A Legacy of Love Since 2008
A small tag attached to each gown reads: “Tiny Angels touch our hearts forever… Made by Grandma Angel.”
One cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak of having to say hello and goodbye to a child all at the same time. Yet too many parents face this scenario and in that moment cannot even begin to find a gown for this precious child that might be only the size of your hand.
The Beginning
Tiny Angel Gowns began in the quiet little town of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania in 2008. Founded by Colleen, affectionately known as “Grandma Angel,” a retired college professor with a lifelong passion for sewing. Teaching is one of her passions along with this charity organization. Tiny Angel Gowns has now moved to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
A Family Tradition
Sewing, designing, and creating things with fabric was always part of Colleen’s life. She started sewing with her grandmother as a young child. Grandma Meta lived to be 105 and was still knitting hats and donating them to hospitals when she passed away in 2015. This heritage of care and craftsmanship guides every gown created.
A Compassionate Mission
This mission of making preemie burial gowns began after the heartbreak of a cousin who lost a baby prematurely and a conversation with a local hospital inquiring about knowing anyone who could sew. Research was done on gestational sizes, patterns designed, supplies gathered, and gowns and hats became reality. Hospitals were contacted and boxes of gowns were shipped out. The word began to spread.
Growing Impact
Today over 300 hospitals from the Northeast, to the Midwest, and down to the South receive donations of the gowns, hats, and diapers in five different sizes. 8-inch hooded little buntings are sewn from fleece and decorated for the tiniest babies, too tiny to dress, so that parents can wrap and cuddle this Tiny Angel Baby.
There is no profit; all expenses come out of pocket. With the help of her husband and a small group of local women, the creation of gowns has increased. Special thanks to everyone who keeps an eye out for a bargain on supplies and sends them!
A Labor of Love
The goal of this website is to bring awareness to the number of early losses (something like half a million babies born every year too soon) and to the need for preemie bereavement gowns across the country. As long as the need continues and there is fabric in her sewing room, Grandma Angel will be busy at her sewing machine!
In Loving Memory of Lynne Ring
We honor the memory of Lynne Ring, whose creative spirit and loving hands decorated many of our angel gowns with beauty and care. Lynne was a talented decorator who cut embellishments from wedding dresses and created new designs on gowns. She passed away on May 25, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of artistry and compassion. Her work will forever be part of the comfort we provide to grieving families.