On Sunday, September 18, Winona Health Family Birth Center nurses will hold a brief memorial service for area parents and families who have lost babies through miscarriage or stillbirth. The service will be from 3 until 4 p.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery, 1190 Sugar Loaf Road in Winona.

The memorial service is organized by the Family Birth Center's Little Ones Remembered committee. "Our purpose is to honor parents and families who have lost babies and to give them a permanent physical place to visit and grieve," said Renee Isakson, RN, one of the event organizers. "There will be a special site with a symbolic marker, and during the service we'll release balloons."

Refreshments will be provided and there will be time to visit and share memories.

Winona Health nurses also host a free monthly outreach group to support families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Gatherings are 6:30-8 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month in the Great Hall at Watkins Manor, 175 E. Wabasha in Winona.

For more information about the service or about the monthly outreach group, call 507.474.3042.

For more information about Winona Health, visit winonahealth.org.