As Townsend Smith Foundation works toward building a hospice for North Halton, we plan for the little things that bring comfort and dignity at the end of life.
Many hospices enhance the hominess of their residents’ rooms with hand-made quilts, or use a specially-dedicated one as a covering to honour a resident’s passing. Recently, TSF received a special donation from a local group.
The Milton Memory Makers is a small group of quilters who’ve worked together for more than twenty years. A few years ago, one of their long-time members passed away, and her son brought the group a quilt from her collection, as he didn’t know what to do with it. He asked if they would finish the quilt, which only needed the outside borders stitched together.
Jean Lillie, speaking for the Milton Memory Makers, says, “We do not know who made the beautiful appliquéed quilt. We do know that there was more than one quilter. We know they were experienced quilters. The stitches are small, even, and very consistent throughout the quilt. The appliquéed flowers are very well done.”
Several quilters finished the work and then the group discussed what to do with it. After many conversations, it was decided that the Hospice would be a fitting location. “By donating the quilt, we are honouring the makers who spent many hours creating each flower square and then putting them together. We are confident that our former member would agree that this is where the quilt belongs,” Jean told us.
Thank you, Milton Memory Makers, for connecting with Townsend Smith Foundation, and helping us on our journey. Together we will build a hospice for North Halton!