I went to pay my respects to the family of a friend who had just passed away. I was surprised to see 3 blankets and a quilt. All three were hand gathered at the top with a color coordinated bow. They were all displayed on stands so that they flowed and pooled on the floor so they could be seen well. One blanket had the Lord's Prayer woven into it; another had the 23rd Psalm. All three had a florist's card with the name of the donor. The florist's card on the quilt also had a handwritten message, "Please reserve for Ed and Cheryl". (One of the deceased's children and spouse.) I have never seen this before but it must happen regularly for the funeral home to have the stands ready. Has anyone else experienced this?

When my Mom passed, we displayed 4 quilts at he viewing and at the funeral that that she had made. It was a beautiful tribute to her.

So much better than flowers- they just get thrown away!

That's something I have never seen. Sounds much better than flowers.

I agree...much better than flowers. My sister and her husband were presented with a Home of the Brave quilt after their son was killed in a car accident. The committee felt that since he had served a 17 month tour in Iraq that he still deserved the honor of recieveing one. My sister treasures that quilt and when she misses hhim, she wraps up in it. It's like a warm hug from him. Quilts can be a great comfort for so much longer than flowers can be.

I've saw these at all kinds of funerals around here. Its the "thing" to do. They are usually embroidered with the deceased's name, etc.

I think it's a wonderful idea. A very special item for the close family, etc. to have to remember their loved one instead of flowers.

The Lakota Sioux send their loved ones on their journey with a Lakota Star quilt (most people call it a lone star quilt). Along with a quilt, some food and drink and a few of their personal belongings. This is to help them on the journey back home to our ancestors.

yes, i have, for five years i was a casket embroider, and i did everything from prayers, poems boats to dogs and back again. i would put anything you wanted inthe casket and on the overlay, it is very common nowadays, especially here on Long Island, some caskets come w/ emb already in them, some buy from florists.

When Mom passed we Hung several of her Quilts and Brought out her tredle many were made on, w/photos and flowers, was a nice way to celebrate how she enjoyed downtime.
Not sure it wouldn't be cool if when a person passes, give family photos of quilts, or offering to loan back to the family for use at the services, would be a nice tribute. Since in reading many previous posts so many are given away :)

Wow, what a neat idea. I have never heard of the quilts for funerals either, but I think it is great. I love quilts and would love to give and get them both. It is such a warm and loving feeling when I even see a new quilt, or an old one...lol. I made my mother a blanket of fleece for Mother's day in 2005 and she used it all the time. My sister, her caregiver, gave it back to me when she passed in April this year 2010. When I first got it I wrapped up in it in the evenings as it made me feel closer to her. I am so glad I got it back.

I have never heard of using quilts at a funeral, but I think it is a great idea.

I had given my Aunt a quilt just 4 days before she passed away and after the Funeral My cousin said her daughters wanted to display it, but they thought it might upset me. It wouldn't have, I would have been honored. When I gave it to my Aunt she said "My this is beautiful" She was wrapped in it for her last ride and used it for the last 4 days at the hospital before she passed away.

Yes, when my sister-in-law's mother passed away, they displayed the most beautiful quilt on the casket instead of a spray of flowers with the name of person the quilt was to go to on the card. This is a very nice thing to do, as the quilt will always be a treasure, whereas most of the flowers will only last a day or so, unless they are silk.

that sounds lovely. my girlfriend lost her husband recently and he was an artist so she displayed one of his paintings on glass on an easel. (he painted on the back of the glass. had to start with the foreground first and go backwards).

I think it is a wonderful tribute to the deceased. We also displayed one of my Mom's quilts she had made at her Visitation 6 years ago. I hope to see this more often. Thank you for bringing up this subject Susan.

I think that is a wonderful way to honor a loved one.
I have heard of casket quilts made especially to be displayed over the side of the casket. Our guild had a speaker on that topic.

Doesn't it just warm your heart. One of my co-workers died of liver failure a couple of years ago. Many people at work donated fabric and I started him a quilt when he had to quit work, and completed it just days before he passed away. We took it to him in the hospital and he was so proud of it. His wife put it on the coffin, under the families flowers. I cried when I saw it there. That was the first time I had ever seen a quilt displayed at a funeral, but think it is a great idea.

That is such a beautiful idea. So much more meaningful than flowers

This isn't about quilts at a funeral but when the oldest member of our mini-group turned 70 we had a surprise birthday party for her and arranged (behind her back) to 'steal' some of her quilts with her daughter's help. We set them up at another member's house and invited all of the birthday girl's quilting friends. We had a beautiful luncheon surrounded by all her beautiful quilts. She just couldn't believe it when she walked in the room and all her quilts were there! It was a great party and a great tribute to a lovely, generous lady. I think quilts just add to the event.

