A covering of love

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passing quilt

The Passing Quilt at Menno Place

The passing quilt at Menno Place. Photo by Sharon Simpson

Chaplains and spiritual care volunteers at Menno Place share vigil with those who are dying alone. They have initiated the Passing Quilt ceremony.

A handcrafted quilt is used to cover a person’s body after they have passed from life to eternity. Along with the quilt, they perform a ceremony that may include prayer, a poem, a song and silence.

The 10 x 7-foot quilt used for the ceremony was gifted to Menno Place by the Menopositives quilting group. This is a group from Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Abbotsford, B.C., who honour the long-held Mennonite tradition of quilting.

Menopositives

The Menopositives made the Passing Quilt.

This Passing Quilt ceremony has been used 64 times in 11 months. It has significantly deepened the way in which families, staff and other residents say goodbye to a dear friend and loved one.

[Sharon Simpson is director of communications and stakeholder engagement at Menno Place in Abbotsford, B.C.

 

 

 

 

Updated July 6: group name and quilt size corrected.

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2 comments

Lenora July 6, 2017 - 19:45

Just a note, the quilt is actually 7 feet by 10 feet, not inches. Ladies’ group is actually called the Menopositives.

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Karla Braun July 6, 2017 - 20:16

Thanks, Lenora. We corrected the article.

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