The Healing Journey

October 14, 2025

Among those who attended Bishop Frank Caggiano’s recent blessing of Little Angels Shrine at Resurrection Cemetery in Newtown was Arlene F. Sullivan. The following is her account of losing her baby girl at five months.

A place to remember children gone too soon

By Arlene F. Sullivan

In 1967, I miscarried my baby girl at five months. My children named her Carol. I never held her here, but I believe I will hold her in Heaven. After my husband Tom passed, I attended a bereavement group and spoke about losing Carol. Someone there told me, “Now, Tom is holding her.” That brings me comfort. This Little Angels Shrine gives us a place to remember her and all the children gone too soon. God bless every parent who carries this grief.

I’m guessing it was 1967 because we moved to New Jersey about four months later. Dad was out of town on training to become a salesman for American Brass Metal Hose. He was informed that I was in the hospital because I miscarried. Since he couldn’t fly home when he heard, he called a best friend and asked him to tell the hospital that he was Mr. Sullivan. Of course, I was shocked when I opened my eyes and saw him!

At that time, women who miscarried were kept in the hospital a couple of days. Upon my discharge, my doctor told me that when I arrived home, I would become upset. I was. I broke down and cried.

My husband arrived home in time for my discharge. To try to make me stop crying, he said that maybe it was a blessing because we were moving to New Jersey in three to four months. He knew how the move would be upsetting to us. This was the first of four transfers in 14 years because of his job as a salesman. We only were in New Jersey about two years before being transferred to Texas.

I had informed my three children at the time that they would either have a brother or a sister. Then, when I lost my baby, I had to tell them that their Mommy lost the baby who was a girl.

They asked what her name was. I said to them that I didn’t have a name yet and asked them what they would like to name her. They said, “CAROL.” I have wondered in the past, would she look like her four sisters?

My husband and I were blessed in the years that followed with two more girls. Three in Connecticut, one in New Jersey and our last in Texas.

After my husband of 50 years sadly passed, I attended a bereavement meeting at my church with a few others. I told them how I lost a daughter and that I pray I will get to see and hold her. A woman who ran the meeting said, “Now, Tom is holding her.”

With the opening of Little Angels Shrine, we have a place to remember Carol.

God bless all who have lost a child.

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