A public farewell was held Friday to say goodbye to baby Anthony who died at only seven-months-old Saturday from malnutrition.
“We started this as a healing farewell service,” said Todd Meierhoff, President of Meierhoffer Funeral Home and Crematory. “The family was adamant that we open this up.”
Around two dozen people turned out for the ceremony to say goodbye to baby Anthony.
His mother, 22-year-old Macayla Jo Armstrong of St Joseph has been charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, a class A felony.
Meierhoffer Funeral Home and members of the public have assisted the family with burial costs.
“We knew immediately not only from a staff but as an organization that this was a circumstance that was very unusual and we wanted to help this family,” said Meierhoffer. “There’s an extended family which people have to understand there are grandparents there’s aunts and uncles loving people that love this child and like all of us, when there is a death or a disaster or a tragedy we try to come together and we try to help each other, unfortunately this was a situations that occurred and our family and organization wanted to help out to assist this family under the circumstances.”
Family members, firefighters and several members of the public attended the ceremony.
One of the individuals in attendance was Ruth Costello, owner of Grace House – a nonprofit store located at 2638 Lafayette Street in St. Joseph that assists individuals who can’t afford to purchase many of their own items with necessities at no cost.
“The mom had been to the store about a year ago,” Costello said. “I didn’t know what happened. The grandparents came in the day before yesterday looking for clothing to burry him in so we were blessed that we had new stuff that had not been used. New blankets to wrap him in, and a little hat that they fell in love with. It was like you have to come. You know, he matters and the fact that god gave him life I think we should honor that.”
Costello said it’s not just a loss for the family, but for the entire community.
“The community needs to realize that when a child is born he’s part of us and we’ve lost somebody,” she said. “We don’t know what he could have become we don’t know who he would have married, what he would have done in school, all we can do is thank god that he’s in heaven.”
Meierhoffer said grief counseling is being provided.
“we have licensed councilors for death and grief,” he said. “It’s open to the public anyone who needs assistance can simply call us and there’s no charge for that.”
Baby Anthony is survived by a Sister, grandparents and several aunts and uncles.
His mother, Macayla is scheduled for a probable cause hearing January 9, if found guilty she could get a minimum sentence of 10-years in prison or a max of 30-to-life.