Warm Gestures LLC.

Warm Gestures LLC.

Battle Creek Enquirer
Linda Jo Scott
November 11, 2006

When Kathy's infant daughter Rachael died 28 years ago, Kathy's motherly instincts were overpowering. "She died on Oct.31. When the snow started falling, my first thought was that she was going to get cold" Kathy said. "I know it is silly, but I just wanted to continue to protect her. And I didn't know what to do about it."

The next winter, through a friend, Kathy learned about "grave blankets." And she immediately made one for Rachael's burial place out of evergreen boughs and pink ribbons, with teddy bears, rocking horses and a Santa Claus.

As a Roman Catholic, Kathy realized that her baby girl had gone on to another place, but making the grave blanket was comforting for her. It was really my faith in God that got me through the pain," she said. But making the grave blanket also was a comfort for her. "I know she is with God and he is keeping her safe, but making her a blanket began a healing process for me," Kathy said.

And the healing has continued through the deaths of a second infant daughter, Kathy's late husband, her father and others. Kathy said she has made hundreds of these "blankets, not only for family members, but for friends and even friends of friends.

I'm not trying to make money on this," Kathy said. If someone is in need, I am happy to make them a grave blanket--and even take it to the cemetery if the family can't get there."

Kathy, 56, a master gardener through Leila Arboretum, now can make one of her grave blankets in about an hour, once she has taken her truck to the nearby tree farm of a friend to get the boughs.

"One of the things that really impresses me about Kathy is her ability to keep going after all she has been through," said Stacey Rocklin, Leila Arboretum horticulturist. "It's especially nice to put out these blankets at this time of year when cemeteries lack color."

To decorate the blankets, Kathy shops the after-Christmas sales and dollar stores. She looked for ribbons, artificial flowers, teddy bears, Christmas ornaments and flags.

Kathy also has provided flowers for funerals and planters for cemeteries and helped individuals and institutions with gardening projects.

While doing volunteer work through Leila Arboretum, she did some landscaping at Evergreen Nursing Home in Springfield and became close friends with a 101-yr old woman named Anne Grevers. When Grevers died in August 2004, Kathy made a floral arrangement for her funeral, which she called simply, "From my garden to your garden." Later, she made a grave blanket for Grevers and even delivered it to a cemetery in Grand Rapids. Anne really touched my heart." Kathy said. "Probably because my own mother died when I was 20. I took care of her like a family member."

Kathy's daughter, Jenny, became emotional when asked about her mother's creative blankets. "She does it out of love and passion, to make sure that people are not forgotten", she said.

Kathy said doesn't take much time to make a blanket. And, like most things,it's the thought behind them that counts. Making the grave blankets is a way of reaching out to people through love," Kathy said. "Sure, it takes quite a few materials and time, but it mainly takes patience, creativity and love,

Linda Jo Scott is a freelance reporter.