SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton: Receptionist's Love Of Sewing And People Still Comforts Patients After Her Passing

Press release from SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

February 16, 2022

Even well after her passing, Kathy Smith’s generosity and compassion continues to be felt at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Lake St. Louis.

Kathy was our longtime concierge and front-desk receptionist who was well-known for her fine sewing and crafting abilities. She would create quilts and fleeces for just about anyone – family, friends, co-workers and even our patients.

Larry Smith, Kathy’s husband of 52 years, recently decided it was time to fulfill one of his wife’s final wishes.

“I would come home every day and see the quilts, blankets and everything she worked on,” Larry said. “A couple weeks ago I decided it was time to make some changes here at the house. It was hard to let it all go, but I decided it was time to get ahold of Kim Emge and fulfill Kathy’s wishes.”

Kim is our community resource nurse who worked with Kathy on many a quilting project over the years. Larry called her offering to donate closets full of blankets Kathy had left behind – some fully assembled, others partially – in addition to a boatload of yarn and fabric assortments.

“Kathy left a note in my dresser drawer with specific instructions that Kim Emge was to be notified and the blankets were to be sent to her,” Larry said. “I called Kim and said, ‘You might be surprised with how much we’ve got.’ She said, ‘Oh no, you can’t surprise me with Kathy.’ But I think she was a little taken aback when we ended up with 12-15 bags full of blankets for the cancer patients.

“We filled up the back of her car and I said, ‘Make sure you use your side mirrors on your drive home!’”

Before her passing, Kathy had donated 76 blankets to St. Joseph Hospital. This latest donation will provide at least another 38, and the yarn will be used to crochet more in the future. They will be given to patients through our Cancer Resource Center and also to those receiving palliative care services.

Kathy spent the final year of her life battling ovarian cancer. The blankets will be labeled in her honor.

“Quilting may have been her main love,” Larry said, “but her real pride and joy was just seeing someone smile.”

“Kathy must have been listening to (palliative care nurse) Heather Stock and me discussing ways to obtain more blankets,” Kim said. “She has left such an amazing legacy at our hospital that will continue bringing comfort to our patients.”

This press release was produced by SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.