Definitely service oriented organization. They are so sensitive to families' needs. Thank you.read more

I can't even begin to express how wonderful they were. My baby brother died at the age of 18. It…read morewas a tragic and terrible time for my family, but Gay & Ciha helped make this as smooth of a process as possible. Mat took excellent care of my brother and my family. He said he treated and cared for my brother as he would his own child which was such a comfort. During the funeral, Mat ensured everything went according to our plan and preference while also taking care of us. Highly, highly recommended them.

Wasn't able to make a service called business with a a wish for family…read more They did the impossible Greatest customer service ever

From the owner: We offer unique opportunities for families to create healing moments after loss. Our experience,…read morecoupled with our perspective on the importance of ceremony, will help you discover ways to pay tribute. Whether traditional or unique, these tributes allow us to love, laugh, and live well again.

Visited with Russ to discuss plot purchases in order to have everything in place prior to our…read moredeparture from this world. Russ was very informative and helpful. Oakland is a city-owned cemetery, which allows prices to be on the low side compared to privately owned cemeteries. They plan to build a new columbarium this year, which we plan to reserve a spot for our cremains. It will be a meditative place for our family to visit.

I was on a road trip from Nebraska to Indiana and my friend wanted to stop here to see the Black…read moreAngel. Apparently there are several in Iowa and they each have a unique story. It was an interesting detour, if you're into that kind of thing, and I found a lot of back history about the angel. The black angel of Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City is an eight and a half foot tall burial monument for the Feldevert family, erected in the cemetery in 1912. Since that time, it has been the source of many stories and legends in Iowa City --- most connected to the mysterious change in color that the angel took, turning from a golden bronze to an eerie black. The black angel of Oakland Cemetery was erected by Teresa Dolezal Feldevert, a physician who had immigrated to America from Strmilov, Bohemia, Teresa and her son, Eddie Dolezal, came to Iowa City, where she worked as a midwife. They lived in Iowa City until 1891, when Eddie died of meningitis at the age of 18. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery and Teresa had a tree stump monument erected over his grave. After Eddie's death, Teresa moved to Eugene, Oregon where she married Nicholas Feldevert, who died tragically just a few years later in 1911. In the wake of this loss, Teresa returned to Iowa City and she hired Mario Korbel, a Bohemian artist in Chicago, to design the angel that would hover over the body of her son and the ashes of her husband. After the installation of the angel, Eddie's monument was moved from its original location to its present site alongside the angel. His remains, along with the ashes of Nicholas Feldevert, were placed in a repository under the angel's base. Teresa died of cancer on November 18, 1924, her ashes were also placed beneath the angel and soon after, the strange stories began.

This place has a monopoly in Iowa City My son wasn't…read moreallowed anything listed in their ads or on the FTC and state websites. I'm appalled to say the least. I don't even have his death certificate. No copies of anything. Just makes everything even more devastating.

Lensing funeral home was THE BEST EXPERIENCE!! They were so kind and caring- both emotionally and…read morementally. Deborah deserves 5 stars !!! She was a rockstar. It was such a hard time for me and my family to have lost my mother so suddenly. We came in on a Thursday and they were able to put together the most beautiful funeral service and celebration of life by Saturday! She helped write the obituary, told us where to order the flowers, had a whole room full of accessories for table centers and wine glasses. They had a separate large space for the celebration of life. Months later I am still getting praises that my mother's funeral was the best funeral several people had ever been to and I had a future in party planning . Little did they know it was all Deborah! The funeral was beautiful, they printed the pamphlets in 12 hours, the service they provided went above and beyond their call of duty, I almost wanted to hire her to be my wedding planner she was so on top of it lol. I know my mother looking down from Heaven was even impressed. I am from Los Angeles so was slightly demanding with my needs on how everything was set up, the food that was served and how it was prepared and Deborah was on top of it the entire way from start to finish. She also let me and my family see the body 2 days in a row before she as cremated in a private library, dropped off all the extra food and cups and pamphlets and flower's personally to my families home. Provided me the same paperwork like 5 separate times because I kept losing them as I am somewhat of a scatter brain. If you are having any doubts don't!! Use Lensing! They also have so many cool things you can do with the ashes, I bought silver ball earrings that look like the ones from Tiffany's with my moms ashes as well as these cool glass globes so we can my mom with me wherever I go. Anyways this is starting to get too long but you get the picture! I could not have imagined my mom's funeral to have been a happy time but it turned out to be just that. I left feeling happy, whole and so loved.

Very disappointed. They were unwilling to change the obituary after the wrong info was published…read more You d think they would be easier to work with when people are already grieving.