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 History
MargaretAnn's Place was created to bring together children and families from all backgrounds who will share their most personal, life-changing experience - the death of a loved one.
Upon the sudden death of their daughter, MargaretAnn, the Smith-Jones family found there were support services in place for them as parents but none available for their son, Jared. After discovering centers for grieving children across the nation, MargaretAnn's Place was established in 1998 as the first center for grieving children in the state of Wisconsin. At present, there are over 300 centers for grieving children in the United States and Canada.
MargaretAnn's Place is named in honor of MargaretAnn Smith Jones who died in 1997 at the age of 20 months. She is survived by her siblings, Jared, Julia, and Emma, her namesake, MargaretAnn Stewart, (see Dandelion poem below) and an extended family that reaches far into the community.
MargaretAnn's Place is a tribute to children and families who will be forever changed and challenged by the death of their loved ones.
Piece by piece my heart
is torn,
Someone trys to mend
it but it's too worn.
Every time I feel
I'm losing hold,
I hold back tears
and shiver but not
from cold.
Then come the tears
pouring like rain down
my cheeks.
They're the one I've
held in for weeks.
These days have been
full of change and loss,
And all I'm left with are
dandelions, bunnies
butterflies and a cross.
by: MargaretAnn Stewart
Age 10, June 5, 1999
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