Baby boy with no family is buried in heartbreaking ceremony, with his tiny coffin carried into church by cops

A South Dakota community mourned the tragic loss of a baby boy, whom they named Gabriel James Doe, after his lifeless body was found at a local recycling center.

The full-term baby was discovered on August 6 at Millennium Recycling in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There was no known name or family for the infant.

“And look at the family he has now,” said the Rev. Travis Remme, referring to the large crowd at Gabriel’s memorial service on Wednesday.

Despite the ongoing investigation, authorities have not yet been able to determine the circumstances surrounding Gabriel’s death, such as his age and how long he had been at the recycling center.

Sioux Falls police spokesman Sam Clemens described the baby as “full term” and acknowledged that the investigation is ongoing.

The community has been deeply affected by this heartbreaking tragedy and countless individuals and organizations have come together to express their condolences and support.

A memorial service was held on August 28 at Miller Funeral Home Southside Chapel to honor Gabriel’s short life.

“It’s a difficult time when someone loses your child; it’s not the natural order,” said funeral director Matthew Koball. “It’s really the least we can do to give back to the community because it’s the right thing to do.”

Koball, who has lost two children himself, says he understands the deep grief parents experience when they lose their child.

“Unfortunately, we do a lot of funerals of little children, but never anything like this,” Koball said. “This is a first for me.”

“The smallest boxes are the heaviest to carry.”

More than 200 people attended the service and Sioux Falls police officers served as pallbearers.

As the congregation solemnly entered the chapel, they were greeted by the face of baby Gabriel, surrounded by a profusion of flowers, teddy bears and toy cars. A single blue star-shaped balloon floated among these tokens of remembrance and love.

The chapel was completely full, with relatives standing in the back and in an overflow area.

Some in attendance had brought young children, Gabriel’s new “brothers and sisters,” and their occasional cries reflected the collective grief of the crowd.

There were also people in tears wearing Millennium Recycling T-shirts, but they declined to comment on the loss to the Argus Leader.

A large bouquet of wildflowers from the recycling center staff bore a simple message: “We found you and we loved you.”

The funeral service was conducted by Pastor Travis Remme of The Rock Community Church in Rock Rapids, Iowa, his wife Jessica Remme, Pastor Katherine (director of chaplaincy at Dow Rummel Village), and the Reverend John Helmueller of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.

Jessica Remme gave a moving eulogy in which she described Gabriel as ‘an angel with little wings and arrows’. [who] blessed the lives of others with beauty and grace.’

She continued, “An angel came for reasons we may not understand, a short journey with gifts so great and guided by God’s hand. So rest now little angel, your work on earth is done in the beauty of God’s perfect love, we sought His gift in you.”

Jessica, who also lost a child, said she and Travis were devastated by the news about Gabriel.

“I mean, for me, specifically, as a mother who has lost a child, I know that pain,” Jessica Remme said. “I can’t even imagine what that mother must have been thinking or going through or what her circumstances must have been to feel like she didn’t have a choice or whatever it may be. It’s a reminder to keep an eye on your people.”

The Oaklyn Foundation, along with other local organizations, worked to ensure Gabriel received a decent burial.

Jessica Remme, the founder and chairwoman of the foundation, chose the name ‘Gabriel James’ for the child, inspired by the meanings ‘God is my strength’ and ‘someone who follows’.

“After a loss, there just isn’t a lot of support for families. And so God put this nonprofit on our hearts, and we’ve been blessed to give back to over 1,000 families in the United States and Canada since 2018,” Jessica told the Argus Leader.

“We started our funeral program last August, so we’re working with Miller and other funeral homes in the area to help pay for caskets and urns for people under the age of 16. Since we started that last August, we’ve paid over $46,000 in funeral expenses for families.”

“It really turned out beautiful. If coming to the funeral home isn’t for you, keep praying for his family. Keep praying for his mother. She just needs some prayers,” Jessica told Dakota News Now.

The funeral service was free for Gabriel, as Miller Funeral Home does not charge fees for those 17 years of age or younger.

“It was truly wonderful to see the Sioux Falls community come together to pay their respects, spend time with him and make sure he was properly buried and cared for,” Koball said.

While the circumstances surrounding Gabriel’s death remain unclear, the community is committed to honoring his memory and supporting his family.

Jessica urged people to continue to pray for Gabriel’s mother, who is no doubt grieving immensely.

“To know that he won’t be alone, our family will come visit him,” Jessica said. “He’s a big part of our family now and he won’t be sitting here alone. He’ll always be remembered.”