Angel of Hope Statue

The angel, Hope stands over four feet tall and at the base Forever in our Hearts is inscribed. Rockford Memorial Development Foundation gave the statue to the Rockford Park District and families to have a peaceful place to remember children they have lost.

More than 100 communities have installed similar angel statues, which are inspired by the book “The Christmas Box” by Richard Paul Evans. In the book, a woman mourns the loss of her child at the base of an angel monument.

Christine Tillou had been a fan of Evans’ work and first contacted the Rockford Memorial Development Foundation about erecting a statue in Rockford.

The city’s statue — the 37th to be erected — was installed May 04, 2003. Angel of Hope statue is in Waterside Park near State and Water streets. The sculpture provides a place for families to honor children who have died, lost in miscarriage or still born.

The angel, Hope stands over four feet tall and at the base Forever in our Hearts is inscribed. Rockford Memorial Development Foundation gave the statue to the Rockford Park District and families to have a peaceful place to remember.

“We liked that it was centrally located, and it’s accessible, yet it has an air about it that’s very private,” Tillou said. “People are continually visiting it. I’m very grateful that it still exists.”