Unusual quilt display
 

Just thought I'd share this with other quilters. I attended the wake of a friend yesterday. Much to my surprise, one of her quilts was draped over her casket with a huge spray of red roses over it. Several of her quilts were displayed on the floral racks and every sofa and chair held quilts draped over the backs. Many of the quilts were well used and loved. She had nineteen grandchildren and each had brought their quilt to the funeral home. Her quilts were machine pieced and hand quilted.

What a great honor!!!

a great tribute to her!

A great tribute to her!!

I wonder if more quilters would have this if they had a say in how their funeral went.

Thanks for sharing that. Yesterday, I attended the funeral of my 104 year old aunt. She lived in a small town and neither of the florists there had any flowers. Jcrow suggested we use the quilt I made for her 102nd birthday on the casket. I wish that they had. It would have looked much better than the spray of primarily silk flowers that graced the casket. At least the service was wonderful. She was a much loved lady in her community.

I lost my sister pam in june this year and that is what they did at her funeral. we were
all to bring her quilts she made us and her husbands side of the family and we put them
on the back of the pews in the church. they covered the whole church. she was a fantastic
quilter she did it also for a living. oh how i miss that girl. she got me started and when i had
a question she would be right there to show me or i would go to her.

a lot of love in that room.

I'm sorry your friend passed. I am so happy that her family decided to have everyone bring their quilts she made. That is such a touching and personal thing to do.
I think I should add that to my burial requests... That would be an amazing send off for any quilter. Thank you so much for sharing :)

Wow your friend was a "wealthy" person. I hope when my time comes I have gained as much "wealth" in my life.

My sister passed away in 2003 at 53 years old and we placed her favorite quilt over her casket. You could barely see the casket. It was wonderful but made me sob. Her daughter received the quilt afterwards. Her friends and I hurriedly made her a quilt when we found out she had cancer and had only 3 months to live. She didn't get to use it in her life, but was buried in her pajamas and slippers and the quilt we made her. We had an open viewing of her and she looked so comfy in her casket with her quilt we made her wrapped around her with love.

Anytime someone in this area dies and was a quilter there are quilts displayed at the reviewal. A great tribute .

I have heard of this being done before and think it is a wonderful idea. So sorry for your loss.

Had 2 quilter friends pass this year and at both wakes the families had a beautiful display of their quilts. This was so nice for them as I am sure they would have wanted this

Just let your wishes be known ..... starting now!

What sweet memories. Something to hold tight to when missing them gets rough.

I have told my family that when I pass this mortal coil, I want my memory quilt (designed by me , 35 blocks representing a part of my life) on my casket, no flowers are even necessary. I then want my casket flanked by the quilts I got from my mother and my grandmother - the three generations of quilters.

Yes, QuiltE, I have been doing just that- I think some people think it is maudlin, but I think it is so very warm and comforting. Edie

I think that was lovely! Whata way to show and share the love back to her by displaying the love she gave to them In her quilts.!

I think it's a perfect thing to do.
And wonderful that you are including your Mother's and Grandmother's work too!!

Perhaps be sure that all are well labelled, so that when the time comes, your family have no questions as to which quilts are to be used, as well as knowing any stories that go with them.

We saw this at a funeral for a dear lady. It was a wonderful tribute.

When my Mom died I had to call all the family & friends. Along with that call I asked them to bring the quilts she had made for them to Mom's service. We had quilts traveling in cars and planes. :)

The funeral director said he'd never seen such a colorful funeral.

Mom was buried with pieces of her unfinished GFG and her favorite (very well used) pin cushion.

All of her daughters received a piece of Mom's hand pieced, unfinished GFG.

Mom would have been pleased.

that was so wonderful to read. Her family really appreciated her

Well, those posts brought tears to my eyes!

A quilt draped on the casket is not new to me, but a display is even better. Funerals are a time for people to share with each other their stories of love from the deceased. Quilts would be a wonderful aid in starting conversations that lead to the sharing of memories.

Thank you, everyone, for this thread.

What a great tribute to your lovely friend. Her family really "got" her. So sorry for the loss.

Our quilt guild makes comfort quilts for folks who have terminal illnesses and visitors sign the quilt. A friend of mine passed away a couple of years ago and her children had that quilt (54 x 60") draped over her casket. She loved that quilt! Her doctors had signed it and her nurses as well. The quilt was given to the oldest daughter who draped it across the back of her sofa. In a short time, sadly, it was needed again. Now it is again draped across the back of the sofa. The local hospice group decided that they would help get a quilt-making group started in the local community--so it's still going.

A quilter recognized for her love by the family she blessed!

A lot of love was shown by her nineteen grandchildren, bringing their beautiful quilts to share with others.

When a member of our guild became seriously ill, we all joined in to make a quilt to comfort her throughout her treatments.
When she passed and we paid our respects at the funeral home- not only was the quilt on her coffin but many of the quilts she made for family were displayed on the sides of the room and a huge floral piece was created in yellow and white flowers-ShooFly pattern. A month or so later her DH came to a meeting and presented each of us with a little bundle from her stash of fabrics.

I once saw a bumper sticker- Quilters never die- they just go to pieces. She was a wonderful person!

My dh's grandmother passed away last year and the family brought the paintings that she had made for each family member. It was a wonderful tribute to a wonderful lady.

I enjoy when the talents of the person are shared with the world. I think it celebrates the person's life!

And saying that, I hope my family will do the same for me when it's my time. I'm certain that they would agree that quilting has been a HUGE part and love of my life! :)

Here in my town among quilters, it is very common to use a quilt over the casket. I attended a memorial service recently where the person had been creamated, and in an anteroom by hallway into the church, one of the lady's quilts was draped over a table.

A friend of mine passed away this year and she too was a magnificint quilter. Her quilts were displayed and inside each program was a square that she had cut out to be used in the future. We all went away with a little piece of Shirley.

When my dear friend Cristy died a year and half ago. Her daughters decorated the church with her creations, I wish I would have taken pictures. It was beautiful.

What a lovely and very appropriate idea.

This is such an awesome and appropriate send-off for a quilter. What stories those quilts could tell, if they could speak the eulogy. It's a beautiful thought.

What a wonderful tribute to this Grandma, hope my kids and grand kids think that much of me & the quilts I have loving made for them.

I couldn't come up with a better way to honor someone then to display all the quilts she made with love!!!

What a special thing to do. Guess I better finish the pile I have made . Tops won't have near the look of the quilts if I finished them. Love this idea.

I hope my kids and grands remember to do this for me! I think of my quilts as how I will be remembered by future generations long after I'm gone.

My aunt did this with her sister. I'd never seen a quilt draped on a coffin, but thought it was a wonderful idea. It not only ssaved the family $500 for a casket spray, but showed everyone a piece of who the lady really was. I think that's a great idea and it seems to be a growing trend.

How beautiful! I've told my family to not put me in a dress when my time comes - that's just not me - but had never thought about PJs and slippers. I'm going to tell them this is what I want, because that's what I wear the majority of the time.

What beautiful and touching tributes to your beloved friends and family members.