newbiequilter

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.

oldhag

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.

TanyaL

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.

maviskw

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

Jean in Ohio13452

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.

lpsewing

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.

ctipton

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

Sandygirl

I like that tribute!
Sandy

jeank

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.

TanyaL

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.