On a winter afternoon, a group of volunteers gathers in a room filled with sewing machines, piles of fabric, and well-worn sewing patterns they’ve used hundreds of times. It’s a season they look forward to each year—a time to spend together, use their talents, and create something that will bring comfort to someone they haven’t met.
For years, this dedicated group has sewn hospice gowns for Vivie’s hospice patients. Each finished gown is chosen by hospice team members to reflect something about the person who will wear it—a reminder that they’re seen as a whole person, not simply for the care they’re receiving.
Every hospice gown begins with a story.
As hospice team members care for patients and their families, they get to know them as individuals. They hear about careers, military service, favorite sports teams, and lifelong interests. Those conversations help them choose a gown that feels personal.
“Maybe they were a teacher, or they loved to read books, or they were musically talented,” volunteer Diane says. “We try to find fabric that corresponds with what they've done in their life.”
Paula, another volunteer, sees those choices as a way of recognizing what makes each patient unique. “It’s like, ‘Somebody sees me. I am not just another hospice patient,’” she says.
Over the years, the volunteers have collected fabrics in countless colors and themes, from flowers and pets to patriotic prints and rural scenes. Each gown is handmade with the hope that, during a difficult time, it offers a small measure of comfort while honoring the person wearing it.
That personal touch often means as much to family members and friends as it does to the patient. Diane remembers visiting a close friend in hospice and finding her wearing one of the group’s floral gowns.
“When I walked in, Barb just glowed,” Diane recalled. “And I just thought, wow, this does make a difference.”
The volunteers have heard many similar stories over the years. A fishing print reminds a family of weekends spent at the lake. A floral pattern brings to mind a lifelong gardener. Those details often start conversations, helping families focus on the life their loved one lived.
What began as a small group sewing in the community room at Grand Arbor by Vivie has grown into a close-knit team that has made hundreds of hospice gowns. After working from their homes during the pandemic, they now meet in a volunteer’s sewing room to sew gowns together.
Each volunteer plays a role, from preparing fabric to stitching the gowns. Once they’re finished, gowns are laundered and prepared for the hospice team.
Meg, a liaison for the group, says it’s a group effort. “If it isn’t a community effort, the job would not get done.”
That effort extends beyond the sewing group itself. Friends, neighbors, and residents have donated fabric from their own collections, helping ensure there’s always something just right for the next patient.
“I’m just amazed at how generous people are and how many people want to be involved in this,” Paula shares. “Sometimes there’s people who’ve been collecting fabric for 40 years, and it’s like, ‘I’m never going to use this.’”
Volunteer Holli contributes by opening her sewing room to the group.
“It’s a blessing to be able to host this group of ladies, who are very special,” she says.
Over the years, the sewing group has become more than a team of volunteers. They’ve become close friends.
“We are a sisterhood. We have so much fun doing this,” Diane says. “We all have that same servant heart. And that’s what brings us together and keeps us together.”
For some of the women, sewing is also a way to continue using talents they’ve developed over a lifetime. Paula says knowing where the gowns will go is part of what keeps her coming back.
“It gives my free time purpose,” she says. “I can enjoy what I do. I feel good about where they’re going.”
Each finished gown is a small celebration. “We ring the bell when we have one done,” Meg shares.
For Holli, each gown also carries a quiet prayer.
“When I get done with one,” she says, “I say, ‘Father, just watch for this patient.’”
Together, those moments help explain why the volunteers continue returning each sewing season.
They may never know who will wear each gown. They simply hope it brings comfort while honoring the life of the person wearing it.