Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery

11/02/09

Worst Customer Service Ever

by Gwag at Citysearch

We went to Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetary several weeks prior to my mother's passing to make arrangements ahead of time to help eliminate the burden and stress that most folks face when their loved one dies. The first initial visit, they were very pleasant in helping to coordinate the arrangements. However, once they were paid, everything went south from there. Two day's after mother's passing we wet back to finalize the arrangements for the creamation and that's where the trouble began. The paperwork was never completely filled out, thus delaying the engraving and ordering of the headstone. We were informed that a temporary plaque would be placed on mom's stone until the engraver could come out to do the final engraving, and this would take place prior to the cremation service. On our arrival to the service, we noticed no plaque had been installed. Several days afterwards, we went back to inquire and spoke to the sales associate that helped us and was told he would get it ordered and it would be in within a few days. To make a long story short, it took us 4 follow-up visits, multiple phone calls, and 6 weeks, only to never receive the 'temporary' plaque on mom's headstone. We had explained that we were very upset because mom at least deserved an identity and that other family members could locate her in the gardens. After more calls to the Corporate and regional office, we were informed that the plaque would be mailed to us and that they had put in a request to have the engraver come out to add the finishing touches. Needless to say, we had to go back, time and time again to be greated by the sales associate, to hear multiple excusses. The best being that it was on back order. Upon our last visit, we noticed that the headstone down from ours had a temporary plaque and had been ordered after ours was. Why is it that if it was on back order, they received theirs, but we had not. We spoke to the receptionist and were informed that the plaque had not been received, not had the deed been typed out. We had requested that the salesman contact us immediately. Only then were we told that the plaques were on his desk and that the deed had been typed out the day before.....Excuses, Excuses, Excuses. Ironically, they are suppose to personally deliver the deed and plaques to day. We will see if it happen's or if it is another excuse. I would strongly deter anyone from using Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetary if possible. For the actual Celebration of Life Service and Reception, we used Horan and McConaty. They definately went over and beyond and we couldn;'t have been more pleased with the service we recieved from them.

02/02/09

Deplorable conditions with prairie dogs digging through the graves!

by wmcot at Citysearch

My father died in 1984 and was buried at Olinger Highland Cemetery. It was in good shape then - the lawn was well-watered and the trees were green. When my mother died in 2005, we returned to the cemetery to bury her.

The cemetery is overrun with prairie dogs who have made holes everywhere. It is sickening to see tunnels dug through the graves. It is not a place you would want your loved ones to be buried and you certainly wouldn't want to visit them there. Unfortunately, my parents had paid for their plots many years ago so there was no choice.

Aside from the prairie dogs, the grass is dead in very many places as are the trees. The cemetery looks more like an old western abandoned cemetery in a ghost town than a modern cemetery.

There ought to be a law preventing such poor care of graves. If there is, I hope some resident of the area will bring this to the attention of the proper legal authorities. The only safe resting places are the above ground mausoleums.

The place is disgusting!

• Pros: Nothing at all
• Cons: Prarie dogs dig thru graves, dead grass and trees, disgusting