Thursday, March 02, 2006

There is a thread on the QuiltArt site about quilts for the deceased. When our profoundly handicapped 3 year old daughter, Hermione Rose, mercifully died, we built her coffin in the shape of a boat, with a tiller that really worked - and her quilt became the sail. The children and their friends painted the boat and made all sorts of things to go inside, including a necklace over 1 metre long made with beads of polymer clay that many people contributed to.
We had an amazing time putting Hermione into her ship, just exactly how the children thought she would be most comfortable, then seventeen people each hammered in a nail to attach the deck. We hoisted the sail with flags on the rigging, attached 3 roses to the bowsprit and sat quietly/danced around with pleasure to admire and ponder. Later we took down the sail, furled it around the mast and laid it on the ship. We drove to the crematorium and launched the ship, lit with birthday cake candles, directly into the flames. Hermione was our viking princess that day.

15 comments:

Robyn said...

What a beautiful way to farewell.

Robyn
Scratches & Scribbles

Julaine said...

Oh, my...

Deb Lacativa said...

You sent her with fun, love, glory, pagentry and dignity...who could ask for more in life or passing. Thanks for sharing this.

Val Hearder said...

Oh Alison, this touches my heart. How powerful to reclaim the ritual of burial and make it truly meaningful.
best,
Valerie Hearder
http://www.threadlink.typepad.com/

michele merges martens said...

What a wonderful way to honor your daughter... Michele

jenclair said...

What a joyful send off!

Penny said...

What a wonderful way to say goodbye and also to remember her by. Penny in Victor Harbor

Desiree's Designs said...

Your beautiful story is very powerful, also touching is that you allowed others, whom she had known, to be involved. I think that is such a wonderful gift of healing to those left behind and hurting too.

Julie Oakley said...

How moving and wonderful that you made a proper ceremony of her passing.

Julie Oakley said...

How moving and wonderful that you made a proper ceremony of her passing.

Jan Allsopp said...

How wonderful to have fully participated in her farewell.

ElizT said...

As everyone says, wonderful.

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

what a wonderful, wonderful tribute! It touched me deeply..
Ronell

pedalpower said...

How wonderful that you were able to take control and make her farewell meaningful and personal. We had a little boy who died and I never would have thought to do something like this. Beautiful.

Anna Circo said...

I'm speachless. The farewell to your daughter sounds symbolic and sweet. I love the cake too. I made a quilt to cover my father when he passed so he would always be covered with my love but this is amazing and so admirable.

Peace to you all.