The employees/owners were very understanding and helpful with all the arrangements that needed to…read morebe done. Took the time to answer all our questions and made us feel that any issues that came up would be taken care of immediately. They checked up on our family throughout the time we were there. I would highly recommend them.

Lawn Funeral Home in Orland Park, Illinois, was absolutely first rate in every regard pertaining…read morethe recent passing of my wife's mother. Our primary contact was Madeline. She was kind and sensitive and very knowledgeable. Everyone associated with this place was fantastic- from the phone support to the staff on site. Don was very helpful to us the morning of the funeral. The facilities are clean and very tasteful. It is a comfortable atmosphere. We could not have had a better experience.

When I came to Chicago years ago, Mt. Carmel was the cemetery I most wanted to visit (if…read moreinterested, check out my review). Following that visit, I crossed the street and entered Queen of Heaven, a more modern (consecrated in 1947) resting place consisting of 470 acres. As I've noted in other reviews, I've always been fascinated by organized crime history, and Chicago's organized crime is an integral and prominent (if often unwanted) part of that city's history. I always try to conduct myself respectfully and discreetly in cemeteries, knowing these are holy places where people come to mourn. The overwhelming majority of the "permanent residents" of Queen of Heaven were honest, hard-working people who tried their best to make their way in the world. The cemetery boasts the largest Catholic mausoleum in the world, and it's indeed an impressive structure, a work of architectural splendor. Inside, I found the vaults of Tony Accardo, perhaps the most successful and powerful Mafia boss in history; Paul Ricca; Sam Battaglia; and Fiore Buccieri. I had a camera with me but I didn't take any pictures. Why? Because there were security cameras everywhere and I didn't want anyone to misinterpret my purpose, and think I was being "disrespectful." The Chicago mob was unique in being surprisingly egalitarian, a meritocracy (a large number of its reps in top positions were Jews, Irishmen, Greeks, Bohemians, a Welshman, etc.; their abilities counted more than their ethnicity), but they were also known for a countless number of savage "hits." I didn't actually think anyone was going to take a blowtorch to me for snapping a photo of Joe Batters' private vault. Still, I wasn't about to press my luck. Outside, it was more relaxed. I found the grave of "Mad Sam" DeStefano, a figure of particular fascination for me. Physically a cross between Fred Flintstone and John Belushi, reading about some of his "antics" had caused me to laugh out loud. He forced a court hearing for a $10 traffic ticket, had himself carried into court on a stretcher, shouting through a bullhorn, "Birmingham, Alabama, here I come...We are living in a Gestapo country...Hello to all the stool pigeons in the witness quarters..." It wasn't all laughs. FBI Agent Bill Roemer called him "the worst torture-murderer in Chicago's history." When Sam's wife Anita angered him, he kidnapped a black man walking on the street at gunpoint, and forced the man to rape his wife as punishment for his wife, who now lies buried beside him. Does she rest in peace, or does she dread the thought of the coming "Day of Judgment" when the dead rise from their graves and she has to see Mad Sam's ugly face once again? Hopefully, if there is a God, He'll spare her that. Mad Sam was shotgunned to death in 1973 while sweeping out his garage. The man believed to be wielding that shotgun is buried across the street, literally a stone's throw away. Tony Spilotro, the hitman portrayed by Joe Pesci in "Casino." The man who once squeezed a man's head in a vise until the man's eyes popped out of his head in order to extract information. On "Judgement Day," will Mad Sam see him, ignore Anita, and shout out, "You, you're the dirty ______ who shot me!" In another direction is the impressive monument to James Torello. If you read "The Exorcist," Blatty quoted a surreptitiously recorded conversation where Torello described torturing a 300-pound loan shark to death: "Jackson was hung up on the meat hook. He was so heavy he bent it. He was on that thing 3 days before he croaked...We tossed water on him to give the (cattle) prod a better charge, and he's screamin'..." I'm a non-Catholic, and Yelp is not the place to argue theological issues such as faith, grace, redemption, etc. But I couldn't help thinking about such issues as I walked around this beautiful, peaceful cemetery. Did the Catholic hierarchy really think Mad Sam "made his peace" with God in the seconds before that fatal shotgun blast? He's lying in sacred, consecrated ground. Supposedly, Spilotro asked to say a prayer (and was denied) before he was beaten to death, but does that transform a serial-killing monster into someone worthy of Heaven? As another, non-Catholic example-- "Tex" Watson, Manson's chief killer, has his own prison ministry and claims to be "saved." Is he sincere? What if he is? Someone who can stick a knife 30-something times into an 8-month pregnant woman permanently severs whatever tenuous links he may still have to humanity, as far as I'm concerned, and obviates any possibility of redemption or forgiveness. To me, that's a spiritual brokenness that can never be fixed, whether it's Tex, or Charlie, or Mad Sam, or Tony the Ant. I don't mean to sound overly harsh in discussing this cemetery...other cemeteries, religious and non-sectarian alike, have evil people buried in them...but these were the thoughts occupying me as I wandered about these peaceful acres. Maybe that's the reason I still identify as an agnostic.

