March 3, 2004
Lives threaded together
Munson Hospice House displays quilts in each of its eight suites
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Manifesting love and nurturing in fabric, Munson's Hospice House features a decorative quilt in each of its eight suites.
Created and donated by individuals and groups in the community, the quilts were displayed last Thursday at the new 9,600 square foot facility that is scheduled to open in April. The $2.4 million facility is situated on Munson's campus and donations to build it came from more than 2,500 gifts, ranging from $10 to $500,000.
The quilts were highlighted during a tour of the facility Thursday afternoon, which drew many of the quilt makers to see each other's finished work.
Measuring 36 inches on a side, the quilts are meant to provide immeasurable comfort to terminally ill people and their families who spend time at the Hospice House.
"The quilt has been a long time symbol of Hospice and we wanted to continue that theme and have it be something meaningful and from the heart," said Meredith Goodrick, R.N., the clinical director of the Hospice House. "What I didn't know about quilts is that they all have a story."
The common stories in the eight quilts revolve around the theme of hope and renewal, with titles such as Life's Comforts, On My Way Home and Treasured Times reflecting their creator's inspiration.
Jane Kendra, a member of the facilities design department at Munson, created the quilt that adorns the wall in suite 5. She wove in end-of-life themes into her work, which to her reflect the cycles of life.
"I tried to start with something bright at the beginning, in the middle, and then worked outward through all the stages of live and wound up in the light," she said, adding her quilt took a total of 30 hours to complete.
Members of the Manistee branch of Munson Homecare and Hospice created one of the quilts, each person making a square. Many of them veteran sewers, the ten nurses and staff members each picked a pattern that was meaningful to them. One person pulled all the squares, whose patterns ranged from the Road to Heaven to the Star of Hope to Peace and Plenty, together into the quilt.
"It was a labor of love for all of us, we all wanted to do something for Hospice House," said Diane Holman, an R.N.
"We are so thrilled to have this facility," she added. "We all die and there is no better support for patients and families than Hospice staff and volunteers. I've gone through it myself with family members."
Holman noted that being a hospice nurse, contrary to what people may think, is a deeply satisfying realm of nursing.
"I've been a nurse for 34 years and I've finally figured out what I want to do when I grow up," she said.
That afternoon, members of the Fellowship Quilters donated 14 lap quilts to the Hospice House. The quilts covered a range of shapes, patterns and styles, all created to provide comfort. The quilting group, which meets twice a month at The Presbyterian Church, brought them as a gift to future families that will use the facility.
"We help Habitat for Humanity, babies in need and then the Hospice House," said Barbara Roberts, who helped deliver the quilts.
The donation of both the lap and the decorative quilts represents another facet of the Hospice House's commitment to volunteers. The facility will be staffed primarily by trained Hospice volunteers, except during the night shift when professional staff will be on hand.
"This is a home, we're trying to keep any of the institutional things away," Goodrick noted. "We're looking to the people who will be here as volunteers or staff as surrogate family and we train family members to care for their loved ones all the time."
"The dedication of these volunteers is just phenomenal," she added.