BY ANDREW DUPONT
Clarkston News Staff Writer
Through the help of people she had never met before, a Clarkston resident was able to turn her mother’s final project into a treasured heirloom.
Barbara Bargeon remembers her mother, Frances Foster, always being positive and resilient. When things got rough, Foster was always quick to ‘bounce back? with something upbeat. So when Foster became ill in February, Bargeon knew how bad the situation was by her mother’s reaction.
‘I’ve never heard her say anything negative in any way about anybody else really, or her own health, but she said ‘I don’t know if I’m going to bounce back from this one right away.? So I think she knew this was different,? Bargeon said.
A few weeks later, Foster passed away at the age of 91.
In the weeks before she grew ill, Foster had started work crocheting an afghan. Bargeon said crocheting was on one of the many things her mother liked to do
‘She saw the beauty of every single thing she looked at,? said Bargeon. Bargeon said her mother always tried to keep busy, and enjoyed crocheting, knitting, cooking and writing.
‘She was a Martha Stewart before Martha Stewart knew about all that stuff,? joked Bargeon.
The afghan was intended as a gift for Foster’s niece, Brenda Stav, who started undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
‘Mom heard about it, and even though she was slowing down a lot ? not mentally at all, but physically ? she wanted to make something for Brenda,? said Bargeon.
But then Foster became ill herself, and entered hospice care at home, unable to continue work on her project. But that didn’t stop her from trying. Bargeon recalled her mom still makings efforts to continue to work on the afghan and how the project seemed to revive her spirit.
Stav, a resident of Riverview, said she was honored to see how, even when her aunt was in poor health, that she still continued working to give comfort.
‘It really touched me beyond anything I could say,? said Stav.
For a while, the project sat unfinished, but not forgotten. Bargeon didn’t know how to finish the afghan herself, but felt unable to move her mother’s crocheting supplies from where they laid.
Weeks later, Bargeon received a call from Janelle Warren, an employee at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts in Auburn Hills. Warren called to let Foster know the yarn she had ordered to complete her afghan had come in. When Bargeon explained what happened, Warren said she would try and find someone who could help. Warren put Bargeon in touch with another employee, Jo Ann Bills. After hearing about Bargeon’s situation, Bills, an Oxford resident, offered to complete work on the afghan for her.
‘It was hard to say no,? said Bills, who recently completed a similar project. Bills? mother also recently passed away, and Bills completed an afghan from her as well. Bill said she normally wouldn’t offer to complete a project for someone, but having gone through such a similar experience encouraged her decision.
Bargeon accepted the offer, and dropped off the portion her mother made. Warren said there was no additional charge for the needed yarn, and Bills took about two weeks to finish the project.
Bargeon and Bills met on Sept. 23 when Bargeon picked up the completed afghan, her mother’s name still printed on the tag. The women hugged and fought back tears, while Bargeon expressed her thanks to Warren and Bills.
As originally intended, the completed afghan is still a gift to Stav, who said she plans to put the memento on display as a beloved memory of her aunt.
‘I’ll always cherish it,? said Stav.