NORWAY — With Mother’s Day around the corner, many are struggling to think up ways to honor their mothers. Susan Glines has been doing something to honor her mother, Barbara Hathaway, steadily, since her passing from ovarian cancer in 2003.

In 2002, when her mother was diagnosed with cancer and going through chemotherapy, her friend, Joyce Birch, sent her a washable, adjustable nonirritating bonnet to wear as a head cover. The bonnet had a bit of wool inside as a lining to keep her head warm. Susan’s mom was an avid seamstress, and she intended to take the bonnet apart, see how it was made and make them for other cancer patients.

After her mother’s passing, Susan approached Birch and neighbor Alice McInnis to make a pattern from the original bonnet. Susan then obtained fabric anywhere she was able, and Joyce and Alice sewed hundreds of bonnets. Bonnets have been distributed to Canada, around the United States, and Susan took some to Australia during a recent trip.

The self-proclaimed “Barbara’s Bonnets” distributor (so named for her mother), Susan shares, “I can’t sew, I can’t even thread a needle, but I can buy some of the fabric Joyce and Alice use, and make sure the bonnets get to those who need them.”

Oncology certified Nurse Practitioner Linda McSherry, who works with cancer patients through the oncology program at Stephen’s Memorial Hospital, shares that their patients have benefited from the bonnets that Susan donates. Susan has also provided bonnets to social services at Stephens Memorial Hospital to distribute to patients.