Memorial at Calimesa garden gives abandoned children a voice -

Published on Tuesday, August 26, 2008
By ERIN WALDNER

CALIMESA - An intimate ceremony was held Tuesday night in Calimesa to memorialize 81 children who were abandoned and died.

The service was held at their final resting place, the Garden of Angels, part of the larger Desert Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park. All of the children buried in the garden were abandoned at or shortly after birth, said Debi Faris, 52, of Yucaipa. Faris founded Garden of Angels in 1996.

The most recent burial was Jan. 12.

One adult is buried in the garden. He was found as a baby in a trash can, where he was thought to have suffered brain damage. He spent his life, which ended when he was 66 years old, in an institution. He was known only as John Doe Jr.

The service included several testimonials to the Garden of Angels and Faris' efforts, as well as a moving rendition of "Amazing Grace," sung a cappella Read Full Article...

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