We had a distant relative who had her own quilts displayed at the funeral, kind of like a private showing. Was great way to remember her. Since so many of us give our quilts away, this was nice to see them brought back one last time.

Oh yes they do that all the time here in my neck of the woods.I have one our church reserved for me from my Sister's wake.I think it's such a lovely idea

Since my Mother passed 2 years ago (my sister and I were left to handle everything) I decided that I wasn't going to do that to my children, so started to write down everything that I wanted when my time came. One of the things that I am adamant about is wasting money on flowers. I told my daughter that I didn't want flowers, but one of my quilts on my casket and I want others displayed. I would so much rather people use the money for some good purpose and remember me doing what I have always loved. The flowers won't last, but the love and prayers that I have put into the quilts for my family and friends will.

I believe that that is a lovely idea. Before my mom passed away she said bring me flowers while I'm still her to enjoy them not at my funeral. Quilts would have been a great idea.

The funeral home my MIL was buried from has a series of ongoing quilts, where family members are invited to create a quilt block to be added to the newest quilt being assembled in memory of their loved one who has passed. They even have separate quilts with blocks created by children. These many many quilts are on display and are rotated on weekly basis. It becomes such a spiritual experience to watch people in such pain find solace in them. Quite an experience.

Recently a good friend at Church passesd away. Her covering in the casket was a quilt her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchild made. They drew pictures, wrote special words, traced their hands on squares during her last few weeks and she saw them do it. Someone else sewed the squares together to cover her. Made so many people cry but what a special tribute to a special lady!

What a wonderful idea. Quilts can be there forever and flowers just die. I want quilts for mine.

My mama wasn't a quilter, but she did do needlework...we had a table set up with a display of things she had made for us...just kind of gave everyone there a glimpse of who she was....

I love flowers but the ones at funerals look so depressing to me. That other idea sounds much better.

For the past few years, funerals at our church have included the comfort quilts that our church quilting group has made for those who are ill or experiencing a serious trauma of sorts. One man was buried with the quilt a 9 year old made. He treasured that quilt, because it was made to look like a flag and he had been a vet. The family usually keeps the quilts, because their loved one used that quilt, which is always given with a Bible verse in cross stitch attached, while they were ill or in the hospital. If the departed has opted for a cremation, the quilt has also been used to cover a table which holds the ashes, a photo, flowers or other mementos.

It really makes us, as Piecemakers, feel wonderful that quilts we created are so treasured and that they brought some joy and actual hugs to people who were ill.

The third Monday morning of each month, we gather at church to create these gifts. And we KNOW it helps.

I haven't seen this locally at any funerals, but I think it is a beyond amazing idea! Quilts touch so many lives!

The first quilt I ever made was a gift for my grandma. When she passed last fall, it was displayed in the casket with her, along with the cross-stitch pillow I made her. My 16 y/o cousin wanted them buried with her, but I kept them for the memories. She sold so many special things over her last few years, but the things I made her went to every hospital & respite home with her, so I know how much she treasured them...

My DH aunt and uncle had sheep. They did alot of spinning and weaving. When uncle passed they used one of his weavings instead of a casket spray. It gave a chance to remember good times rather than his long illness.

Beautiful picture of you in your avatar Nicky.

I heard of one similar to this not too long ago. There were several dozen quilts displayed all around the sanctuary, most of which had been previously given away, but were gathered together for this warming tribute. I love the idea of honoring someone in such a personal way.

Never seen it, never heard of it, but LOVE the idea! What a wonderful thing to do!!!! And in my opinion, beats the heck out of flowers!

I have never heard of this . What a wonderful idea instead of flowers. I have always hated wasting what little money I have on flowers. But what I did do for my fathers funeral was give yellow tulips and my step mom took them home and planted them. I always give something different.
I have already decided on what I want. no viewing I don't like them No funeral my DD has better things to spend her money on. I am donating my body. But I do want a rip roaring party. Lots of music, food , booze and laughter. Hopefully they will display some of my quilts.

My sister in law passed away and she had a closed casket. Her daughters put a large wall hanging she had made that had different blocks on it over the casket. It was a beautiful and wonderful way to memorialize her handiwork. She was a superb quilter and her husband now keeps it hanging on his wall.

When one of my friends died, there were no flowers on her casket, they had put one ofher masterpiece quilts over it. Ithad been hung at Houston, and she won numerous prizes on it. It was a wonderful tribute to her and brought tears to my eyes when Isaw it.

HI DONNA,
I noticed your from Rogers City,Mi.,years ago I passed that area on my way up to Cheboygan.
What a precious wonderful tribute with quilts I wish I would have known about it when my mom passed away,she was a wonderful hand quilter,my name is Gale however it was already being used,gale

Yes, I've seen it quite often ... and most of them are very lovely ... I especially like the ones with the Lord's prayer and Psalms 23. I've seen them with Angels, praying hands, Jesus, and various other scenes.