Hillside Cemetery

I lost my 24 year old son in 2007 in a car accident. In a tragically vulnerable state I had to find a place to bury him. Unfortunately I was too heart broken to really do the homework that I needed to do.



I keep a garden at my son's grave and take impeccable care of it - often raking leaves and removing debris from the surrounding area. Yet I am constantly harrassed by their ground keeping crew.



I put two small garden benches there last October - very pretty, tasteful, and not cheap. I was told to remove them. And when I didn't do it fast enough, I came one day and found them gone. The groundskeeper - Ron -moved them to their garage. As the other person reviewing has said - all they care about is selling. I was told that if I wanted a bench there I would have to buy a monument bench (for about 5 thousand dollars).



For the last 5 years my family and I have put a little tree up next to my son's grave and decorated it for Christmas. My family and my son's friends have made and bought personalized ornaments for it over the years. This year, when I went to the cemetery to take the tree down, it was gone - stand, decorations, and all.



When I inquired in the office I was told by the salesman that their policy is to remove and discard Christmas decorations after Jan 31. Other years, they have left this tree alone for months! Two years, I decorated it for Easter.



The new salesman, Mike Negoravan, makes the old Gary character look like a saint! Smug, arrogant, condescending, and completely devoid of any compassion. I can hardly believe this man works at a cemetery with people who have suffered the loss of loved ones.



Ron, the grounds keeper changed the story - instead denying that they had touched the tree. He claims someone came in the cemetery and took it. Then Mike the sales guy told me to sit down while he explained that I only purchased grounds upkeep when I bought these plots - no security. And they are not responsible for any property at the grave.



Overall, their attitude towards me now is so filled with animosity and hostility that I am looking into having my son moved - even though it will cost me a lot of money.

All of this - why? Because I want to keep his grave beautiful? And while they are spending time removing beautiful garden benches and little Christmas trees, meanwhile there are literally HUNDREDS of grave stones sinking or sliding off their foundations in this cemetery.