The Sunbonnet Sue Nursery Quilt

The Waverly Health Center (WHC) birthing center family room holds a special piece of history—a baby quilt that symbolizes love, dedication and family. This quilt, framed with care, was the creation of Maxine Dilly, affectionately known as Grandma Max. Her husband Robert Dilly, their daughters Barbara Dilly, Marcella Best, Lorraine Hamel, Lois Miller, daughter-in-law Loreli Dilly and son David also helped with the quilt.

Grandma Max began her baby quilting journey in the late 1980s, after retiring from the family farm. Her motivation was simple: she wanted every baby born at WHC to feel the warmth and love of a grandmother. To make each quilt even more special, she added tags that read "Made by Grandma Max."

For many years, Grandma Max was the sole creator of these quilts, sometimes making one or more per day – sewing hundreds of quilts in her lifetime. She also provided quilts to children at the Ronald McDonald House. Her dedication was unwavering, even after she was diagnosed with cancer. The quilts became her lifeline, giving her a purpose and the strength to endure her treatments. She continued to quilt through chemo and radiation therapy.

When Grandma Max passed away in 2003, her legacy did not end. Her children decided to honor her memory by creating a Sunbonnet Sue wall hanging. Each daughter contributed two or three appliqué blocks. Lois stitched them together, added a border and hand-quilted the entire project. Grandpa Bob made the custom frame and cover for the wall hanging which now hangs in the birthing center family room. 

The family returned to WHC in 2024 when Grandpa Bob passed away at the age of 97. It was then that they saw the quilt was still hung in the family room. Since then, the Dilly family has also lost their youngest sister Lois, who passed away at the age of 69 from pancreatic cancer.

"My aunts, uncle and I were deeply moved to see the Sunbonnet Sue quilt displayed in the birthing center during our visit to the hospital last fall. Each member of our family cherishes a special quilt crafted by Grandma Max, as do many others, given her lifelong passion for quilting. It is truly heartwarming to witness her legacy being honored at Waverly Health Center," said Michelle Gibilisco, granddaughter of Maxine Dilly.

The baby quilt at WHC birthing center family room stands as a testament to Grandma Max's love and dedication. It reminds everyone who sees them of the importance of family, the power of giving and the enduring legacy of a grandmother's love. Today, many groups and individuals continue Grandma Max's work, ensuring that every baby born at the hospital receives a blanket.