Donor Memorial Quilts

Forever in our hearts live the ones we love.  This quilt features their tributes.

Josh Anderson

This is one of Raphael’s Angels, Josh was one of mine. Not long before the angel was completed I received a letter from LOOP asking if I would like to contribute a quilt square, the angel became Josh’s square.

Josh was 21 years old when he had his accident. At the age of 16 he asked me to make sure if anything were to happen to him I would donate his organs. I’m glad we had that talk.

Josh played soccer from Kindergarten through high school. His team finished first in the league his Senior Year. He ran track and tried the High Jump his Sophomore Year. He wrote beautiful poetry, and learned to play the guitar. His brother, J.B., has his guitar now. Josh loved his family, his girlfriend, Christy, his friends, his cats, music, soccer, running, his motorcycle, sunsets, warm weather, mushroom hunting, and pretty girls. As a youngster he enjoyed skateboarding and bothering his sister and brother.

In September we will celebrate Josh’s 26th birthday. We are blessed with the memories and the love we shared.

This is our favorite poem. Josh wrote this in 1991, at the age of 16.

The Raindrop

“The legend of the raindrop has lesson for us all, As it trembles above wondering if it should fall. Hanging where it will become part of the rainbows hue, And shines like a diamond for the whole world to view. But the wind said unto the raindrop, “Don’t hesitate to go, For you will be more beautiful if you fall to earth below, For you will be the raindrop that quenched the thirsty ground, And helped the lovely flowers blossom all around.” – Josh Anderson

Sadly missed by Family and Friends

Keith Eric Friedman

Cherished Son – Beloved Grandson – Devoted Nephew – Loved Brother, Uncle, Cousin – Loyal, Loving Friend.

Keith was a kind, caring person who would have been pleased and proud to know that others’ lives were made better because of him.

Keith was intelligent, understanding, supportive and well- thought of by those of us who knew him.  He loved children and animals.  He was a cook and restaurant manager by trade, taking pride in his work and enjoying what he did.  As his grandfather, Herb Busch, has said – “Keith garnered lasting friendships on his passage through this life.”  His friends and co-workers feel their lives have been changed because of knowing Keith and they miss him very much.

This quilt square was made in loving memory of Keith Friedman by both his family and his friends.  His friends, the Pontious family, did much to assemble our square.  His name, birth and death dates, and the phrase “We Miss You” are in gold thread because they say that Keith was “golden”.  We chose the eagle because Keith had a special feeling for them, as he did for much of the beauty of nature, and we thought it symbolizes the freedom that his grandmother, Ruth Busch, explains as the wish for him to be free from whatever pain or sorrow he ever felt while he was still with us.  “Soaring With The Eagles- Forever Free.”  The background was part of a tie-dyed shirt that belonged to his aunt, Sherul Pariser, who spent many hours with him and cared as much about him as he did about her.  The colors remind us of the sky.  The pictures were chosen by our family members who want to be reminded of the beautiful child and wonderful young man that Keith had become.  His sister, Jodi LoVecchio, who lives so far away from us, really would have liked to have been the one to create the finished quilt square but time and distance made this too difficult.  She will put all of our thoughts together into a personal quilt made from Keith’s T-shirts.  She never really had the opportunity to get to know him as well as she wanted.

As for us, Keith’s parents, we can’t express how much the loss of our son has meant to us.  Not a day goes by that we don’t think of him in loving memory of who he was and what he did and how much it hurts us to have to admit that he is truly gone.  He only lived thirty years and that was not enough for us.  We miss him dearly and love him very much.

Jason Lusson

Ten days before leaving home for college, with an academic and long distance running scholarship, Jason had a wreck while working at his summer job.

Knowing Jason’s positive feelings about organ donation, we asked to speak with LOOP. His heart and kidneys were transplanted the day after his death. After ten years, I still think of the mother of the boy who received Jason’s heart and how her life changed with his donation. And I don’t even know who she is.

We cremated Jason’s body and buried his ashes in our town’s cemetery on his 19th birthday, October 9th.

His father wrote this poem:
October Ninth

On this birthday we have come to set you out a special feast; not to watch you play or run, this day of rest, that sport will cease.

We celebrate your simple life, so free from all our petty care: no debts, no house, no kids, no wife, as free as earth, as free as air.

We bring to you some gifts quite plain- a mother’s grief, a brother’s tear, a father’s word, a lover’s pain- and leave them all unwrapped this year.

I’m sad to say no band of friends have come to raise a joyful shout; for here is where all friendship ends, no invitations were sent out.

No streamers line the festive room, this party has quite frugal taste: a bit of grass, an autumn moon, the only decorations placed.

So on this day of birth and death, we wish you well, oh silent scout, and pledge together with our breath to never blow the candle out.

– Gary Lusson
October, 1988

Carrie Renee Wright

March 07, 1975 – April 27, 1995

Carrie’s quilt square represents her love for life.

She was a loving daughter, a caring sister, and a devoted aunt.

She was very active in high school with cheerleading and track.

The scottie dog was the mascot. The red rose was her favorite flower.

We were very happy to make this quilt square. It helps us to deal with out loss and other’s gain. It also represents everything about Carrie.

God Bless,

The family of Carrie Renee Wright

Vincent L. Turkovich III, “Bud”

This quilt square was made from the clothes Bud wore daily, also embroidered by his sister with much love. Bud was loved by his family, an only son, and an only brother, which made him special. Bud was a hard worker and well rounded in his thoughts and prayers, with a zest for life.