If you need to bury a loved one
heed this warning: Don't purchase plots at Highland Garden of Memories in Belvidere, Illinois. It's at the corner of IL route 76 and Squaw Prairie Road. If you do have to deal with them, make sure you are real clear on the details and expect to be lied to.
As some of you may be aware, my husbands Grandmother passed away last Thursday after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease among many other illnesses. Grandma had pre planned most of her funeral arrangements with
Fitzgerald Funeral Home.
They were wonderful to the entire family, and everything was beautiful and went according to plan. Until we arrived at the Highland Garden of Memories cemetery (where Grandma had her burial plot next to Grandpa) in Belvidere Illinois for graveside services and burial.
Every person who came was under the impression that Grandma would be buried. Every person was confused when we were led into an on site chapel. When the person working at the cemetery was questioned, the only answer he would give was "it's too dark for them to do the work so they were going to do it the next day" and that "the workers had already gone home".
What?!?! Seriously, 3:30 PM is too DARK to work outside?? 'Angry' doesn't begin to describe the emotions that went through each and every one of us.
I don't know about anyone else, but the purpose for the graveside services is to create a closure for the family. Most of our family didn't receive this closure because of the inappropriate, uncaring, and indifferent attitude of the cemetery supervisor. Today when my Husband and I returned for the internment with some of his family and the funeral home, we requested a written apology.... and were told "I said I was sorry yesterday".
So many ways to cause him pain went through my head at that moment.
I couldn't BELIEVE he just didn't get it.
Contagion and I feel that this type of behavior cannot be tolerated, and are both outraged by the events. He has a post up regarding
Highland Garden of Memories as well, with a few more details. Hopefully our words will strike home to someone and things like this wont happen to anyone else.
Labels: Family Life