ACMC in Ashtabula, Ohio, the room she was in had Beautiful Bed Quilts right on the Beds...that were made by local Quilt Groups...Sure made the Room seem more like home...Hospice of The Western Reserve Staff and Volunteers were Wonderful.

My Aunt loved yellow,when she passed I had less then 3 days but using awide variety of yellow 4" blocks I made a quilt blanket to cover her (1/2 way) inside the casket.We had a viewing & service, I handed out leftover fabric blocks to our immediate family.
I decided to purchase pre-quilted off white fabric & used that as a 4" boarder all the way around the finished rows of blocks & also used on the back of the quilt.I did take a picture of the finished quilt for a keepsake
She was buried w/the quilt.

I just learned of passage quilts. I saw my two step fathers (my mom took care of both her ex and current husbands who were dying) wheeled out of they're house in a body bag on a geurney. I know how much easier it would of been for last memories if they had left under a quilt. So I'm explaining passage quilts to my relief society President so maybe we can present quilts to mortuary's to be used just to cover and be washed and used again. Thanks for listening

I like that tribute!
Sandy

This is what I understood passage quilts to be, not given to the family. To be reused, put over the body when removing from a home or nursing home.

Quilts made with the person's clothes would be memory quilts.

Public health rules control the way a dead body is handled. There are strict rules about this in each state. Body bags are made to contain all bodily fluids for one thing. A quilt could cover the bag but not replace the bag.

I have heard of these quilts, but I heard them called "cutter quilts", don't know if there is a difference.

Wow. I never would have thought of this. I think it's a great idea.

My experience with the term 'cutter quilts' is that these are old, worn out quilts that have damaged areas that are too big to repair. They are then cut up and made into toys, dolls, or other small items.

Good morning. I make them a lot. I have made them before and after they pass. The last one was for a friend that was passing and I made his wife one so he could lay with of before he passed and she would have a great memory of him with his quilt. I also had enough that I made is grandaughter one too.

Trust me that are a wonderful gift to give someone. You don't have to have a lot of their cloths, you can always get a few and build out from their.

Dawn in Waco

I have often thought that I would like to make a "casket quilt" sort of a sampler quilt.... I attended a funeral where many of this lady's quilts were displayed and it was very nice and very soothing. You know how everyone displays pictures and does videos at funeral....well, I just hate the thought of anyone doing that at my service.....and I have said so. So.....I thought that a casket quilt would be like my picture board....those who know me would recognize me and parts of my life in the quilt.

I'm a part of a very carring prayer and share group. When we hear of a illness we make a quilt and give it to the person, hoping that they can receive warmth and comfort knowing that people are praying for them. It doesn't have to be a terminal illness. We have made many quilts for ladies that have MS and illness of that nature. It gives us pleasure as well. Our goal is to have some made ahead, but that never seems to happen.

The only one from hospice I've seen was one for the person to be covered with in the casket. giving it to them before I think would be the best, so they could see it.

I must say the thought of burying that precious little one in just a t-shirt and diaper brought tears to my eyes...thank you for being gracious enough to take the time to do this for him...

Our quilt group makes bed runners to be used on the patient's bed and after they have passed it is given to the family.

Our quilt guild, Cactus Sewables in Yucca Valley, have our 2 local hospices in our outreach program. We make quilts, pillowcases and "dammit dolls" that we donate every month. If you have VNA (Visiting Nurses Inland Empire) check with them. That is one we donate to and they are very appreciative!

It is amazing how much love is felt by those receiving these quilts. I always called them memory quilts and have made several while the people are still with us. My first one was for my mom when my dad passed away. It had pictures of our family, the house we lived in all our lives that was sold, etc...then my mom suffered from dementia,
and now is in an alzheimer unit but the quilt is hung above her bed and some days she knows who we are. The
quilt will be displayed at her funeral and passed on to one of the grandchildren. It is also very comforting to make and give these quilts!

I made a lap quilt for a very good friend who has ALS. Our quilt guild had just had a charity day and the project was lap quilts. Unfortunately I missed the day. When I realized how cold my friend was I knew I had to do something for her. I made it one Sunday afternoon and couriered it to her on the Tuesday. She loved it. I made it with a fleece backing to keep her warm and cuddly. Sadly she passed away a couple of months later. Her sister sent me note thanking me the quilt, saying it was the best gift anyone could have given her and she had it with her to the end. The day of her service a group of coworkers and I attended her service. Imagine my shock when they wheeled her coffin into the chapel and my quilt was draped on it. It was the most humbling, gratifying moment of my quilting days. Many times we make quilts and often wonder if the recepient really does appreciate what you have done.I will never forgot the moment and am so happy that I choose to make it for as she dearly loved it. And I will never forget my friend. RIP in peace Lorraine!

