I am so grateful for Dennis, who made my experience scattering my dad’s ashes in that beautiful, serene space so easy and wonderful. I came from out of state so we did everything by phone. He even gave me his cell phone number so I could reach him if I needed anything. He allowed me to do it on a Saturday when the cemetery is technically closed. It’s a gorgeous place and I’m so happy my dad is there.
This is NOT a dog park or place to walk dogs!Have some respect for the dead!.Since they have removed the fence people think it is recreational park. Again show repect!
The management here is horrible there is goose poop EVERYWHERE, all over the graves and roads, it's so bad I no longer will walk through wearing sandals. Most of the graves are over grown with weeds and grass. I thought they were supposed to MAINTAIN the grounds regulary. Then the workers swear and yell at people driving by. I happened to witness an incident a little while ago and have not seen such unprofessional behavior in a long time. These are the people that are supposed to be the face of this cemetery. I refuse to give a good rating for this cemetery.
The Mausoleum at Hillcrest Park Cemetery is quite impressive from the outside. The grounds of the cemetery were well groomed. Upon finding a maintenance man to open up the building, however, we were greeted by dead flowers lying on the floor in the main hallway. In addition, as we searched for our grandparents' crypts, we were accosted by spider webs that we literally walked through. There were hundreds of dead and alive spiders on the floors- it looked as if it had not been swept in a year. The marble crypts that were majestic years ago were overpowered by the lack of care. We were so disappointed- and, I may say, disgusted.
I have two loved ones buried here in Hillcrest cemetery who are in the same section. They are brothers who died tragically and unexpectedly 4 years apart at very young ages 17 and 28. The first in 1991 and the other in 1995. Shamefully I had only visited once several years later and when I did, I was only able to locate one of them I had forgotten their proximity to each other and turns out I was looking in the wrong direction. For this reason I went to the office to find out the exact location of the brother, who on my last visit several years ago, I could not locate. I was greeted in the office by the son I wish I had gotten his name who was very friendly and eager to help and their super cute, super sweet family dog Cahill . I explained that I had two friends buried there who are brothers. I knew that they were in the same section but I was only able to find one and not the other. He looked them up and mapped each one out for me and then offered to lead me to them in his vehicle. When we got to the section he walked me over to each of their plots. Sadly it appears no one has visited either of them in many years. Being flat stones, the grass had over taken them and they were barely visible. The son offered to clean them up for me and I told him it was ok but he insisted it wasn’t a big deal. He flagged down one of the maintenance trucks, got a shovel and completely cleared out not only each stone but also unburied the flower vases that are set in the ground just above each stone. Not having ever been used one had filled with dirt over time so he dug it out and walked down to the pond water to clean it out before placing it back in the ground. I can’t tell you enough how impressed I was with the care and attention given not only to myself, but to my two loved ones resting there. After thanking him for his help and for cleaning up the two stones, he said it was no problem and that if I ever needed anything to just come see him. He really went above and beyond and I can’t thank him enough!!
Both my parent are interned at Hillcrest Cementary. The management of this place is despicable. The whole lawn is nothing more than weeds. They have been working on the water lines for I don't know how long. Additionally they put up some type of new building behind the Crematorium and what an eye sore it is. On top of all of that the roads throughout the cementary all need repaired or replaced. When my Mother was buried they never cleaned the area afterwards, I had to visit the site pull all the weeds, turn the soil, and plant new grass myself. When my parent purchased their lots, they were told the place would be maintained continuously. It is clear to me they do not respect our Soldiers and families that are buried there. I am honestly thinking about having my parents moved; very sad to think it is coming to this.
My girlfriends dad died 2yrs.ago today.He paid for his site in 1986.A Korean War veteran, no flag ever on 2 veteran days, they haven't even put his death year on his marker.Talked to the office to no avail, no help whatsoever, rude office people.
This was once a beautiful place, very disappointed in the many trees taken down & not replaced, particularly at my parent's grave site. Grass looks awful, goose droppings eveywhere
Just attended a ceremony there today. Poor planning on the managements part which was then made to be the problem of the grieving family. Absolutely horrible to say the least. Never had I experienced anything as disgusting as the manager of the grounds telling loved ones to leave the casket because they had another funeral coming. Heartless, disrespectful establishment which I would never think of doing business with. A real shame that a place such as this would act so terribly. Be advised .........STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!
My family flew into NYC for a few days, my Mom and Grandparents are buried in Hillcrest, when I called, before leaving Florida, I was told someone will be there to help me to find through family burial sight. So we drove 3 hours to Springfield and no one was there. So I called, the son answered told me his father should be there. He wasn't. My family and I walked through the snow for 2 hours looking for my Mother's bench which marked the family plot with no luck. I called again and was basically told we were out of luck. This experience ruined my whole trip.
