Testimonials
"I appreciate having beautiful coordinated layettes and keepsakes in all the appropriate sizes to offer to each patient and her family as these sets do not exist to be purchased on short notice." —L & D Nurse
"I can't believe that someone made this with such thought, care and perfect workmanship. It has taken a lot of worry off me to see my baby boy cared for so respectfully." —Anonymous Parent
"I am on the front line providing care to patients so I witness the impact of this ministry on families. The layettes and keepsakes are given to families from every walk of life who find themselves thrust unexpectedly into one of life’s most distressing situations—the death of their baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. They rarely have any warning or time to prepare. The layettes serve a vital need and the keepsakes are treasured by the families for a lifetime."
—Bonnie Tincher, RNC, CNS, MSN (Now a board member of Angel Layettes)
"I care for families who have experienced the loss of an infant through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death and can provide an appropriately sized, beautifully crafted layette created by caring volunteers. They are so touched and relieved. Infant clothing in these small sizes is not readily available in the retail market. The layettes provide the family with treasured keepsakes that acknowledges and honors the infant’s life." —Grateful Labor & Delivery Nurse
"Angel Layettes add a beautiful lasting memory to a life event that is permeated with profound grief." —Susan S., R.N.
"Our box arrived! It felt like Christmas! I opened each one. Absolutely beautiful! I am so happy to have them. I like how they velcro in the front. It will make handling these little ones easier. I especially like the lavender sleeves as a keepsake 'box.' I will prepare them to hand out with all of the information the parents will need. I know they will be so appreciated. I will keep you up to date on their use and outcomes. Your ladies do beautiful work. Please share with them our appreciation."
—Amy G., RN
"We are so blessed to have you and your organization. Blessings to you!" —Michelle P., RN
"Thank you for providing our Angel Layettes." —Georgia
"Thank you for thinking of others during their time of need."
—Karoline
"This is so great! Be blessed and know this will bless many."
"You really live up to your name." —Marie T.
"We love them. Thank you. They are gorgeous." —Sharon B.
"We want to thank your group for the beautifully handmade infant gowns, blankets, caps and hearts. We know our patients will appreciate the love and care you put into making them." —Hospital Staff
Key People
Angel Layettes has been blessed with the talent of a multitude of people who help to meet the needs of families. Among them are our board members who come with special talents and gifts:
Bonnie Tincher, RN
In addition to being Vice President of Angel Layettes, Bonnie is an invaluable resource for providing feedback from the aspect of a primary caregiver. Bonnie holds a master's degree as a Maternal Child Clinical Nurse Specialist and worked to coordinate care for patients with high-risk pregnancy. Shortly after taking this role in 1998, she was asked to coordinate bereavement care in the labor and delivery area of the hospital. In that position, she created a Maternal Child Bereavement Community Advisory Board to help meet the needs of the families they served.
There was, she noticed, an on-going need to provide burial clothing in sizes and design that were not commercially available. While there were some volunteers who provided for this need, they could only do so as time allowed. She then was introduced to Sharon Sikes, to whom she conveyed this need for a consistent supply of layettes with unique design elements and sizes not available.
“I am on the front line providing care to patients, mentoring staff and with the Maternal Child Bereavement Community Advisory Board, which identifies ways to serve our families better. I witness the impact of this ministry on families from every walk of life who find themselves thrust unexpectedly into one of life’s most distressing situations—the death of their baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. They rarely have any warning or time to prepare, often arriving at the hospital without knowing that was going to happen that day. The layettes serve a vital need and the keepsakes we create and provide are treasured by the families we serve for a lifetime. I am often asked 'how can you do this?' My answer is it is the most loving gift that I can give a bereaved family. The keepsake heart represents what we do. It is a gift of love that acknowledges the baby’s life and symbolically says the loss of your baby has changed your lives forever, we want you to know that your loss has touched our lives, too.” —Bonnie Tincher
Forrest and Betty Glass
The Glass family brings an accounting background, coupled with a strong desire to be agents of healing during the crisis of a child lost to perinatal death.
Betty came into contact with Angel Layettes in her role as an accounting software set-up and training technician. She was assigned to help Sharon and Arnold integrate new accounting software into their other business. During her extended stay in Tyler, Betty was introduced to the need for Angel Layettes and quickly began volunteering her skills and talents.
Betty points to the stillbirth of a son by a close family member, giving her understanding of the grief, pain and lack of resources that accompany the death of a baby.
Forrest serves in the funeral industry and has a tremendous heart for those in the midst of grief caused by the loss of a loved one. As he learned about the work of Angel Layettes in the East Texas area, he became burdened with the need to expand this ministry to hospitals throughout the country. Due to the nature of his position, Forrest is able to serve as an ambassador, of sorts, introducing hospitals to the work and resources of Angel Layettes.
Andrea Meegan
Andrea brings to Angel Layettes a wealth of experience in the areas of design and creation of the layettes and keepsakes. Andrea's experiences include over twenty years of sewing as a hobbyist, quilting, publishing quilt patterns, owning a quilt shop and teaching.
She became involved with Angel Layettes after visiting with Sharon and Arnold in her role as a representative for a fabric company. After hearing the stories of parents searching fruitlessly for appropriate garments in which to bury their child, and of the hospital staff who had nothing to offer, she asked how she could be of help.
She soon was working with Sharon to help incorporate the design elements that are required for these unique garments.
Melba Neill
Melba brings to Angel Layettes an important and deeply rooted understanding of the pain and grief a family goes through during the loss of a child. In addition to over twenty years as a hospice volunteer, Melba knows first hand the affect the loss of a child has on a family.
She understands deeply the need for dignity and compassion as they experience a loss that they thought would never happen to them. She knows what it is to be overwhelmed by grief, and how much compassion and caring is displayed through the work of Angel Layettes.
Her work with Angel Layettes is driven by her knowledge that the work of Angel Layettes helps lift some of the burden. It provides the families who are in the midst of the loss comfort knowing that there are those who know and understand what they are going through. There is someone out there who loves and honors their baby, someone who cares.
Melba's unique perspective on our work, coupled with her desire to be an instrument of healing, makes her an integral part of our team.