The first time I visited this cemetery was several years ago, and for a very specific purpose: To…read moreattend a concert in the columbarium near Halloween. That was when I first learned what a columbarium is (a place for cremains to be placed). Most often these are outdoor resting places, but this indoor one has a large chapel-like area inside. There are benches near the wall niches for one to visit their loved ones. Bohemian National Cemetery is a major graveyard in the city. Its origins lie in discrimination. After the Great Fire, a woman who was a member of Chicago's Bohemian community was refused burial at one of the Catholic cemeteries. Bohemian in the 19th century did not have the same meaning it has in 2022; the area once considered Bohemia is now Czechia. Thousands of members of this immigrant community worked to establish the cemetery, which saw its first burial in 1877. Bohemian National Cemetery is not affiliated with a specific religion. Upon arrival at this cemetery, you'll see one of its most unique features: The funeral bell that still hangs within the stone cemetery gate. Every other funeral bell in a Chicago cemetery has been removed and/or replaced. I'm not sure, however, if it still tolls when a funeral procession passes through the cemetery. There are several sculptures throughout the cemetery by the artist Albin Polasek. Amongst them is The Pilgrim, just in front of one of the family tombs, and Mother, which is directly in front of the columbarium. I was surprised to find the Beyond the Vines is really a wild monument. Made to replicate the outfield wall at Wrigley Field, major Cubs fans can be interred in this outdoor columbarium. Ivy covers the wall, and there are stadium seats on the west side of the monument for people when visiting. Lastly, this cemetery is home to a memorial for the victims of the Eastland disaster. In 1915, the Eastland was docked and ready to set off for the annual picnic of a local electric company. The ship never left the dock; rather, it capsized where it was docked near Clark Street. 844 people lost their life--and amongst those, 22 full families perished. On the 100th anniversary of this tragedy a memorial was unveiled to those who died that day. Bohemian cemetery is certainly historical and has some very interesting monuments and sculptures, and is a must-visit for any taphophile. However, it's a bit unkempt in some areas, and rumor has it they don't allow tours through here any longer because someone on a prior tour stepped into a dip and hurt themselves. So if you do visit, be careful.

The office receptionist is awful. I called to obtain information on my grandmother. I was told to…read morecall back in 15 minutes because she was using another program on her computer and couldn't look it up. I called back 20 minutes later and she hung up the call, then called again to be put on hold for 10 minutes...no joke. I called back and she asked for my information and said she'd look it up and call back. I ended up going to the cemetery about 45 minutes later and she was on a personal phone call talking loudly until she realized someone was in the office. Lack of professionalism and sensitivity to the whole situation.

Montrose Cemetery on the north side has a particularly interesting history. I've seen it many…read moretimes, as I live fewer than two miles away; however, I've never know much about it. I took a self-tour of it recently to change that. Montrose is one of the trio of cemeteries on Pulaski between Foster and Peterson, with the other two being Saint Luke and Bohemian National cemeteries. Montrose is the youngest of the three, established in 1902. The cemetery was owned by Andrew Kirchner, who owned a funeral home, and is still an independent cemetery owned by his descendants. They did not have a One of the early burials was a victim of the Iroquois Theatre Fire, which was one of the deadliest fires in US history (if you're unfamiliar, I highly suggest reading about it). Of the over 600 victims, nearly all were claimed in the months following the tragedy--all but one, a woman who was never identified even though hundreds of people visited her over the course of six months. She was interred here in Montrose in a casket engraved The Unknown. Kirschner donated his services and the plot to this unfortunate victim. Today, there is a diamond-shaped Iroquois Memorial on the site, erected five years after the fire. Another unique monument here is a mausoleum placed by the Japanese Mutual Aid Society. That organization began purchasing several lots for use by people of Japanese descent in Chicago, so that they would have a place to be buried; the group also covered burial fees for those who were unable to afford burial. In the years surrounding World War II, there was growing anti-Japanese sentiment even as hundreds of thousands of Japanese Americans came to the city, and these somewhat prescient actions on behalf of the JMAS to help their community were indeed an important measure to take. The Society acquired more plots and there are two sections of the cemetery that are dedicated to people of Japanese heritage, as well as a sitting area for quiet reflection. In addition to the large number of Japanese Americans buried here, there are a lot of people of Eastern European descent here too. There is an incredibly large memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide. It's a relatively new addition, installed around 2000. There are elaborate memorials to some of the religious leaders of one or more Eastern European Christian denominations as well.

Office staff not friendly. You have to call for appointment and you can see people sitting in the…read moreoffice and they won't answer the door. We asked a groundskeeper for a map and they said we had to call the office just for a map but you can literally see people just chatting in the building. You would think given the situation staff would be overly nice to help a person grieving.

The folks at K&B are super! Very helpful, very personable. Very customer oriented…read more Eric patiently walked me through the monument/headstone choices. Their showroom/office has many examples so that you can actually see what things look like. They are clearly craftsmen with a long pedigree of creating that special monument/headstone for your family member (or yourself if you are panning in advance. For most of us, needing to think about a monument/headstone comes at a very difficult time. The folks at K&B understand this and calmly work with you to make choices that you will feel good about over the long-term. They are very service oriented.

