Lis Merby

This quilt piece represents many of the things that our mom loved. Little did she know that when she, with our dad, the love of her life, emigrated from Denmark, to Canada and finally to Michigan in 1968, that she would be on the adventure of a lifetime. They lived the American dream of being able to travel and relaxingly enjoy life with her family. She loved Mountains, America Indians, Eskimos, sunrises and sunsets. She lovingly took care of me, my brothers, her dogs and tended to her garden and handicrafts. Prior to my dad’s passing, she was his loving caregiver, helping him deal with the affects of Lewy bodies disease and Parkinson’s. She had three beautiful grandchildren who brought a huge smile to her face. In her spare time she cross-stitched and knitted for special occasions. She volunteered her time and talents, knitting hats and booties for preemie babies, scarves and hats for abused women’s shelters and lap blankets for the elderly. She was a long-time blood donor. Before the unexpected end of her life, she finally fulfilled her long time dream of visiting Greenland to see and walk on glaciers and meet Eskimos. During this trip she also went to Denmark one final time to visit her only brother, Kurt, and his family. She and my dad would be proud and happy to know that the donation of her organs and tissues have benefited others. My brothers and I picture our parents relaxing, listening to bluegrass or jazz, or slow dancing together at sunset. We are comforted that she is with our dad, is in the arms of angels and finally at peace.
— Pia M. Gonzalez