(7-11-23) Nathan and Mollie Verdier lost two children, Morgan and Marion. Morgan died only a few weeks into Mollie’s pregnancy. Marion was one of a set of triplets. It is not customary for hospitals to release children under twenty weeks to their parents for burial.

The Verdiers experienced this hardship. After the loss of Marion, the Verdiers decided to dedicate 2.5 acres of their farmland as a cemetery to provide burial sites for Morgan and Marion as well as a cemetery for other families experiencing similar losses.

Priscilla and Greg Wilts, representing Morgan’s Place Cemetery, reviewed this history at a recent Celina Kiwanis meeting and described the services the cemetery offers. These include acting as a liaison to funeral homes, grave marker design and placement, grief support, and a Memory Wall to memorialize babies who couldn’t be buried. In the future the board plans to construct a chapel dedicated to St Philomena, the patron saint of babies.

Morgan’s Place Cemetery is a 501(c) charity dedicated to providing services to families free of charge. For more information about Morgan’s Place Cemetery,  make a donation, or volunteer, go to morgansplacecemetery.org or call (937) 726-9988.

During the business meeting, the members presented the Wilts with a donation to Morgan’s Place. New member Leslee Meiser was inducted. Members signed up to work at the annual chicken dinner.

President Goodwin passed around a donation list of items needed for the Lake Festival stand.

For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Celina, like them on Facebook or find them at k16309.site.kiwanis.org.