I have family and friends buried here, so I have been visiting this cemetery for many years. I was surprised by some of the reviews. I have never had anything negative to say about the staff or the grounds.
I recently rented a car and drove out to the cemetery, June 2024. It was a hot day, and traffic from Manhattan to the cemetery and back was heavy 95% of the way. There was road work on the Grand Central in Nassau County, but I was shocked at how heavy traffic was.
Before I left Manhattan, I called the cemetery for driving directions. The recorded information was GREAT!! I applaud the woman who recorded this information because she spoke at a very helpful good pace and she spoke clearly. It was very helpful information, done perfectly. I called back about 4 times to make sure I had it right since I was writing it down...LOL. And I wasn't rushing LOL
Upon arrival, I went into the office to get the location maps for each gravesite I was visiting.
The office staff was very nice and helpful and the outdoor staff was also very nice and helpful.
I had not visited in years, so I vaguely recalled a little bit of what the gravesite locations looked like, for example, was it close to the sidewalk curb....but, even tho I had the map locations it was still a bit challenging.
And here is what I mean when I say the outside staff was helpful too. One of the gardeners pick up trucks was driving by the area where I was looking in search of the gravesite and the man asked me if I wanted him to help me and I said I would really appreciate that. He asked me!! Now, that is a nice and helpful staff member.
He was very kind, and he said you stay here and I'm going to drive around this block to locate the grave and I'll come back and tell you, and that's what he did, then I got in my car and followed to be closer to the gravesite. This is just one example of how helpful the outdoor grounds people were.
In another area, I asked another staff member if he could help me, and he walked around and found the gravesite.
If you are going to visit, allow extra time for finding the gravesites because even with the map, it is not a done deal. You really need to look and search within the section.
The grounds are well kept and there were plenty of gardeners out, tending to the grounds the day I visited.
I had really wanted to take a photograph of the entrance skates to the cemetery, but I thought I'd do it when I left, but that wasn't possible because the exit was at another side location so there was no place for me to stop my car unless I turned back into the cemetery And I was cutting it close because I knew I could expect heavy traffic going back and I had a deadline to return the rental car without a penalty.
Next time, as long as it's not busy, I'll stop my car near the entrance and take a picture of the entrance gates.
It is a nice entrance and as I said, overall the grounds are well kept. The people I have dealt with have always been very nice and helpful. read more