Easing the Pain of Loss

Out of their heartbreak of suffering three miscarriages a ministry was born for Emily and Jason Froeba to help provide families experiencing a similar loss the comfort of knowing their baby will lay in what the couple says will be a monument of life.

Froeba and her husband, Jason, are making caskets for a new mausoleum that will be constructed at St. George Cemetery in Baton Rouge that will allow for families who have lost a child to still birth, miscarriage, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or while still in a womb a free place to bury their child.

“ ‘Carriers of Hope’ builds caskets to honor and lay to rest the smallest souls. Named for our daughter, Cecilia Hope – we pray that it will bring hope and peace to those who experience the loss of children from miscarriage,” said Emily Froeba. 

The Froebas’ other children who passed away during miscarriages are Joseph Patrick and John Benedict Froeba.

The journey into the making ministry has been “bittersweet” and beautiful for the Froebas, who began making the caskets for a few people and then started receiving more requests as others heard about it.

That’s when they joined the efforts of Monica Alley, founder of Anna’s Grace Foundation, which offers emotional and financial support to families who experience miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss, in establishing the mausoleum at St. George.

“Jason and Emily Froeba’s ministry, Carriers of Hope, is guided by their own experiences with loss and will be an important part of the healing process for so many across our community.  Because they have a deep understanding of the grief journey families are on, I know that each casket will be made with extreme care and love, each detail reflecting the dignity and value of the baby held within,” said Alley. “It is truly a gift to be able to work beside them to make a difference in the lives of those who have experienced the loss of a precious baby.”

In order to get the correct dimensions for the caskets, which are about 8x12 inches and five inches tall, the Froebas contacted Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. The caskets will have linings provided by Abby’s Angel Closet.

Emily Froeba said the caskets are part of an overall ministry to help couples who are mentally, emotionally and financially stressed, who don’t know where to turn after losing a child.

The Froebas were fortunate to have connections through the church that gave them assistance and guidance on burying their children with dignity. Emily said unfortunately, for many that is not the case, as the worldly culture does not see pre-born children as children of God. She said she would not have known such things such as parents have a right to even name a baby that was lost in the womb.

“Our goal is to make it as simple as possible for the families, no matter in what stage of gestation or situation,” she said.

The Froebas will have a workshop on building the caskets on Saturday, March 30. To register and receive more information visit https://forms.gle/tQPFWHHk9vYcx51p7.

If anyone would like to donate to the project to help with the cost of materials, online donations may be made at https://give.classy.org/CarriersofHope.