Mary Pisko loved flowers, working in the flower department of the Okotoks Safeway for 10 years until 2008. She was a mother of four, a devoted wife to Tom, and a strong woman who was not one to complain. However, one year after she finished working as a florist, the day before she turned 60, Mary was diagnosed with ALS.

Mary’s battle with ALS was, like it is for so many, a short one. But as Tom recalls, she never complained about having ALS, and she remained at home and cared for by her family. She was only in hospice for 24 hours before she passed in 2011 at the age of 61. Ten years later, Tom makes the astute observation that “After spending your life with someone, the loss of your loved one to ALS never goes away.”

Tom was blessed to remarry following the loss of Mary, and his wife Carolin is a talented quilter who has been perfecting her art for the past 50 years. When Carolin quilts, she likes to focus on the person she is making the quilt for, sending out positive thoughts for everyone affected. The quilt pictured above is in memory of Mary, done in the cornflower design both in honour of Mary’s love of flowers, and also the fact that the cornflower is the ALS symbol. The beautiful flowers all over the quilt are a true work of art, and an homage to Mary and other friends they have lost to the disease.

The quilt was a collaborative project with friends Tammy and Lynda, who took on different components of the quilting. It is a gorgeous piece of art, and we are so humbled that Tom and Carolin would like to donate it to us at the Society to use as a fundraiser. We are still confirming the date and location as to where this will be auctioned or raffled, but we will be sure to make an announcement!

Thank you Tom and Carolin for sharing your story and your talent. This gift will certainly make a difference, and all in Mary’s memory.