I used them in my hour of need. They were very nice, sweet and courteous. The Manager Eric…read moreSommerfield is on of the nicest people in the world. My wife passed away recently and her Father, Mother and Brother passed away in the mid 1980's. Kornick did the original memorials. I needed a headstone that matched the other 3 and I also needed a family marker carved with a name and design added to it. I stressed to Eric everything needed to match. The granite was special order and Eric took personal charge of my orders. He worked with me personally and sent me drawings which we revised and sent back and forth. Finally he sent me a pix of the family marker and it was an identical match. He went to the cemetary and took pictures along the way. Finally the head stone was finished and laid and he sent me more pictures. I felt confident of completion with Eric working with me. He sent documents along the way double and triple checking everything. It still a terrible time for me but Kornick Monuments and Eric Sommerfield has made my life a little easier.

I have attended multiple funerals at this location, unfortunately. However, lovely experience with…read morethis funeral home and staff. Would definitely recommend.

This is the Muzyka Funeral Home that shines the brightest. Whether you're coming to pay your last…read morerespects to a friend, burying a loved one or a vendor coming in through the back door, you are genuinely welcomed, greeted with a smile, treated with dignity and met with professionalism. The staff is very accommodating, helpful and not badgering. A spacious interior, tastefully appointed with ample parking on site. Wonderful! This is a people friendly funeral home. A class act! There is nothing dysfunctional at this funeral home, no pecking order and a staff that is totally polite, sincere and welcoming. No mean people working here! When I go, and hopefully not too soon! Years and years down the road.. :) .... This Ukrainian is coming to this Muzyka Funeral Home on Lawrence Avenue. If they treat you right while you're alive, you can count on them taking care of you respectfully at your funeral.

I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the level of service Dawn and Michael at Gibbons…read moreFuneral Home. They were patient, kind, compassionate and considerate of our family's needs at the most difficult point in our lives. Dawn went above and beyond our highest expectations and thought of everything. She made the process seem so effortless in the hardest parts. The value and quality of the services provided are well worth the cost. Our family will definitely recommend Gibbons in the future. Thank you, Helen, Keri, Neil, and Tracy Poston

All I can say is when we were driving to the cemetery the lady Isabel did a really good job…read morestopping oncoming traffic

Do not use for your funeral needs. My husband passed and I signed to release his body to this…read morefuneral home. I had scheduled a tour of the funeral home 3 days later. I realized at the tour this was not the facility I wanted to use so I asked the owner how the body would be transferred to the home I did want to use to which he informs me " oh we don't have the body" I was shocked. I was not informed his body was never picked up. In fact the day he passed he informed me his body would be picked up. Months later I attend a funeral for a friend and we were waiting for the ashes for the mass. I was asked to call to see the ETA so I called and the answering service said " Tim is on vacation, he says their is a miscommunication." HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN!!!! Do not use them.

We came to Chicago on the death of my father under very awkward circumstances. Barr Funeral Home…read morewas chosen for us accidentally but I will forever be grateful to Tim for his dedication, commitment, responsiveness, thoughtfulness and professionalism in handling my father's passing and cremation. He and his staff allowed me and my family to be fully present during this emotional, difficult time.

Very caring place to have a loved one placed! They are kind, compassionate and go the extra mile…read moreto see that everyone is comfortable during such a sad time. I would highly recommend!

Highly recommend this funeral home for your loved one's services. Steve and his team are…read moreprofessional and very efficient. They were able to accommodate most, if not all, of my family's requests. They have several chapels to choose from but all were clean and more modern than other funeral homes I've been to. Thank you Cumberland Chapels for being able to send my father off in a dignified and compassionate way.

My father passed away last month and we chose Shalom Memorial for his funeral service and burial…read more While I have never had to choose a funeral home before, I don't think I could be more pleased with our experience. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. Before his passing, we had an initial visit with Michael regarding plot selection and he was helpful with helping us pick the location that best met our needs. No pressure, just a friendly visit and discussion. After he passed, we then worked with Sherry and Arlene to purchase the plot, casket, vault, shroud, death certificates, etc. The cost was substantial, but I imagine it is likely in line with other Jewish cemeteries in the area. Included in the cost is perpetual care of the grounds so there are no additional fees down the road. The chapel for his service was very nice and all of the people working there that day were super friendly. They live streamed his service which many in my family used. They also provided the ability to download the service which I decided to do. Shalom Memorial received the death certificates a few days afterwards from the village and we picked them right away so we could begin sending them to those who needed them. I really can't think of anything that I didn't like or was disappointed in.

My father passed away on December 18, 2025. The Elk Grove police department recommended Shalom. We…read morewanted a Jewish funeral home in the area that would work with our unusual circumstances (we aren't all Jewish, we might have had to postpone the funeral, my father wanted a simple service and no burial, and we have an unusual family structure). While this process is always difficult, it couldn't have been easier or more smooth. Tony was wonderful: caring, thoughtful, resourceful, patient, and quick. He moved us through the decision-making process easily, recommended a rabbi and a Shiva location, and made things happen. The services were beautiful and meaningful, and our pain was eased because there was no additional stress. Many thanks from the Sandler family.