An employer can terminate an employee for taking time off for the illness of his or her child and the child's funeral. The fallout would be disasterous for the employer. There are laws in every state of this country preventing discrimination to female employees who are pregnant and have health issues as to themselves and their unborn and born child during the pregnancy process. There are also federal laws on the subject.Reasonble accomodations for such an employee are mandated by many state laws on the subject. If your company has an employee handbook, there might be reference to alowable leaves of absences for pregnancies, health issues of the employee or his or her child and bereavements.The termination of this female employee under the circumstances you have written about is not only insensitive, morally wrong, but could very well open up your employer to a legal action by the former employee.