Rest in Peace Sweetheart

On Friday we did the hardest thing any parent could do, we buried our baby. It was a heart wrenching experience and one I hope no parent has to face. We took great solace in knowing so many people were touched by Grace and offered their support to us.

After the service we requested all the guest leave the cemetery so Holly and I could bury Grace in private. We brought her into this world together and we were going to see it through to the end together. The burial was conducted in a very respectful manner with great consideration to our feelings.

After everything was done and we were left alone we knelt down in front of her grave and prayed for our baby girl. I asked all the other children in the Garden of Angels to welcome Grace into their arms and to look after her. We hope she will become part of their family and their spirits can play together.

As Holly and I knelt there looking at all the flowers around her grave we couldn't help but a notice a single butterfly make his way out of a bouquet of flowers. He sat on top of a rose for a moment and then gently floated-off circling around the flowers upon us. It was a fitting end to a beautiful service.

We're very grateful so many friends and family attended the service and offered their support. It meant so much to Holly and I. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Obituary

Sacramento Bee

October 27, 2010

www.legacy.com

Funeral Arrangements

Today was a tough day. Holly and I started the morning off by sitting in Gracie's room talking. It was nice to be able to reflect about Gracie before heading out to make the necessary arrangements.

We had narrowed down the list of cemeteries to two and wanted to visit them before going to the funeral home. The first one is very well known in the area. It's off a busy street and always looked nice driving by. But after going to the area where children are buried we were immediately turned-off. First off, it wasn't serene whatsoever and secondly you could hear the loud traffic going by. Honestly, we felt it was just horrible.

The second cemetery we visited was the Sylvan Cemetery in Citrus Heights. Almost immediately we felt comfortable there. It was established in 1862 and has a very traditional feel to it. Some of those buried there date back to the Spanish American War. We met two caretakers who were very kind and took us to the Garden of Angles. This is a special area for babies that is set upon a ridge overlooking the cemetery. Nearby is a gazebo for services and visiting loved ones. We knew this was the place. After meeting with one of their consultants we went out to the area to choose her plot. At first we were discouraged at our options. But after 10 or so minutes we found a perfect spot for her at the corner of the garden. 

After making our arrangements there, all we had to do was drive across the street to the funeral home. We spent time with the funeral home director going over details. He was very helpful and made the process as easy as possible. Our hardest part was selecting a casket to our liking that met the requirements of the cemetery. We hope to have that finalized tomorrow. In the meantime, we do have the funeral arrangements established and would like to share them here. We would like to invite all those who have followed Gracie's Journey and wish to help celebrate her life. 

Remembrance Service

2:00 p.m. on Friday October 29, 2010

in the Garden of Angles Gazebo

Sylvan Cemetery District

7401 Auburn Boulevard

Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Arrangements Provided By

Reichert's Funeral Service

7320 Auburn Boulevard

Citrus Heights, CA 95610

(916) 729-2229