Spring Grove — Attraction in Cincinnati

Lynay Straughn is an exceptional human being and an exemplary funeral director. We had a sweet and memorable funeral service filled with tears and joy. She crafted a posh, customized funeral experience with precision sensitivity to our family’s unique needs and preferences. She and her staff were attentive at every turn and exceeded expectations with our pre-service planning. Furthermore, her network of specialty vendors providing support services is excellent. She is an amazing connector; providing the needed referrals for a well-rounded service. One of which included a national recording artist, whose music simply lifted our hearts. Lynay's tech staff elevated the obituary concepts and photo slide show that our family created. They were also accommodating to change and adapt to include new requests. Our grieving family was delighted to see the video, pictures and hear select music honoring our late father during the service: there were laugh out loud moments. The burial was stately and serene along a beautifully landscaped hillside. Our repass was lighthearted and social; good food in their spacious event center. The portions of leftover food were packaged up by the staff and we took them home. Lynay’s follow-up was unexpected and moving. She called to ask about how our family was doing, while communicating next steps in post-service options. She mentioned a community grief support group - Grief to Peace - offered through Spring Grove, with other community events including their Lantern Lighting service coming up in September, and the holiday wreath of remembrance in December. As agonizing as this death has been, I’m grateful for the Spring Grove standard in honoring our father, and their compassionate care for our family throughout...

Initially, I had spoken/left messages to 3 different advisors (2 female and 1 male) about purchasing an “opening and closing” for my parent’s lawn crypt. In all fairness, the male did return my call after my visit to the cemetery, however, I could not reach him. I drove down from Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

I was under so much stress because I was told your prices would increase 2025. No one would take the time to even take my payment. Well, I discovered later why.

After about a couple months, I decided to go to your website and find someone who I thought would listen and help me. Someone I felt who would call me back and understand I was a serious buyer. I selected “Venita E. Brown”. Let me tell you, she is top notch, pays attention to detail, has great communication skills, and delivered what she promised! She treated me with respect and dignity.

I had put off purchasing this since I was told I needed to purchase the “opening and closing”when it was 500$; about 30 years ago. I had made many visits to see my father.

At first, Venita could not find my father’s information (which I now suspect the other consultan couldn’t and gave up). Venita Brown told me she would find my parents lawn crypt and get in touch with me after gathering and verifying their information. She did it! My father purchased that crypt in 1979. She wrote up the contract and after some corrections, payment was sent immediately!

Thank you Ms. Venita E. Brown. You are an asset and jewel for Spring...

Spring Grove Cemetery is a very important Cincinnati landmark and per cemetery website, "one of the largest non-profit' cemeteries in the united States. Until late 2020 the cemetery offered a genealogy link via the springgrove.org website providing free access to original burial record cards for most burials from the foundation of the cemetery until the late 1970's. This link was a rich, valuable resource for family, amatur researchers, and those trying to preserve our local cemetery histories. When the cemetery website was recently updated and this link was removed with no explanation. There is now a notice on this 'non-profit' cemetery website that these previously (easily) available records are only available for a charge. This means that ONLY those families, historians and genealogical researchers with FINANCIAL MEANS can access these records. This also means that the records are only available IF cemetery office team responds to requests which is inconsistent at best. This is a great disappointment to anyone working hard to document and preserve our cemetery histories, especially this important, public, non-profit Cincinnati treasure. I certainly hope that this $5 a document fee, which for information that used to be immediately, easily available, now not so much is super profitable to you president/CEO Gary Freytag. Nice "leadership"...