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Sioux Center Health to Host Annual Infant & Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Ceremony on October 19

Sioux Center, IA — Sioux Center Health invites the community to attend its annual Infant & Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday, October 19 at 2:30 p.m. at New Life Church in Sioux Center. This comforting event is held in honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and offers a safe, compassionate space for families to remember and reflect on the lives of babies gone too soon.

The ceremony will begin with a welcome and opening prayer from Sioux Center Health CEO, Cory Nelson, and will close with a prayer from Dr. David Janssen.

This year’s event will feature a special presentation from the Oaklyn Foundation, led by Jessica Remme, co-founder and mother to Oaklyn. The Oaklyn Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to walking alongside families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss by offering emotional, spiritual, and financial support. Through care packages, community events, and awareness efforts, the foundation seeks to ensure that grieving families never feel alone.

A panel discussion will follow, featuring personal reflections from three local mothers — Jessica Remme, Kelsi Byl, and Sam Mosher — who will share their experiences of loss and healing. The panel will be facilitated by Else Munsterteiger, LISW, Mental Health therapist at Sioux Center Health, who specializes in grief care and trauma support.

The ceremony will include special music:

  • Dr. David Janssen will perform "Blessings" by Laura Story
  • Irene Schuiteman, pianist, and Anna Britton, violinist, will provide special instrumental music

The event will conclude with a "Wave of Light" candle lighting ceremony, a global tribute where candles are lit to honor babies lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death — a symbol of hope and remembrance.

Cookies and refreshments will follow the ceremony.

All are welcome to attend — no RSVP is necessary.

For more information about the event, please visit the Infant & Pregnancy Loss Ceremony event page.