When Janet told me the story of her daughter Christine Emily, who died at age 3 (almost 4) of leukemia, I was sitting with her in her apartment, and I began weeping. She stopped at one point and asked, "would you like a tissue?" before continuing on after handing me one. Janet is 90 years old, and Christine was born in 1960, so she's had a lifetime of grieving. As a mother myself, I was hearing it for the first time, so, I let my tears flow.
I met Janet at Hip Stitch when she came in one day almost 2 months ago with her friend Evelyn, and as I cut her fabric, I asked what she was sewing. She told me she makes quilts for the Ronald McDonald House, and I asked her more about this endeavor of hers. That was when I learned about Christine.
I asked her if I could visit her sometime and hear more about her story, as well as see her sewing space.
Fast forward to my visit, which was a gift to me. Janet is kind, and humble, and faith filled, and has lived a rich life full of memories, and to this day, at age 91, she quilts and gives to others. She is a light in this world, in my humble opinion.
My daughter Claire and I paid her a visit on a hot summer afternoon - Evelyn, her friend and fellow quilter, joined us on the tour. We began in her bedroom, where this graced her bed:
Let me take this moment to tell you that the majority of the quilts she showed us were
HAND QUILTED.
Then, she opened her cedar chest and began taking out quilt after quilt after quilt, all HAND QUILTED.
(HAND QUILTED)
This one, above, is for her grandson, when he gets married. I asked her how she can choose the colors/design/fabric before knowing his future wife, and what they might like, and she answered that it all just speaks to her in the process.
Many of these quilts will be given as "Encouragement Quilts" - she's known in her community and folks reach out to her if another resident is in need of encouragement: an illness, a hospital stay. She just gives.
Here's her sewing room, and a project laid out to piece.
We then went on a walk through her building, where we came across a little art show called
"Nature's Palette":
This is Janet's piece in the show, called "Under the Sea", and she cites the artist as "God."
As she told me the story of Christine, she said that after Christine passed away, in a hospital in Boston, she was asked for permission to use her cells for research, which she gave.
And that Christine's cells are still alive today.
I left wanting to know more. I hope to visit her again.
I know that her husband Bill was in Normandy on Day 2 of the invasion. She met him on a blind date when she was in nursing school in Boston and he was at MIT, getting his doctorate.
I know that she is rich in children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I know that she has a busy and fulfilling life at age 90, and is sharp and creative and humble.
I know that I just like to be around her - maybe selfishly hoping I'll absorb some of that.
