Elgin Quilters! May I remind you to come in to my shop March 5 in the afternoon for our 'Fond Farewell' Quilting Bee!
We will be adding posts and sashing to the 12 1/2" blocks already donated, making a few more tops to prepare for quilting. And we will work on quilts in the frames!
What is a Fond Farewell Quilt?
A Fond Farewell Quilt is given to a Home for the Aged to keep and re-use. When a recently deceased resident leaves their room and the building, they are usually in a black bag on a stretcher. A bit shocking, no doubt.
We hope that covering the recently departed in a Fond Farewell Quilt can give comfort to neighbours and friends as they see the stretcher go down the hall and out of the building.
We also hope this helps other residents to be able to say a Fond Farewell to their friend.
What a wonderful idea for a difficult time :)
ReplyDeleteI have heard lovely stories about how the family members were comforted when they saw grampa's casket covered with a quilt/afghan from home.
ReplyDeleteI've also heard some sad stories about the newly passed neighbour was being shuffled out of the home because the black bag distresses the residents so much. Then they are confused about that neighbour being 'gone'.
One really lovely story included a quilt covered resident, pausing on it's slow trek out of the home, so neighbours could touch it and give their personal good-byes.
It is a lovely way for them to have closure.