Sewing gratitude

Martha Oakes[/caption]

The chapel at Salina Presbyterian Manor is much cheerier these days, thanks to banners created and donated by Martha Oakes.

Martha volunteered to make the fabric hangings, known as paraments, after talking with our chaplain, Mary Bridges, at Salina Regional Health Center. Martha volunteers there for the chaplaincy office, and she made a Christmas parament for them. Chaplain Mary admired it and mentioned to Martha that the manor chapel’s paraments were showing their age. Martha agreed to replace them, too.

Over the past year, Martha has sewn six paraments, plus an altar cloth that is suspended from the ceiling. First she made a hanging for Memorial Day; now there are paraments for Easter, spring, fall, advent, and Christmas too.

“I’m a quilter, so I’ve been pulling fabrics out of my stash,” Martha said.

In a way, the project is Martha’s thank-you to Presbyterian Manor for the care her mother, Helen Lopshire, received as a resident. Helen moved here in 2002 and died last year. “This is a way for people to remember my mom when they go to the chapel,” Martha said.

Martha and her husband, Dennis, plan to make Presbyterian Manor their home someday as well, she said.

“I was always thankful that the manor was there for me and my mom,” Martha said. “They really helped me out because I didn’t have the capability take care of her. They were so good to her.”

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