Caroline and all. Your story has triggered one of my own. I made my sister-in-law's mom a mother/grandmother's blanket with a figure in each corner with her children's names and then their children's names and figures around them (her grandkids). During her illness she cherished that blanket, took it to the hospital, always had it in her wheelchair, chastised family members if they forgot to bring it with her and she thanked me all the time for it. When she passed away, my sister in law walked me to the coffin and showed me that the blanket was in there with her mom, that the family believed she would have wanted to be buried with it (and it would eliminate the fight over who would get such a piece of memorabilia), and she said she hoped it was OK with me. I had been "fine" up until then with all the grieving, etc., but that pushed me way over the edge. I told them I would consider it an honor and bawled all the way back to my seat.
Just another way to look at the "use" of a labor of love! Huggers, Wisc Nan
