Those affected by miscarriage or stillbirth are invited to gather together to honor their lost loved ones and, hopefully, find solace with people who understand what they’re going through at the annual Sienna’s Sunset event.

“It’s a night to remember and celebrate those babies that we lost too soon, and get together all the families that share that unfortunate loss,” said Elizabeth Severson, founder of the event.

This year’s event will be held starting at 5 p.m. Oct. 3 at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2602 S. Walnut Rd. in Turlock. The evening will include a memorial service where doves are released and baby names are read off, a picnic with food trucks, lawn games, lantern decorating and lighting, visits from comfort dogs and a local chaplain.

Severson suffered the loss of her daughter Sienna as a stillborn infant in 2017. Looking for others experiencing the same type of loss, she started a Facebook page. The Facebook page led to a blog, which also prompted her to create a photo campaign to illustrate the statistic that one in four women suffer infant loss.

She also realized to further raise awareness of stillborn death, she needed an event where people could come together. And in 2018 Sienna’s Walk was founded. In 2024, Severson decided instead of a walk to host a community event named Sienna’s Sunset.

“I've had people reach out and tell me that they felt like they couldn't talk about their loss or open up about their loss until they heard about our story or until they came to one of our events and were able to meet others who share similar stories. I think that's really what it's all about, just being able to gather families that have had these losses that can share and talk about it and heal together. Because it's really not something that any one person or one family or one couple should go through alone. I think it's important for people who have gone through it to know there's a community there to support them,” she said.

Severson is also a supporter of rights for families of stillborn death. In 2023, she shared her story with California legislators in an effort to garner support for AB 1697, a bill that would have given tax credits for a resident who paid for unreimbursed medical and burial or cremation costs for a still born child. It was authored by Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) and co-sponsored by Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Chico). However, the bill died in committee.

Severson’s newest effort is a ministry that helps local families plan a funeral for stillborn death in the catholic church.

Severson also creates care bags for families of stillborn death to take home from the hospital and sponsors scholarships for local high school seniors.

For more information on Sienna’s Sunset or the new stillborn funeral ministry, email Severson at: siennaswalk@yahoo.com.