since there are 20+ pages to this thread and I have not read thru them all I apologize if this has been written by someone else:
Historically there were casket quilts or covers, I recently read of them in a current quilt mag-don't remember which one and don't have access to them right now, but they wer quite beautiful and they had rememberances of the deceased embroidered in them......and many a pioneer who died attempting to cross this country was wrapped in a quilt and buried along the way....
I had a friend who died several years ago who had a display of her quilts at her wake and the history(if there was one) of each she made. Also had one draped across her casket. I had the priviledge of quilting many of those for her.....she lived a quilter, died a quilter and I imagine she has the largest stash up there!!!!!!!as she did down here!!!!