We preplanned my grandmother's headstone, she would be joining her husband in his plot, he died…read more1976, got the details all fine tuned a while before she passed. We've never had a problem with this funeral home before. "What is on the sheets at time of signing is what you'll get"
My grandmother passes, it takes some time for the headstone to be made that's fine. About 4 or 5 months later the headstone is finally placed. Only problem, no Navy emblem, there's a hole for a vase, no vase. You can reach through the hole and touch the cement liner.
We brought this up to the woman we originally worked with, Michele, confirmed that we had given them all the info originally needed for the navy to issue an emblem to be put *into* the headstone. We were also told that the vase was back ordered, and would be put in 'soon'
We went back after a few months, no emblem, no vase. We are told the emblem is still being looked into, and that they don't have the cups still, but again, 'soon'
A couple months pass, still no emblem, still no cup. We return, we get someone different this time. He says he will look into the cup, because they don't have special cups, they're made to order in bulk. So it's weird one hasn't just been put in, he will ask about it. He finds papers that Michele had sent into the navy. They were originally dated AFTER the headstone went in. (Again, emblem was supposed to be inlayed, so it couldn't be mowed off or similar, so, before the headstone went in.)
There was also a return letter saying they'd already given an emblem for that headstone sometime in the late 2000`s and they can't do it again.
That's odd, 20 some years ago this was asked for and approved? The original headstone was placed back in 1976 and untouched since then! So we're not sure if it's a made up letter that was put into the file, or if Michele got the wrong information sent in. So far, everything has been confusion and messy.
We leave this time with a promise of the vase being put in that day, and the emblem actually discussed with Michele, and dealt with.
A few months later, no emblem, no vase.
We were told again, the vase should have been put in, but that ultimately a note was made and given to the Michele to follow up on. But, that this will be dealt with by him now since it's been almost a year and no resolution.
I get a text later that same day saying the vase is actually custom, and the bulk order doesn't fit in it.
It is now 4 months later. A few days untill it was originally placed. No emblem, no vase, no follow up from the funeral home at all. I reached out to the number of the gentleman helping us the last two times about this, he says he talked with his manager the last time, and the manager delegated it back to Michele to be fixed, and worked on.
We are now waiting for him to talk to the manager again, as the issue hasn't been solved, and we've never received any follow up or any information.
Still no answer on why the navy's letter stated it issued a grave marker 20 some years ago, when the original stone was from 50 years ago, had no specific added emblem and untouched after placement.
Everytime I've visited the grave, it's had overgrown grass sitting over the stone, and long grass coming up through the middle where the vase hole is. I don't know what happened to this funeral home, but it isn't anything like it used to be. As an addendum, we have family in the mausoleum there. Their vases are also missing still, and some of those rooms have been in disrepair for years. Only getting worse.
