Bereaved Family Partners with Oaklawn Hospice Quilting Volunteers to Complete Quilt for 2026 Oaklawn Benefit Auction
Marshall, MI – A meaningful act of generosity and remembrance will be featured at the 2026 Oaklawn Benefit Auction, thanks to the family of the late Dorothy Goheen of Battle Creek and the dedicated Oaklawn Hospice Quilting Volunteers who helped honor her final wish.
Dorothy, a lifelong quilter known for gifting handcrafted quilts to family and friends, entered Oaklawn Hospice care in 2023. At the time, she had begun a new quilt—one she had thoughtfully designed with carefully selected green fabrics and a detailed, intricate pattern. Knowing she would be unable to finish the piece, she expressed a final wish: that the quilt be completed and donated to Oaklawn to support its annual benefit auction.
Her daughter, Geneva Goheen, worked with Oaklawn Hospice’s Quilting Volunteers to bring that wish to life. “The top was pieced by Linda Dove of Kalamazoo. Then Christy Merkel of Marshall custom stitched the quilt using specialty quilting techniques to highlight the intricate detailing, which makes the quilt much more valuable. Finally, Jo Ducheney of Marshall finished the binding. All the work was done free of charge,” said Goheen.
She added, “My mother, Dorothy Goheen, made and gifted many quilts in her lifetime. When she went on Oaklawn Hospice care in 2023, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to finish this quilt for which she carefully chose the green colors and the intricate design. It was her wish that I make sure this quilt was completed and donated to Oaklawn for the benefit auction. We are so pleased to honor my mother’s wish to show her appreciation to Oaklawn with this donation.”
Cindy Lake, Oaklawn’s Development Manager, expressed deep gratitude for the generous donation. “This quilt is not only a beautiful work of art but a heartfelt symbol of love, memory, and generosity. We are incredibly grateful to the Goheen family for honoring Dorothy’s legacy in this way. Their donation will make a meaningful impact on the patients and families Oaklawn serves, and we are honored to showcase this quilt at the 2026 Benefit Auction.”
The completed quilt will be auctioned at the Oaklawn Benefit Auction on Friday, March 13, 2026, with all proceeds benefiting Oaklawn’s Oncology and Hematology Department, supporting vital cancer care services for patients throughout the region.
Honoring Hospice Patients at the 2026 Memorial Service
The week prior to the auction, Oaklawn Hospice will host its Annual Hospice Memorial on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. During this ceremony, the lives of all individuals cared for by Oaklawn Hospice over the past year—including Dorothy Goheen—will be honored.
Families wishing to submit a tribute or reading in memory of their loved one are welcome to participate. For details, contact Oaklawn’s Bereavement Coordinator, Lisa Morgensai, at 269-789-3939 ext. 3118.
Photo Caption:
Geneva Goheen, daughter of Dorothy, (left) and Angie Dickerson, granddaughter of Dorothy (right), proudly display the completed quilt made in honor of Dorothy Goheen, which will be donated to the 2026 Oaklawn Benefit Auction to support Oaklawn’s Oncology and Hematology Department.
