Brighten Your Day

Every Christmas, She Secretly Decorates A Children's Cemetery To Honor Grieving Families

December 23, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Bountiful, Utah.

For the past decade, Valarie Hooper has quietly carried out a Christmas tradition that has brought light and love to families experiencing the deepest loss.

Each holiday season, Hooper and her family decorate a section of the Bountiful City Cemetery known as "Baby Land," where infants and young children are laid to rest.

Jesse Menlove helping Valarie Hooper / Credit: KSL

For many families, like Brandon and Jesse Menlove, who lost their son Easton eight years ago, this act of kindness has been a beacon of hope during a season often marked by sorrow.

“The first time we saw the section lit up for the holidays, it brought so much joy to me in such a terrible, sad time,” Jesse told KSL. “I wanted to know who did it, but I didn’t know how to find out.”

"I've never told anybody," Hooper said. Up until now, the annual tradition has been kept a secret.

Jesse eventually discovered through a friend that Hooper was the heart behind the moving display. The Menloves were so touched by the gesture that they began helping Hooper with the decorations, turning a private act of love into a shared tradition.

Hooper’s sister, Theresa Hill, recalled a moment while decorating when a grieving mother stopped her car and expressed her gratitude.

“‘So it’s you that does this?’ she asked. When I said yes, she told me, ‘My baby is over there, and I just want to tell you how much comfort it gives me that you care enough to come out and give love and light to my child.’”

Hooper ensures the lights stay glowing throughout the season, driving by daily to check on the decorations and repair any that might be out of place. Her dedication is unwavering.

“The love that is given when you do have a child will go on forever, even if they are not in your arms,” she said.

Watch the video from KSL News below.