My mom has been buried in this cemetery since 2023. Every time we place a decoration, such as…read moreflowers, they end up disappearing. According to the rules, ground staked solar lights are permitted but when we added them to surround my mother's grave along with some artificial flowers, they were DESTROYED (a few graves nearby also had them like this and their's were untouched). They were piled up and broken and some of the stake vases with the artificial flowers were also destroyed, it seemed like they had been kicked and tossed around. Some of the flowers were missing too. I really wish I took a picture of the mess because it was TRULY DISRESPECTFUL. What made me and my family so angry was that it seems to only happen to us in our section. Everybody else around us have their decorations perfectly placed and not touched. We called to complain and they did absolutely nothing, only said some of the things were removed because they didn't meet the requirements when none of the decorations went past the size limit or were glass!

This is a massive cemetery with so many stories to tell. I was here for over an hour, visiting the…read moreHaymarket Martyrs' Monument, the grave of Emma Goldman, the Druid Monument and the final resting place of radio story teller Paul Harvey. It is in excellent condition though a few of the lanes could use some repaving and yes, it's super annoying that the bridge is closed for repair because it's a heck of a drive to get to the other side of the river to see the rest of the cemetery. While I was here, I spotted a herd of 7 or 8 deer including a six-point buck. They're just chilling and I hope they stay here a while as it's safe for them. (Deer love the flowers people leave on graves. It's like candy to them.) If you're here to visit family or friends, I am sorry for your loss. If you're here being a tourist as I was, please be respectful of the folks who are visiting. This is an active cemetery that still has current interments. Yield to funeral processions. [Review 20625 overall - 172 in Illinois - 1606 of 2023.]

Relatives are buried at this cemetery...But I tell ya, driving through the grounds can be extremely…read moretreacherous on your vehicle give the massive potholes and lack of cemented roadway. Not to mention when the ground is damp/wet, your car leaves the cemetery literally covered with mud at the bottom, tires, etc. It is hard to get out of your vehicle due to HUGE puddles of water.

My family has been buried here for generations...wonderful cemetery. The grounds are kept up very…read morewell.

I have been an amateur genealogist for about a decade now, and I have spent a lot of time calling…read morecemeteries to find where graves are located and then peering at a fuzzy, photocopied map trying to figure out where to look. Yesterday was my first time locating graves at Bethania, and it was the best experience ever! The online search option saved me so much time, and each section is clearly marked with tall signs. The lot numbers are painted on the curb, so you know exactly where to go. What is often an hours-long process turned into less than half an hour. I was also impressed by how well-maintained the entire cemetery is, with every stone easy to see. I felt like my ancestors were truly respected. Bethania is a genealogist's dream and an example of what every cemetery should strive to be.

