I contacted St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery (River Grove) about adding a porcelain/color photo to my brother's flat, lawn-level headstone. I was told attachments are not allowed on flat markers here. I respect rules, but I've also seen other flat markers with porcelain portraits on these grounds. I asked about an exception/waiver, offered to sign a hold-harmless and take full responsibility, and was told waivers aren't being granted for that. Separately, I learned that marble headstones aren't permitted. I had already ordered a marble marker online (while grieving--who thinks to check every material rule at that moment?). It was shipped and then denied. I paid for the plot and simply wanted a custom marker that honored my loved one, but the rules are far more restrictive than many families expect. If you're considering burial here, please know: Color/porcelain photos are not allowed on flat markers (even though there are clearly flat grave markers with full color portraits). Marble is not accepted (ask what materials are approved), and you must get written design approval before ordering anything. I also found the Memorialization Department interactions more personal than service-oriented. What families need is basic compassion and grace during a very hard time. read more

My wife and I both have grandparents at St Joseph's cemetery. My wife's father and uncle are also there. We were having an issue finding her father and uncle when we visited recently. The representative, Kristy Jones, was extremely helpful in assisting us to find them. We were frustrated but she had such a positive attitude and it really put us at ease that day. The cemetery grounds are very well kept but it was people like Kristy that really made the difference for us that day. Thank you Kristy!! read more

St. Joseph's Cemetery was established as St. Boniface--two blocks from my own home--began to reach capacity, this cemetery was established for the German community in the area. Amongst the notable folks interred here are Lester Gillis, also known as Baby Face Nelson. After the Battle of Barrington in which he sustained mortal wounds, he succumbed to them in a town that is now called Skokie (then Niles Center). Buried under his real name, he rests with his wife and parents. He appears to have visitors on occasion, as when I visited this cemetery there were beer cans at his grave. For those interested in sculpture, architecture, or cemeteries, Jules Berchem is also buried here. He owned a bronze foundry and worked with many artists to create large statues of their work. Those who have visited Graceland Cemetery may be familiar with Eternal Silence, perhaps the most famous work to leave his foundry. read more

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This Cemetery seems really really nice. it's beautiful and the staff are very professional and helpful. Last week when my family member made the appointment to have my father put in the Mausoleum someone who is a new employee who made the appointment either didn't realize it was on a Sunday or didn't know no one worked on a Sunday there and so everything with my father's funeral got messed up ! we had no priest to come to the funeral home and we had to take his cremation remains back home with us and come back the next day for the burial. It was beyond inconvenient, it added more to the grieving. Plus I had to change my flight back home to 2 days later because the time they had was to late in the afternoon. I missed work as well as the rest my family having to rearrange there job and schedules. we were unable to bury my father on Sunday and this was all the fault and incompetence of the new employee at St. Joseph Cemetery. This is a big big big mistake to make!! And they did not try to compensate us either in anyway which I found very disappointing!! On a good note there is a large variety to choose from with the Mausoleums and I really like there is a section just for babies at the cemetery grounds. I think that they need to do more up keep and I noticed that there was a lot of things there still from Christmas time on the head Stones and flat stones thst had not been cleaned up so I thought that it was a bit cluttered and needed some yardwork. The grounds are very nice and I love that they have pamphlets for Polish speaking people. I have several family members buried here and I think if they do a good job but things need to be tweaked a little bit more to make it but so far I've seen all the employees even the groundsman extremely professional! Minus the major mistake made in every way possible by the New Employee!! read more

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I guess once you have paid they don't want to talk to you anymore. I left a voicemail one week ago, my daughter called several times and sent an email. Crickets. read more

In addition to a very beautiful day; for some reason amazing karma followed me wherever I went. After a consult meeting in the area I stopped to visit a kind friend who died 2 months ago. I'm sure many of you have been in similar situations: where in the sadness of a moment you think you know where you are; but weeks later when you return, you can't find where you were at all. Such was the case today. But it wasn't just the many souls there who seemed to be looking out for me. A wonderful woman in the business office steered me in the right direction. And when I walked back and forth and back and forth with my miniature map in hand, pulling 4 inch heels out of the grass, not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 cemetery workers came to help me find the grave site I had been sweating, looking for. It took all 5 of us at least 25 minutes. Maybe I looked sad. Maybe they knew I wouldn't leave til I found him. As I thanked them for their help, even though they all looked like they could have used a Gatorade, they all smiled and said, "That's what we're here for". No doubt in my mind that this particular scenario repeats itself for all of them, each week, many times over. Thank you doesn't seem to cover it. read more

Cemetery is historic, but really is showing it's age and could obviously be better maintained. Many final resting spots are so overgrown with grass and weeds that the souls there are just "lost." Many of my relatives on my dad's side are buried here, and we come out to the cemetery about twice a year. We maintain the grave stones and trim/edge around the stones. A quick walk around though will show that so many stones (probably thousands) have become so overrun with grass, crab-grass, weeds, and sinking/shifting - that one can barely see the stones. It does look kinda bad. In fairness, I understand the cemetery cannot be responsible for maintaining every single grave. Many of these people have been long dead and it's safe to say many of their younger relatives or family may also be dead. Nobody may be left, or care enough, to maintain these people's final resting areas. That being said, I am thinking a better system could be put into place though for at least some "middle-ground" type of compromise to rectify some of this disrepair. Perhaps volunteer work or maybe some kind of "occasional pay service" where the family of the deceased can pay say $50 a year to have their family's plots tidied up. Many of the roads can also be repaired or patched up. The buildings around the cemetery are still nice, and one administrative building actually has washrooms (in very great shape I may add) open 24-7. This is obviously a perk if you find yourself in the middle of a journey and after visiting loved ones you are far from home and need to utilize the restrooms. All in all, still a decent cemetery considering how old it is. Some obvious improvements can be made though to help this cemetery survive even a decade or so into the future. read more

My Family could have chosen any cemetery they wanted to,starting with the 1st of us laid to rest. They chose St.Joseph. Today I choose St Joseph. Sure the grass gets a little messy and the grave stones tend to sink. It would take hundreds of workers to remedy that. I bought one of the last crypts today and thanked my lucky stars that they had one. Gemma K. said amazing karma followed her every where She went after a visit to the grave of a recently passed friend. I know, I felt it the moment I saw My crypt. read more

I have been going to St Joseph for many years to see relative and friends. ANY it never changes. While some may think that this is a good thing, I can say that this operation needs to look at the infrastructure of their roads within the cemetery. They are slanted, in need to repair and leaves a bad impression on ones mind. Chunks of asphalt are missing and some are just thrown about. In addition. I asked a cemetery worked where the Cross is located in teh cemetery and he said " We dont have one", Thats another cemetery. Knowing he is wrong, and i elected nothing more, I asked another worker and was directed to where the cross is located. This is just a so so cemetery. Look elsewhere. read more

I went into the cemetery as I just happened to be passing by. I made a quick phone call to the office; they invited me to come in. in the office I was given a printout of exactly the section and the grave location as well as given instructions how to get right over there. Thanks guys! read more