SIDNEY — Wilson Health Hospice recently recognized Hospice volunteer, Joyce Jones, for sewing more than 2,000 prayer quilts for hospice patients. Jones joined Wilson Health Hospice in October 2004 as an official hospice volunteer. She was an Operating Room nurse at the Hospital for 10 years before retiring in 2003. Jones first started making prayer quilts in 2000.
When asked how she first got involved with making prayer quilts, Jones shared she was making quilt tops for the Lutheran World Relief Quilt Project and took one of them in to work to show her coworkers. When Donna Shinn saw Joyce’s quilt top, she asked if she would be willing to help sew prayer quilt for Wilson Hospice patients. Shinn explained that Jan Davidson and the youth group at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church had started the prayer quilt project. When Davidson moved away, Shinn took over making the prayer quilts for Wilson’s Hospice program. When Jones agreed to help with the prayer quilts, little did she know the size of the commitment.
Since helping with the first prayer quilt 18 years ago, Jones has made more than 2,000 quilts. Over the years, she has had some help but Jones has been the driving force in buying the fabrics, ironing, cutting, sewing and adding in her artistic flare to each and every quilt. Hospice staff members can agree that patients love receiving the prayer quilts. Some of the most popular quilts are the seasonal ones for the fall, Christmas and even tractor and farm designs. Jones has even created a patriotic quilt that is presented to hospice patients that served their country in the military. Jones said she really enjoys making the patriotic quilts because of her father’s patriotism.
A number of churches in the area have helped with the quilting projects and also help with funds for material. Currently, two ladies at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church are assisting Jones with pieces of the quilt. Each square of the quilt has a special message of love and comfort. The quilts come with a card of explanation and a message of warmth, love and comfort.
Joyce Jones is a treasured volunteer at Wilson Health Hospice for her dedicated hours and quilting talents that provide comfort to Wilson’s hospice patients during a time of need. In addition to prayer quilts and other projects for her church, Jones is a golfer and avid OSU Buckeye fan. In the fall, her time is spent watching OSU football games and making prayer quilts which continues through the winter months.
In her own words, Jones says, “Making the prayer quilts has become a labor of love.”
