Volunteers create colorful comfort for Oaklawn Hospice patients, families

MARSHALL – Several talented local residents are providing comfort and kindness to patients facing the end of life, as well as to their families after those loved ones pass.

“When a person makes the decision for care at Oaklawn Hospice, we give them a quilt or a small crocheted afghan — or ‘lapghan’ — for their bed,” said Lisa Morgensai, the organization’s bereavement coordinator. 

The colorful works of art are created by generous volunteers such as Kate Keller and members of The Friends of Oaklawn Hospice, she said.

Keller crochets in memory of her husband Jon, who died in 2010 after a 10-year struggle with cancer. The couple met while serving in the Kansas Army National Guard in Larned, Kansas, and both retired from active-duty positions with the Michigan Air National Guard.

To deal with the grief caused by her husband’s death, Keller relied on Oaklawn Hospice’s free bereavement services, which are available to anyone in the community. She participated in individual grief counseling, a support group and monthly lunches. 

“It was a big help,” she said. Since that time, Keller has engaged in genealogy research, recovered antique photos for distribution to surviving family members and worked on cross-stitching, gardening and — of course — crocheting. 

“After I started to make afghans, I had so many,” Keller said. She decided to give back to Oaklawn Hospice by donating smaller versions of her afghans to fit perfectly on patients’ beds. 

“I work on four at a time, so I don’t get bored with the colors,” she said. “It takes me about a month to make four.”

Keller has donated at least 78 “lapghans” to the organization. Her most recent donation was a large afghan for use by hospice nurses who sleep in the office during on-call periods.

“It makes me feel good to be making them for people that need them,” she said.

Since 2008, a group of volunteers with The Friends of Oaklawn Hospice has been providing quilts to families of patients. The group of a dozen people now meets monthly at The Quilts at the Marshall House, and has donated 769 completed quilts since 2011.

Current members include Sandy Anderson, Anita Clark, Jo Ducheney, Ron Ducheney, Ruth Kish, Sharon Linklater, Cathy Michealson, Mary Mitchell, JoAnn Sampson, Betsy Tucker and Christine Yoder.  Recent former members include Bev Bessler and Pat Reitsma.

The group has received support from Oaklawn, the Marshall Rotary Club and the Marshall and Battle Creek community foundations. Individual donors and group members also have donated fabric and sewing supplies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the quilters created 3,000 cloth masks, which were donated to Oaklawn, Marshall’s U.S. Post Office, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Battle Creek and area assisted living facilities.

“Having had family members in hospice care, it’s a way to give back,” Michealson said, adding that she was moved emotionally at her friend’s funeral service when the quilt was placed in the coffin during their final goodbyes. 

“You don’t always know the impact you have until it comes back to you,” she said.

“I do it because I love quilting,” Tucker said. “I also like to make something that someone would appreciate— a little cozy item for comfort for people who are sick.”

“We also enjoy the social aspect of it,” said Ducheney, who chairs the group.

“Oaklawn Hospice appreciates the generosity of these talented individuals who give back to their community,” Morgensai said.

The organization’s services include assistance with Medicare, nursing, home health aides, social work, volunteers, spiritual care, pharmaceuticals, dietary needs, speech-language and bereavement services as well as physical, occupational and massage therapy.

Oaklawn Hospice bereavement services include bereavement mail, support groups, monthly lunch gatherings, individual face-to-face or phone contacts, a lending library, supportive literature and annual memorial services. Additional information is available by calling (269) 789-3939.