Using their lifelong quilting skills, residents at Westview Acres, located on the campus of Good Samaritan Society – Waconia in Waconia, Minnesota, create beautiful, handmade quilts that bring hope to people facing difficult times.
Myrene Whittake
The women find joy in knowing their work makes a difference. They describe quilting as rewarding, heartwarming, and a meaningful way to stay active while giving back.
“I love making quilts for the homeless. The organization that distributes the quilts says the people have big smiles when they receive them,” says Myrene Whittaker, a Westview Acres resident and quilt group member.
The mission project is done in partnership with St. Joseph Catholic Community of Waconia, providing the quilting group with the opportunity to extend warmth and comfort to people in and around the community.
“It gives the quilting group a common goal. They know that the quilts are going to people who are in need,” says Westview Acres Life Enrichment Director Denise Leonhardt. “The quilts are made with love and care and are given to people who will appreciate them.”
Lifelong hobby brings joy
Myrene started creating quilts in 2002 when a neighbor invited her to quilt with her quilt group.
“That was when I really got into quilting. I probably learned 95% of my quilting from them,” says Myrene.
Other Westview Acres residents have been quilting even longer.
“I’m sure it’s been about 40 or 50 years. I was kind of self-taught,” says Idamae Hauf, another Westview Acres resident and quilt group member. “The ladies at our church back home did a lot of quilting. I really enjoyed it, and when I got started, it was kind of hard to stop. But, I’ve slowed up a lot since then.”
Shirley Bren
Shirley Bren, also a Westview Acres resident and quilt group member, has been quilting for decades, but sews less now due to osteoarthritis and her involvement in other activities at Westview Acres.
“I’ve been making quilts since what seems like forever. When I was a teenager, my grandma used to make quilts. My mother also made quilts,” says Shirley.
Myrene’s favorite part about quilting is putting on the binding and hemming it by hand. She gets inspiration from a variety of sources.
“Sometimes through different magazines, or I go to the quilt shops and look through their patterns, or maybe I’ve seen one on Facebook,” says Myrene. “Sometimes my friends have made a quilt and I ask if they care if I make the same pattern. We often share patterns. So, it’s quite fun.”
The women find fulfillment and friendship through quilting.
“It’s very soothing and relaxing for me,” Myrene says. “The gals here are really neat. Everybody helps everybody else. If somebody’s looking for a piece of material and you think you’ve got it, you let them have it.”
“I think it’s the idea that you’re making something yourself. When you’re with others, it’s the companionship,” says Idamae.
Wall display shows their talent
Each month, one of the quilt group members’ creations is displayed, along with a short story about the quilt.
Geraldine Poppler is the resident and quilt group member who gathers the quilts and stories, helping to preserve and celebrate the artistry and heart behind each treasured piece.
The display is located in one of the building’s common areas and highlights the creativity, history and personal memories woven into every stitch.
“Everybody seems to enjoy it. When there’s another one displayed the first of the month, people are excited about seeing a new quilt,” Idamae says.
Geraldine Poppler
The display idea came when a resident asked a former staff member if they could display a quilt they had made.
“They went to the manager and said, ‘You know, we have this blank wall outside your office and it would be a great place to display this quilt,’ so it started to be a way to display a quilt every month,” says Denise.
One of Shirley’s quilts was recently featured.
“It was the hockey quilt I made with the hockey jerseys for my grandson,” says Shirley.
“She made that and won a ribbon,” says Denise.
“The Carver County Fairgrounds is right across the street from our apartment complex. There are several quilts displayed over there every year and I just thought I would take that one over there and, by dahlia, I won,” Shirley says. “I was excited. I couldn’t believe I could win a ribbon.”
Future quilt plans
Many of the quilting group members focus on different hobbies during the summer months, but they usually have plans in mind for future quilts.
“Our youngest grandson is graduating in a couple of years. That’s probably how long it’ll take me to make his quilt. I have a panel that I’m thinking of using. It’s a beautiful one of Canadian geese flying in a row,” says Idamae.
“I’m still doing quilts for the homeless, and I am working on one for myself right now. And then I am doing another little one for my daughter-in-law’s niece’s baby,” Myrene says.
The generosity of each woman in the quilting group continues to inspire those around them, proving that compassion and community spirit never grow old.
