Graceland Fairlawn

Let me say, for such a large, established business I am beyond shocked at the experience my family has had with Graceland Fairlawn funeral services. I don’t think I need to go on about my incredible dissatisfaction and disappointment, I would only like to outline our experience so shoppers are aware of the type of business they are researching.
To begin, my grandmother died 6 years ago. As I remember, the services were lovely and in the days surrounding her passing no red flags were raised. We decided to have her body cremated, chose a beautiful urn to have inscribed, and bought and paid for a «cremation niche» (a small space in an above ground wall to place her «cremains» in for resting). Herein begins the concerns.
The wall had not been built but we were promised that when the ground softened in spring (my grandmother died in January) the wall would be built and we would be able to do a short ceremony to place her urn in the wall.
We were NEVER informed the «niche» we PAID FOR was complete.
SIX YEARS later, we were told that for the same price we paid, we could utilize a niche inside the mausoleum onsite. Not what we had originally chosen, but it’s six years later, so okay.
On the day and time we decided to place my grandmother’s «cremains» in her final resting place, when we arrived for our short service, we were told that the workers had placed her nameplate on the WRONG spot and we would need to wait while they sorted that out.
Once we were in place and performed our ceremony, as we reached up to place the cremains in the spot, the urn didn’t fit. They had SIX YEARS to ensure that the urn we bought FROM THEM, would fit in the spot they gave us, and it didn’t fit.
They called in the worker who typically placed and sealed these niches, who proceeded to take my grandmother’s urn and place it diagonally and sideways to try to make it fit. Then we were offered that if we TOOK THE LID OFF of my grandmother’s urn, it may fit. When they tried, the lid had been glued on, by them, 6 years ago.
Their final solution was that they would take the beautiful urn we paid for back to the shop, and GRIND DOWN the lid, so that it would fit in the spot that they chose, again, not the original spot we chose and paid for.
This was not one oversight or a little snafu, this was ongoing, thoughtless care from an organization who claims to make these final goodbyes a «healing experience.»
I am absolutely disgusted with how they have treated my grandmother’s memory. Be warned.

I do appreciate Mr. Goebel reaching out to me and assuring me that other families would not have a similar experience. No need for a reimbursement, your assurance to be more careful when handling those who die indigent is enough for our family. My uncle had a difficult life and we just wanted him to be remembered and treated with dignity at the end. He may not have had anything of monetary value, but he was still loved and valued by all of us. We hope all those who die indigent are treated humanely and with a measure of respect. We accept your assurance that it will not happen to those in the future.

I met with Shannon Tarter for help with planning mausoleum spaces In Fairlawn Cemetery. She was personable, very informative, kind-​hearted, and gave the best suggestions and guidance throughout the entire process. I highly recommend to anyone to give her a call and help you plan through this process with confidence.