Elm Ridge Funeral Home and Memorial Park

My mother died on April 3, in Indianapolis and Elm Ridge in Muncie handled the arrangements because my mother had a grave plot in that cemetery with my stepfather Both the visitation and the funeral were held on April 8th In planning the services, we asked that specific songs and music be played along with the video during the visitation which was right before the service On the day of the funeral, there was no music or songs during the entire visitation The only music was when a woman sat down and started playing the piano right before the actual service Right after the funeral, I pointed out to funeral home personnel that we paid for songs and music and I got an apology with the explanation that "we forgot." I did receive a refund of $but I can't help but wonder whether the money would have been refunded if I had not caught the mistake and asked about the cost
The second thing that happened is that the funeral home sent me and my two siblings a dvd of the videoThe cover of the dvd had my mother's birth year and death year as Again, I pointed it out and that was finally corrected
The third thing that happened has to do with bookmarks During the visitation, there was a sign and employees pointing out that anyone who signed a card and provided his/her address would receive a complimentary, free, bookmark complete with my mother's obituary on it The sign stated, "Simply fill out a card, drop it in a basket and we will deliver it to you." I actually have a picture of the complete offer and instructions When time passed and those I knew of in my family had not received bookmarks, I emailed Steve Massengill, the funeral home manager or directorI emailed him on May 22nd and he ignored meI emailed him on June 9th and he ignored me againWhile I was out of state, a package of bookmarks arrivedIncluded in the envelope was a letter from Gary Y***, a family service counselorHe apologized for us not getting "the first batch we sent out." First batch? I never received a thing nor did anyone else in my family but any other correspondence from Elm Ridge was delivered with no problemI have doubts that a first batch was ever sent
When I returned to Minnesota, I called Elm Ridge at the end of June I spoke with a woman and I asked her how I was supposed to know who signed a card and wanted a bookmark and furthermore, how I would know the addresses I also reminded her that this was something Elm Ridge was supposed to do--not me! On July 2nd, I got a call from a woman with the caller ID having the name Steve M***l and the woman asked me about a death certificate I wantedI asked her what she was talking about; I called about bookmarksShe mentioned my brother and I told her he has a different phone number This woman had also said she was sure the funeral home still had the names and addresses of those who wanted a memorial bookmark
On July 22nd, I was contacted by a person who had been at the visitation and funeral and she asked about the bookmarkI spent all day today trying to figure out who wanted them other than family and where to mail themI also wrote a review on the Elm Ridge website and posted it to googleMy last step is to find out if funeral homes are governed by some of board and I am going to report it there, too
I am still tangled up in the responsibilities Elm Ridge had and my mother has been dead over three monthsI cannot prove it but I feel none of the above issues or mistakes would have been addressed if I had not said somethingI can't help but wonder about whether the charges for the service and visitation were correct because it has been a string of oversights and mistakes because my trust in this funeral home was destroyed
I feel the behavior was disrespectful, unprofessional and unconscionableIt feels like being taken advantage of when at your most vulnerable I know the funeral home is not registered with the Revdex.com, but I did want to write thisMaybe someone else might be helped by it