What a beautiful act of love!

My mother recently passed away and we asked people to donate to her favorite charity instead of sending flowers. She had a favorite lap quilt that I had made her years ago and this was placed over her. It added the "color" of flowers and I feel better knowing she would be happy with the amount of contributions made in her name to the charity. She was buried with the quilt and I'm comforted by that.

I know this is a little more personal than making quilts for Hospice patients that you don't know but I still think most family members would like something like this.

How touching. What a lovely tribute to one of GOD's angels.

I've been commissioned a few times to do memory quilts from clothing the deceased wore then given to a loved one. One of them also had me make a small wallhanging from these clothes for another family member.

But I also like the last idea of presenting them to the patient then pass along to the family. But people have their own way of remembering their loved ones or whatever the person wants is always the best idea (for them).

The hospital in Marshfield Wisconsin has a "Comfort Cart" that goes in the room with a very ill or dying person. It contains coffee, tea, snacks, etc. and a comfort quilt. The family is welcome to anything on the cart while they stay with their loved one. The quilt can be taken home with them after the crisis is resolved one way or the other.
The hospital asked that the quilts be about 40 X 60. Our quilt club had 14 of these on display at our quilt show, and we are still making more. This was my "project" for the year I am president.
Not all of the quilts are going to the hospital. Some are going to people our members know who they think will benefit from and appreciate them.

I make quilts for those with terminal illnesses. Some of my friends have their visitors sign the quilt blocks. Then, at their death, the quilt is draped over the casket. The quilt is folded and presented to the family at the funeral. One friend brought hers home and draped over her sofa back, and then, a quick few months later, it was needed for her sister's unexpected funeral. Now it resides back at the house, on the back of the sofa. The quilt was much appreciated by the family members. Their church has begun making the quilts now tocontinue the tradition.

I made a reversible one 2 yrs ago. Had female side and male side implied. For me the understanding was the
funeral director uses it to cover the body bag when bringing body from a private home to the auto or in our local area
where they have to walk down a hall and the other residents get to see a quilt covering the deceased rather than bag
which I am told can upset some of them very much. The quilt is kept by mortuary so no family squabbles .
I was pleased to donate the quilt -sizes given to me to be sure to cover guerney but not drag. Used here for a female neighbor and have heard some happy results in other cities. My friend told me about them because she saw
one elderly man walk to her brothers bag and say goodbye to him. The caregivers said usually the clients are
upset and restless after a death but not if they see the quilt. I think it helps pay respect.

This topic reminds me of my visit to the quilt museum in Lincoln NE. They had a coffin quilt on display. It seems that years ago a quilt or cover was placed over the coffin at the funeral home or at the home of the deceased. It struck me as odd at first but comforting too....

I made my in laws a quilt representing them and their four children (Eleanor Burns 'Sisters' quilt pattern) by using the favorite colors of each family member.

The label was an appliqued heart of the color representing each family member, with their name embroidered in a large font next to their heart. How my MIL loved that quilt! She was nearly blind but she could feel the embroidered label with each person's name and see the color of the hearts.

She had cancer and died a short time later. My FIL covered her casket in the church with her quilt - said she had it with her constantly in her last days. I didn't realize I had made a passage quilt, but I guess I did.

My quilt guild makes Hospice Quilts. After they are given, I'm not sure what happens to them, but I'd like to think they are used in this way somehow.