OLATHE — At Santa Marta here, a senior living community sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, creativity and faith intersect in beautiful ways — take Carol Groebe, for example. Groebe is a talented and passionate heirloom christening gown maker who recently found a new home at Santa Marta with her husband David. Though they only moved this past June, she is already making a lasting impression on the community with her artistry and heart for giving.
Groebe’s journey with sewing began in her middle school days, stitching clothes on a treadle machine that she has since passed on to her daughter-in-law. Her devotion to heirloom christening gowns didn’t take shape until later in life. Groebe’s love of sewing blossomed when she took a smocking class at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, where the instructors recognized her skill and asked her to construct the smocked pieces into garments using French sewing techniques.
It wasn’t long before Groebe was making gowns for friends, family and ministers at her church. Each gown became a labor of love, crafted with exquisite detail and featuring materials like French lace, silk and fine batiste.
The French laces she uses are particularly unique, requiring a level of patience and precision that Groebe has mastered over the years.
“You can’t just find these materials at your typical craft store,” Groebe explains. “You have to special order them, and they’re incredibly delicate.”
Despite the countless hours she’s poured into her creations, Groebe has given most of these gowns away as gifts, including making one for each of her eight grandchildren, several nieces and nephews as well as many friends.
In fact, one of her most memorable gowns was completed in the wake of 9/11, when Groebe was recovering from breast cancer surgery.
“I was working on a gown for my first grandchild, and his baptism was that following Sunday. It really helped me get through a very stressful time,” she said. The gown featured lace hand-tatted by her husband’s great-aunt, making it an even more cherished keepsake.
Groebe’s gowns are more than just garments; they represent the sacredness of baptism and the joy of family. “I’ve been to every one of my grandchildren’s baptisms, and it’s such an honor to see them in a gown I’ve made,” she said.
Her recent gown showing at Santa Marta captivated fellow residents, who admired both the intricate details and the meaningful stories behind each piece.
Moving to Santa Marta hasn’t slowed Groebe down. In fact, it’s opened new possibilities. She suggested holding a handworks class, where residents can come together to work on their own sewing or crafting projects in a social and supportive environment.
Faith has always played an important role in her life, and for over 60 years her church was a constant source of community and purpose for her and her husband. It was there that she became involved in choir, marriage enrichment, women’s groups and art ministry, among other activities. Eventually her passion became designing and creating those christening gowns that have become cherished heirlooms for family and friends.
As Groebe looks to the future, she reflects on the many blessings she’s experienced — faith, family and the joy of creativity — and how those gifts continue to enrich her life in this new chapter at Santa Marta.