Cemeteries all hold priceless history as well as the final resting place of our loved ones. Holy…read moreCross Cemetery is predominantly Polish in heritage as the entrance pillars also read Holy Cross in the language of the Poles. There is also a large Croatian section. Many Irish, Italians, Mexicans are also interred at Holy Cross as all are welcome to this Catholic cemetery. Band leader Gene Krupa and Speck murder victim, Gloria Davy are buried here too. Beautiful grounds and stunning mausoleum complex. The office is an architecturally significant structure. Great staff and cemetery workers make your visit go well. Lovely well kept grounds. Rest in Peace loved ones.

Well maintained, easy to navigate, with helpful staff…read more (I don't know what else one is supposed to review a cemetery on?)

Very nice facility Warm comfortable feeling…read more Courteous staff Nice decor ample parking

In February, my family faced the hardest days of our lives when my father passed away unexpectedly…read more We reached out to Lawn Funeral Home because they are located right around the corner from our home. From the moment we sat down with Dan to make the arrangements, we immediately felt comfortable and supported. Dan guided us through everything with compassion and expertise. He was incredibly knowledgeable about my father's military benefits -- something we hadn't even thought about -- and he even went with us to the cemetery to help with those arrangements. Dan also coordinated the church services and luncheon, taking so much off our shoulders during an overwhelming time. The wake and funeral services were truly beautiful. The facility is clean, modern, and very well-kept. The staff was wonderful, and the slideshow they created was absolutely beautiful. Even a week later, when I returned to pick up the death certificates, the kindness and care from the staff remained just as genuine. It's heartbreaking that we needed these services, but I am so grateful that we chose Lawn Funeral Home. They made an incredibly devastating time as smooth and comforting as possible.

We felt that she didnt look like her picture. Was told they would provide pall barriers and at…read morethe cementry was asked if we have any volunteers. Was told they can't open the casket at the cementry, so asked the funeral director to take pictures; well he forgot, so we didnt have any pictures. Paid for extra flowers for the side of the casket at the cementry. That wasn't provide. So, we paid for something that we didnt get. Please do better and pay attention to the details that customers ask. Will never go back to this funeral home.

Attended a very nice service here. The space is decorated very tastefully and very bright and open…read more One of the nicer memorials home around.

So I decided to do my weekly graveyard hunts. This time I though i'd to check out the old Mayor…read moreDaley's stomping ground. Yes, I found it. To think, he was one of Chicago Mayor's from 1955 to 1976. He was Chicago's longest-serving Mayor until he was outdone by his son, Richard M. Daley, who left office in 2011 after serving over 22 years. I was totally amazed at how this cemetery made it easy to find the Mayor. Amongst others that are also buried here. But to be honest, he is not the one I came for. I am an avid graveyard buff as everyone in my circle knows. From taking beautiful photos of statues; to investigating and making videos of other paranormal. Many think its weird, but I love to be eclectic in life. So the reason I came here was to investigate Little Mary Alice Quinn who over the years was dubbed as Chicago's 'Miracle Child'. Although born in 1920 she lived for a very short time when she died in 1936. Many have reported seeing her spirit and she is also credited with healing's. So of course I had to investigate for myself. I know what are the chances that I could get a miracle, but whatever I had to see her grave for myself. I happend to get a few EVP's, but nothing substantial. Although it is a summer day (early evening), I found her grave site but nothing out of the ordinary except that people have left toys and little dolls for the child. I guess in hopes of getting ahead of the line in miracles. Others have stated that you can smell the scent of roses, but on this day I didn't get that perception. This was supposedly after all, her favorite flower. I think that this resting place overall is really nice and well manicured. Although a bit far, it is a beautiful sanctuary. I got to visit my friend who is buried here, and had the chance to see the final resting place of one of Chicago's Major Mayors. And of course, Mary Alice. Summer time is for sure a time where if you like nature, check out this cemetery. Walk the grounds but expect to get plenty of sun. It is just a place to meditate and understand that death is not the end, after all if this Cemetery can look this good, you will definitely have visitors when you are gone. Please though, don't get locked in, cemetery hours are posted and this place can make you for some reason, lose track of time.

They could improve there customer service! The employees are usually very rude-and not very helpful…read moreespecially when people are dealing with tragedies. My family made a mistake getting plots at this cemetery!