Womb to Tomb: Catholic Charities and Mount Olivet Unite to Honor Every Life

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Thanks to a recent partnership between Catholic Charities and Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, dozens of men experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty are now being laid to rest in donated suits — each one carefully selected, folded and delivered as a final act of love.

For those who pass without family, income or stable housing, it's rare to have a funeral and proper burial. At Mount Olivet, a Catholic cemetery operated by the Archdiocese of Denver, men in these circumstances are buried and honored, given their final resting place at no cost. To support this mission, the Mount Olivet team came to Catholic Charities to ask for suits for these men to be buried in, and a shared commitment between the two ministries to honor every life, from womb to tomb, was born.

Upon hearing the request, the team at Samaritan House warehouse — where donations of all kinds are sorted daily — responded with immediate care. They identified a collection of gently used suits that individuals had donated to the warehouse. These suits that were once worn for job interviews, weddings and Sunday Mass are now destined for a sacred purpose.

“Since most of the population we serve at Samaritan House are women and families, men’s suits, sport coats, dress shirts and shoes don’t go as quickly,” said Mary Larsen, director of food and warehouse services at Catholic Charities. “This is a great way to utilize these donations and a beautiful way to honor the human dignity of every person at the end of their life.”

Warehouse staff and volunteers fold each suit with reverence and then send it to where funeral ministers carefully dress the deceased before burial. What may seem like a small gesture — a suit, a tie, a pressed shirt — becomes something holy, a reminder that at life’s end, every soul deserves honor.

Through this collaboration, Catholic Charities continues its mission of upholding the dignity of every human life from womb to tomb. And in these suits — fabric once filled with the hopes and burdens of life — a final gift is given: the assurance that they mattered.

“Each piece of clothing, from full suits to cozy socks, is a final act of mercy. The generosity of donors restores dignity to those who may have died alone or in need, reminding us all that every soul deserves to be honored with compassion and care,” said Hayley Nalley, assistant director of funeral operations at Mount Olivet.