A Woven Final Journey: Crafting a Burial Tray with Friends
In a workshop in Massachusetts's Pioneer Valley, a group of friends gathered for an unusual task. MaddyChristine Hope Brokopp, a woman in her 50s with a terminal cancer diagnosis, had traveled from Pennsylvania to work with artisan Mary Lauren Fraser, a casket weaver. They spent two days in February constructing a woven willow burial tray for Brokopp herself.
Brokopp stated her wish was for people to discuss death more easily, as it is a universal experience.
The Workshop and the Artisan
Mary Lauren Fraser's workshop set the scene. It contained sections of books on basketry and death, alongside examples of her workâbaskets, bassinets, and finished caskets. Fraser specializes in making both caskets and burial trays, which are similar but have a woven back and no lid. Brokopp had chosen a burial tray.
Fraser had prepared the pine rod frame for the tray, sizing it to be slightly longer than Brokopp's height. She prepares her willow by soaking it in water, wrapping it in wool, and sometimes freezing it to maintain the pliability needed for weaving.
The Process: Weaving Together
On the first day, participants took turns weaving willow branches between the pine ribs of the tray. Brokopp was accompanied by several friends, including Cynthia Siegers, who had flown from the Netherlands for the workshop. Brokopp mentioned she liked the feel of the material but did not report strong emotions while working on it.
Participants described the activity as feeling like an ordinary weekend or a team-building exercise, with conversation flowing about travel, family, and plans. Yet, Brokopp noted the surreal nature of the task, a sentiment echoed by her friend Nita Landis.
On the second day, the friends worked simultaneously on different sections of the nearly complete tray. The work required specific weaving techniques like "waling" and "randing." Fraser corrected a weaving mistake made by the group during the process. Due to fatigue from the previous day, Brokopp observed more than she participated on this final day.
Completion and a Quiet Moment
The completed burial tray was made of willow in light brown, orange, and green hues, fitted with six white cotton rope handles. At the end, Fraser asked Brokopp if she wanted to try lying in the tray. Brokopp declined, and her friend Nita Landis stated simply, "It's not time yet."
The friends then carried the empty tray out of the workshop together.
Reflections on a Shared Gift
Brokopp reflected on the experience, characterizing her friends' participation as a profoundly generous gift. She acknowledged that some might have struggled with the request but came anyway.
She characterized her friends' participation as a generous gift, acknowledging that some might have struggled with the request but came anyway.
The two-day workshop was more than crafting an object; it was an act of shared preparation and an open conversation about an inevitable journey, woven together strand by strand.