Service Ideas for Death of Newborn

I went to the saddest, but most beautiful, service for a stillborn baby this summer.

The parents invited only close friends and family. The mom explained that part of her grief was that her baby would not get to experience all of the things kids get to do in life, and she would not get to know the world, and the people who love her. When they parents sent out information about the service, they asked that people write a letter to the baby, telling about themselves or about life and/or bring a picture about something special to us that she may like, which we could put in an album that would be buried with her.

The mom also explained that this would be the only event she would ever get to plan for her daughter, and so she wanted it to be very special.

Guests, who wanted to, read their letters. People wrote the most beautiful and heartwrenching things to that baby! One person sang the baby a lullaby, another wrote a song about the baby and sang it and played the guitar.

Each guest also picked a flower out of a bouquet to leave on the casket.
At the end of the service, the small children let pink balloons go up in the air, and when they were gone, the service was over.

I am so sorry for the loss of your nephew. How terrible.

O. thing I wanted to suggest was a dove release. We had a dove release done at the graveside service for my stepfather. It was SO beautiful and it got everyone looking UP to Heaven instead of DOWN at the ground. The man who did it also played "You Lift Me Up" by Josh Groban and it was truly a beautiful experience.

I wouldn't worry too much about the perfection of the photos, I'd display any and all that you have.

ETA: here are two dove release companies in WI:

Wisconsin Dove Releases by Heavenly Hosts Doves
Wedding, Funeral and Memorial white dove releases.
Serving Marinette, Wisconsin and surrounding areas, and the Michigan Upper Peninsula.
Contact: Ken Kobus

Wisconsin White Dove Releases by Wings of Love
Serving western Wisconsin, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota and surrounding areas.
Contact: John or Marsha
Phone: ###-###-####

I'm sorry for your family's loss. How about realease balloons? And I think the idea of planting a tree would be nice

I'm so sorry. The loss of little ones is so hard.

When I went to a friend's son's funeral, they had chosen cremation and had his urn with a photo next to it. It was much like any funeral. People said a few words. The pastor spoke. The family had a bagpiper play Amazing Grace.

If you are looking for something to do in his memory, maybe make a donation to March of Dimes or another organization dear to the parents' hearts.

Consider asking a local college if any of their graphics arts students could fix up the images for you.

Look up Mend.org. Mend stands for "Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death". They are an awesome group and their site should have suggestions you are looking for.

I'm so sorry for your family's loss. If you can't have a tree planted now, you could always have it done later when they move at their new home. You can also make a donation to have trees planted in one of our National Forests, I found this link here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/forestmanagement/infocenter/reforest...

I would also suggest a donation to a charity like March of Dimes, UNICEF, Red Cross, or whatever you feel would be appropriate. I like the idea of doing a dove release at the service - or butterflies.

Maybe you could get one of those large planters and put a dwarf variety of a tree in it. Then they could take it with them. So sorry for your loss.

Oh my heart cries for you and the family. What an awful thing to go through. My sincere condolenses go out to you and the family.

Planting a tree is a wonderful idea! You can plant one there in your yard if you can, or perhaps at a local Church.

I would look up a local photographer in your area to see if they have suggestions for you or if they can be of some assistance for those pictures. Sometimes the funeral homes will have advance photography software that can help too.

You can create a flyer for everyone informing them that there will be a tree planting in honor of the baby, and anyone is welcome to come and join and perhaps make it a pot luck so that you all can have a meal together and be together in remembrance of the baby.

I hope this helps. I wish I had more information or ideas for you. Best wishes to you all.

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Very sorry for your family's loss, recently experienced the same situation. I really liked the dove idea, the looking up to heaven concept. Good luck with whatever you decide but it sounds like you've got it covered well enough.

This is heartwrenching tears came to my eyes I have been to two services where it was babies.The church awake was pictures displayed on an easel & with a TV as a home video with nice back ground music,didn't go to the funeral.Pick out 1 photo create a prayer with that for your guests to take home.IF it were me I would only want close family & friends to attend,I would have a pastor there to bless the family say a few words have nice music in the back ground as a mom I will say my words have dad say his,as a gift I would like a stone with child name follwoed by a prayer or saying it doesn't have to be big but something that I can display in my home something that I can always look at everyday.Did your nephew have a medical condition?I would get on the donation list & make a contribution if it was only SIDS then to that organization, March of Dimes for premature babies

I'm so sorry for your loss. I've always found the dove release to be very spiritual at service for a child. We planted a tree for the Childs birth month at a friends parents home instead as they knew the house would always be in the family. Recently a friend donated a park bench with a small memorial plaque in honor of her mom and I think that is really lovely.
Ble