Frances Railing always told her grandchildren and great-grandchildren if they ever needed a hug from her, they should wrap themselves in an afghan she had crocheted for them and consider that a hug from "Nanny."

Since Railing's death, they wrap themselves in her afghans and think of her, her daughter Cynthia Popp said.

"She lived for her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren," Popp said. "She couldn't spend enough time with them."

Frances Railing, 88, of DeMotte, died Feb. 2. She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Merrillville. She retired from the Lake County Convalescent Home.

Railing had learned to crochet from her father, and loved to make afghans, dolls and doilies. Everyone she met got something, Popp said.

"She never had an afghan for herself because as soon as she made herself one, she'd meet someone and think they needed one," Popp said. "Her afghans have been sent all around the world."

She taught numerous people how to crochet. Her work was so fine and even, Popp said, it was as if a machine had done the stitching.

"We have so many memories of her because of the crochet work she left behind," Popp said.

Railing loved people, and was ecstatic when Popp had her first child.

"It was like a new life for her," Popp said. "She never missed a Grandparents Day at school. She was so proud of the grandkids and then the great-grandkids."

Popp said her mother loved being around people.

"She was a great lady, and she was very caring," she said. "She had such a love of family. There's nothing she wouldn't do for her family."

Services for Frances Railing were Feb. 6 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Merrillville. Burns Funeral Home, of Crown Point, handled arrangements.