A service of remembrance for families whose children have died or are missing will be held at St Matthews Anglican Church in West Pennant Hills on Wednesday.
The service, which is open to families and friends who have lost a child of any age, seeks to ease that pain by offering a means of acknowledging and remembering a deeply loved and missed family member.
Karen Filocamo, of West Pennant Hills, lost her youngest son Timothy to sudden infant death syndrome in 1988.
He was five months old.
"When you lose your child you lose the future . . . [you lose] all the hopes and dreams you had for that child — and that's true of any age"
- — Karen Filocamo
Since then she and her husband, John, have greeted guests as they arrive at this service.
"All of us at St Matthews look for those people who may need extra comfort during the service," Mrs Filocamo said.
"I think what attracts people to this service is that, yes, you are around people who have suffered the same loss as you and know how you feel, but I think it's more than that.
"During the supper people share their stories — how their child died, what kind of person they were — and those present are invited to place a flower on the communion table [during the service], in memory of their child who died.
"Just as someone may put flowers on a grave, it's a gesture of love that these flowers are placed here in memory of my child.
"I heard a saying, when you lose a parent you lose the past, when you lose your spouse you lose the present but when you lose your child you lose the future and that is true . . . [you lose] all the hopes and dreams you had for that child — and that's true of any age."
The service, now in its 20th year, was started by Lynne Molan after her son died in a car accident.
Representatives from other denominations and chaplains from The Children's Hospital at Westmead will also attend.
■ Wednesday, December 3, 7.30pm, St Matthews Anglican Church, corner New Line and Castle Hill roads, West Pennant Hills. Child minding available. Details: 9484 3700.