Posted in club, Mary VanDeCarr

Mary VanDeCarr’s Quilt

   January 25, 2020

Mary VanDeCarr’s Quilt holds a special place in my heart, as it is a representation of how great the dog agility community is.  This quilt was created in 2013 by Dianne Swanker  with quilt blocks personalized by members of our agility community that I was pretty new to, at the time.   A time out was taken at Takes 2 to Q trial on May 12, 2013, so Takes 2 to Q’s Chairperson Gaye Mastrianni could present the finish Quilt to Mary.   In my opinion, the quilt represented the agility community’s way to thank her for the love and support Mary had for all of us.   I will miss Mary she was  true inspiration to me and I am sure to all.

Tom Fish


Here is an email that Anne Hartranft shared with our club on October 30, 2019:

Hi….
 
Sherry Pederquist phoned this morning with an update re Mary.  To quote Sherry….”it’s a matter of days.”  Mary returned to the nursing home because she kept falling & in fragile health.  She has continued to decline from pneumonia and diabetic issues.  She is on morphine to help with discomfort.  Charlie is now living with Linda Bruening, and Sherry has Taco.  Sherry believes the 3rd dog Betsy was adopted by a nurse.  Remaining 2  birds found homes also.
 
Mary asked Sherry to tell us that Mary’s request is to be cremated in the quilt that Takes 2 to Q presented her at our trial on her special birthday occasion.  Dianne Swanker created the quilt and sewed our signatures along with signatures of agility friends into the quilt (Dianne..forgive me if sew isn’t the right word; am not a quilter!).  Just telling you this makes me feel sad yet it tells me just how much Mary cared about us, our dogs, and accomplishments.  I know we’ve all been touched by Mary over the years.  She will always be my idol.
 
So…keep Mary in your thoughts/prayers as she slips away from us.
 
With teary eyes…
Anne H.


Here is an email response to us from Dianne Swanker on October 30, 2019:

I spoke with Sherry and Mary today. Mary wanted to thank me again for making the quilt, her most prized possession (I think) besides her dogs. I told Sherry to take the quilt off the wall and bring it to the nursing home so she can read all the messages and wrap herself in all the love it brings. She said she would do that. It was so good to hear Mary’s voice today, just so sad, she will be missed if not already.

It was one of my most favorite quilts I ever made. I enjoyed reading all the sweet messages written by everyone, it was my pleasure to do it.

Dianne



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1 thought on “Mary VanDeCarr’s Quilt”

  1. Mary will always be my idol for a life well lived and an advocate for humane treatment of animals.

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