Month: November 2024

A woman’s wedding dress often ends up in a closet or attic after her special day. But one woman is using her wedding dress to help grieving families by sewing tiny angel gowns for babies that died during pregnancy or shortly after birth. 24,000 babies are stillborn every year in the United States, and it’s a heartbreaking tragedy for the families that experience it. Fortunately, a Baltimore County woman and her volunteers are working to make the process of losing an infant a little easier for those families by giving babies honorable burials with beautiful handmade gowns stitched from donated wedding dresses. Founded in 2014, Jordyn’s Gift is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that transforms donated wedding dresses into angel gowns for babies who passed away during the gestational period or shortly after birth. The gowns are given to hospitals, funeral homes and directly to grieving parents. The organization was started by Sarah Mangiaracina, who lost her daughter to a miscarriage in 2009. Since then, the organization has grown and has served over 1,000 families. The organization also makes memory blankets and keepsake angels. Mangiaracina has a special place in her heart for the mothers who experience this type of loss, and she wants to do all she can to make sure families have the support they need during this tragic time. While most of the organization’s donors are women, men also contribute to the effort. Mangiaracina says they are just as moved by the stories of the grieving families as women are. The organization has received donations from men in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and elsewhere in Washington state. A widowed mother in Michigan also uses her wedding dress to bring dignity to grieving families. Bonnie Kalahar is a seamstress who uses her sewing skills to transform donated wedding dresses into baby burial gowns for families who have lost their infants during pregnancy or shortly after birth. She says she never meets the families but knows her work makes a difference. “This is a difficult ministry, but it’s important,” she said. Schatz sews the angel gowns in her Kingsville living room, cutting out patterns of all sizes for boys and girls. She adds ribbon, beads and lace. The gowns are then filled with batting, and tied together to form the tiny outfits. She says her back closet is overflowing with the beautiful creations, and she needs more fabric, ribbon, gallon zip-lock bags and other supplies. During this holiday season, the community can help Jordyn’s Gift and other organizations by making donations of wedding dresses and other material for the angel gowns. Those in the area can also volunteer to help with sewing or other tasks. Those interested in donating can find more information here. Jordyn’s Gift is holding a Tea & Silent Auction on Saturday, October 14. The event will include silent auction items, tea and cookies. Tickets are available here. The organization is always accepting monetary donations to purchase embellishments and other materials, including yarn, lap blankets, baby items, sew-in Velcro, thread, ribbon, soft fleece and elastic.

Children grieve differently than adults, and they may experience many emotions as a result of the loss of their loved one. Children are often very honest in expressing their feelings, and as parents, it is important to listen and support them. While it is normal for children to act out during this stressful time, you can help them cope with their grief by making sure that they are comfortable at all times. If you are concerned that your child is exhibiting unusual behaviors, you should contact a professional counselor for guidance. Children in this age group are able to understand the concept of death and are often ready to attend their first funeral. However, they still have questions and concerns that must be addressed before the funeral. This is a good time to visit the cemetery and crematorium with your child and explain what will happen before, during and after the ceremony. A child’s natural curiosity will often lead to them wondering what will happen at a funeral service, and you can address any questions or concerns that they have by being honest and giving them as much detail as they need. You can also encourage them to ask their family and friends for help with understanding what will occur during the funeral service. When it comes time for the funeral, you can explain to your child that their sibling will be laying in a casket. If the casket will be open, you can describe how their sibling is fully dressed (including shoes) and has their arms folded with their eyes closed. If the casket will be closed, you can offer a similar explanation and reassure your child that their sibling cannot feel cold, pain or fear. During the funeral service, you can explain to your child that everyone will be there to pay their respects and celebrate their life. You can also invite them to participate by lighting a candle, placing something special (such as a photo or memento) in the casket or by reading a poem. Shyer children will usually feel more included if they have a choice to do something during the funeral or memorial service rather than being forced to do so. You can also plan to have special teddy bears or other toys that will be placed in the casket or urn. This can be comforting for your child as they will have a physical reminder of their sibling throughout their life. In addition to teddy bears or other toys, you can also encourage your child and their siblings to write letters to their baby sibling, which will be placed in the casket or tucked into their urn. You can also plan to have special poems or songs read during the service, and you can invite a family member, close friend or religious figure to make remarks. There is no right or wrong way to plan a child’s funeral, and you should do what feels most appropriate for your family.