I hurried to make a quilt for my Aunt that was dying I helped care for her, The care got to be just to much for my Uncle and I, as she had bedsores and I felt we were hurting her when we moved her, besides she was really failing fast[ATTACH=CONFIG]368492[/ATTACH]. I did not have any type of training for this kind of work. I took it to her and she was able to express that is was beautiful, she had it wrapped around her the day she went to a nursing home but sadly only live 4 more days. My cousin (her daughter) said to me after the funeral that she would have liked to display the quilt but did not want to upset or embarrass me. I did not tell her that I would have been honored just expressed my thanks for thinking of me. I am glad my Aunt got to use it those last few days.

I have heard where some nursing homes have quilts hanging in their hallways and patients are allowed to pick one to cover the body when it is being taken out of the nursing home. It is much nicer than a black body bag. It is then returned to the nursing home for future use. I myself prefer to be cremated and my ashes tossed on our farm and then there to be a huge party to celebrate my life and passing on to heaven. I myself would rather fertilize the earth than take up space where people feel they have to come and visit. I will be in a better place so be happy.

I started quilting due to a funeral!!! I attended the funeral of a coworkers grandmother. The family used her quilts to drape the alter, casket, etc. I thought what a great way to leave something of yours for family to cherish. The next week I signed up for a beginning quilting class. Four years later I am still going strong!

The Passage Quilts program at our local hospital only offers quilts to the patients. They do not have to take it if they don't want one. After the patient passes, the quilt is then offered to the family - again, they do not have to accept it. If they don't want it, it will be washed and offered to someone else.

I would also like to point out that some posters here seem to be confused by the term "passage quilts" - the program I am referring to does not provide quilts to those who have already died. We provide warm, comforting, cheerful quilts to those who are terminally ill. My own personal feeling about that is I'd rather have a quilt I made keep a person warm, rather than drape a coffin. By then it's too late.

It's important to realize and accept that the term "Passage Quilts" are used with different meanings.

The "Passage Quilts" which many of us are familiar with are the ones used to cover the body as it leaves the home, Hospice, or wherever the person is at the time of passing. It's to cover the body with warmth and love in a different sense, so that those who see the person do not see the cold, stark body bag, that would otherwise been seen. It provides comfort to those people, and help to make the acceptance of the loss of their friend/family member as they see them in a familiar way as though tucked in bed and sleeping. Similarly, for any others who happen to see (eg. no connection, but in a hallway, etc.) it is easier for them to witness the passing by of the gurney.

Passage Quilts of this sort are commonly used in Hospice Homes across the USA and Canada (and perhaps other parts of the world too, I don't know!). Their use has grown beyond HH via funeral directors when they move bodies, as they realize how they can ease a difficult situation for many.

They are not meant as "keepers", rather as a continual use item, kept for the purpose intended.

I DO realize this, which is why I keep trying to explain what I mean when I discuss the Passage Quilts program at my local hospital. "Passage Quilts" is the official name of the program, and is what the OP was referring to when she posted this:

The OP was not referring to casket quilts, but there are many here who are assuming she is. I'm simply trying to explain the difference.

I think that it's nice if the person has it before passing and then if the family want's to put it over the casket it might mean more. It would be just like anything personal the person had going to a loved one. Sue

NOR was I referring to casket quilts!

Ironically, the OP does understand the multi-meanings behind the "Passage Quilts" ... and just like any other thread on the QB, there's often many other side-comments within a thread.

So relax, and let the discussions happen ... after all regardless of the interpretation, it is all for good.

I don't know the figures for how many people die in hospitals compared to how many die in other places, and of those dying in hospitals, how many of those hospitals are large. My Father-in-law died in a large hospital. The morgue attendant who came for the body asked me to step out of the room. He drew the curtain around the bed, transferred the body to a gurney and wheeled the gurney out to the hallway. When he came out to the hallway I asked where the body was because the gurney looked as empty as it had when he went into the room. The gurney had a hidden shelf that the body was put on. The sheet hung down to the top of the wheels and covered the shelf. It looked exactly like every other gurney being pushed around the hospital or sitting in a hallway. There was no way you could tell a body was being transported - no one could be upset by a dead body going through the hallways. The funeral home attendants picked up the bodies from the hospital morque, not from the individual rooms. I would imagine that this is the procedure in most large hospitals. If he had had a quilt to cover him in this passage to the morque no one would have known or seen it. They were very careful of visitors and patients feelings when they arranged this transport method.