Crafted with care - gift of casket, burial garments helps families cope with infant loss
(L-R) Karen Trammell, Nanette Nadeau, Colleen Worrel, Cathy Mason, Dawn Wolf, and Silvia Cooper display the handmade gifts of the caskets and burial garments. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
The sounds of love and dignity ring loud and clear over the whine of the saw and the whir of the sewing machine.
More than a dozen men and women, mostly parishioners of St. Frances Cabrini Church in Granbury, build caskets and sew burial outfits for infants lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or other death early in life.
For parents suffering from the unthinkable, the nonprofit All God’s Little Children provides recognition of the devastating loss and the infinite dignity of the short life of their precious child by providing exquisitely crafted wooden caskets and intricate white burial garments, infused with prayer and love.
An unlikely start
Jay Worrel rarely watches television and has no experience in carpentry, which makes the origin of All God’s Little Children all the more remarkable.
Nearly three years ago, he happened to watch a segment on EWTN about four woodworkers in Metairie, Louisiana, who build caskets for families who have lost a baby.
He felt compelled to learn more, so he and his wife, Colleen, paid a visit to the men and returned to Granbury with wood, sample caskets, and a mission.
Worrel recruited John Bowen, an accomplished woodworker, and Raymond Rodriguez, an attorney, to help assemble the caskets and the nonprofit’s organization, respectively, while the Worrels visited hospitals, pregnancy centers, churches, and doctors’ offices to spread awareness of the new ministry.
Almost immediately, Moore’s Custom Cabinets in Granbury donated scrap maple and oak to the nonprofit. Bowen marveled, “We have so much wood; we don’t even need to go back.”
Meanwhile, Colleen and other women gathered fabric from donated wedding dresses to line the caskets and sew blankets, pillows, and garments.
The ministry has hand-delivered the caskets and garments to 24 families from Denton to Stephenville — wherever and whenever they learn of a need. “We don’t limit our work to just the Catholic Church or the diocese; wherever we can help we are glad,” said Colleen.
Made with prayer
Not all the volunteers are master carpenters or seamstresses. Some sand and stain the caskets; some clean and cut wedding dresses; and others dedicate their prayers to the ministry and its clients.
Before any wood is trimmed or any stitch is made, the volunteers of All God’s Little Children begin in prayer.
Bowen explained, “You feel like you’re in Joseph’s workshop, with Joseph and Jesus, when we have our group meetings in the shop. Before every meeting, whether it’s a board meeting or whether it’s a work meeting, Jay leads us in a prayer to St. Joseph, our sponsor, to set the tone.”
Likewise, the women pray when they gather to line the caskets and sew the garments and accessories. As they add the finishing touches to the casket, they carefully tuck a written prayer commending the young soul to the mercy of Jesus between the wood and the satin lining.
Prayer is the first step at the front end, too.
Colleen said, “When I take a call [from a family needing our service], I immediately offer our sympathies to the family. And I say, ‘I’m starting your message to our prayer warriors right now.’ A lot of the moms can’t speak, and then they start crying. They understand the value of prayer and the power of prayer. And after we deliver [the casket], we tell them, you’re on our prayer list forever now.
“We get immediately on the prayers. And it’s forever,” she continued. “The families are really so appreciative.”
Bowen added, “We have a list in the shop. We have a list of all the babies’ names.”
It’s personal
Despite the physical nature of the casket and the garment, the biggest gift to the family might be immaterial.
The caskets are delivered in person, most often by the Worrels, but sometimes Bowen or Rodriguez.
Colleen said, “It’s personal; it’s emotional — to help with the grieving family as they try to work through their grief and closure.”
Bowen interjected, “Instead of just receiving something in the mail, you get a personal delivery; it’s from our heart.”
“Really, to the family for the baby,” Rodriguez added.
The caskets, which come in four sizes, feature a cross on the top and the child’s name laser-engraved into the wood.
The garments are even more personal, offered in various sizes with differing levels of trim and customized for a boy or a girl.
Parents choose the garment, as well as the blanket and pillow, for the burial.
“If it’s a boy or a girl, I try to usually take a couple of gowns or a couple of pouches and let them have the option. When they lose the baby, it’s not their choice. So therefore, if we can give them a choice on what they could pick out for the baby, for the burial, that would be a big help to them,” said Colleen.
Choosing the outfit and engraving the name on the casket emphasizes the personhood of the baby, Bowen added.
Jay said, “Everybody who’s received one has always expressed real deep gratitude and mentioned how beautiful they are. So that gives you a sense of accomplishment that you’re doing something for Jesus and for the community.”
All God's Little Children, Inc., may be reached at or 713-858-1098.