Joplin, MO – A dedication ceremony, which included a minute-long moment of silence, was held Tuesday morning to honor the infants and babies whose remains will be laid to rest inside a new infant ossuary established inside a Joplin-based cemetery.

Created in partnership between Freeman Health System and Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, the ossuary serves as a permanent resting place for the cremated remains of infants and babies up to 18 months old.

The ossuary stands as a reminder, said Renee Denton, Freeman’s President of the Missouri-Kansas Market, that every life, no matter how brief, has value and leaves an enduring impact on those who love and care for them.

“We can only imagine what it must be like to lose a child, but to lose one as a stillborn or infant is immeasurably hard,” Denton said. “And to think about going through the heartache of that loss and then having to think about burying your child—that’s just a hardship that no family should have to face.”

Any family who experiences the loss of a child 18 months or younger can utilize the ossuary, free of charge, which includes a graveside service with tents and chairs and the engraving of the child’s name on the marker. 

“For 50 years, [Ozark Memorial] has given a free space and opening-and-closing to families who have lost an infant 18 months or younger or don’t have a lot of financing,” said Dennis Dreyer, Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery owner. “This is an opportunity for [Ozark Memorial] to love on families.”

The idea for the ossuary came about from a discussion between Bill Cox, Freeman’s former director of pastoral care, and Kalseji Reeves, Bethany McGinnis and Janell Franks with Freeman’s Maternity Center. The ossuary became a reality when philanthropists Doug and Cindy Lawson made a generous donation to the cause, which was graciously matched by Ozark Memorial. 

“I don’t think the ossuary would have happened without [the Lawsons],” Cox said. “It’s really nice to see this come to completion. 

The ossuary’s granite marker depicts a praying angel complete with the words: “Remembering Our Little Ones” above the Freeman Health System emblem. Below it reads: “In loving memory of our babies, forever cherished, forever missed, forever held in our hearts.”

“At Freeman, caring for people is at the heart of what we do,” Denton said. “That commitment includes honoring life with dignity and compassion, ensuring that even the smallest among us are remembered with respect.”