Garden Of The Sleeping Angels

Who We Are

Garden of the Sleeping Angels is a place of support, remembrance, and healing for families who have experienced the loss of an infant or child—in utero, stillborn, or after birth. Located on a beautiful lakeside homestead in Orono, MN, it houses a series of sixteen gardens dedicated to preserving the memory of these dear children. 

The gardens serve as a living reminder that although we can no longer hold or touch our loved ones, we can remember them always.

Goals of This Campaign

Your donations help our nonprofit organization directly with:

1. Garden maintenance 
2. Organizational operating expenses
3. The gifting of engraved angel memorials 

Story of GSA

16 years ago, Garden of the Sleeping Angels was brought to life by Nancy Sawyer, a retired obstetrics nurse with four decades of experience caring for high-risk deliveries. She saw first-hand the need for healing and remembrance after such profound loss. The gardens are not a cemetery, but rather a place where loved ones are never forgotten...

What began as one garden—tended by a passionate heart for service—grew into many more. Over the years, Garden of the Sleeping Angels has expanded to memorialize over 280 babies lost too soon. This means over 280 different families have benefited from the connection, support, storytelling, and relationships offered by the GSA community.

View this inspiring video by Melanie Burns from our main organizational website.

What GSA Provides

As part of our outreach, families connect with the GSA network and plan their visit to the gardens. They have the opportunity to obtain an engraved metal memorial to personalize for their loved one. Families then choose a home in the gardens for this tangible memorial. They are welcome to visit the gardens time and time again to remember their precious child. 

On any given day at the gardens, one may witness heavenly birthday parties, visits from siblings and extended family, quiet contemplation, or even larger organized group events. Some of these events have included the October Wave of Light, spring plant sales, volunteer weed-a-thons, or other community gatherings. 

Read more about our recent 2024 Wave of Light event here. For more about GSA's story and mission, check out this feature interview on KSTP-TV's Minnesota Live! Below are some pictures from this summer's weed-a-thon event.

How Your Generosity Can Help

As a gardener, Nancy Sawyer has found hope and strength through caring for the homestead's many plants and flowers. Numerous volunteers also help keep GSA running as a nonprofit organization. However, the maintenance of these 16 separate gardens requires additional upkeep and labor expenses. 

All donations will directly support the day-to-day operations required to keep serving our wonderful families. Additional funds also help provide scholarships for engraved angel memories for those in need. 

Our hope is that visits to this peaceful setting will enable families to remember, reflect, grieve and begin healing, as they celebrate their loved one's all too short time on this earth. We also welcome visits from caregivers; those who have been blessed to be part of the angel’s lives. 

More About GSA

Read more about our organization at www.gardenofthesleepingangels.com. Here you can find more information about our story, events, loss resources, how to donate or volunteer, adding your angel memorial, and contact information.

Together we can make sure families experiencing infant and child loss know they are never alone. There is a community of hope waiting to support and uplift them along their healing journey... 

With your help, we can continue be a place of peace and healing for years to come!