Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel & Oaklawn Cemetery

We met with Ivy and she gave us all the prices for the funeral home services, but with the caveat that any expenses from outside 3rd parties may fluctuate. When we saw the cost of the caterers who work with the funeral home, we were shocked. $895 for 75 meatballs. Not meatballs to feed 75 people; literally 75 individual meatballs. So, we decided to go entirely with a 3rd party caterer. When she came back with the total cost, it was going to be $5,750 for buffet service for 100 people. I paid the cost, but a day later requested to see the itemized receipt for the catering. The funeral home refused to provide an itemized receipt for almost $6,000 worth of food. $57 per head for buffet style catering. She claimed that because we used an outside caterer that there is additional insurance and liability required. These people are crooks preying on the bereaved. Do not trust them. They use duplicitous language by telling you that all of the funeral home costs are included and then refuse to provide documentation for the 3rd party costs.

I have had an amazing experience with Oaklawn Cemetery on two separate needs over the past year and a half. Oaklawn is well maintained and serenely beautiful, in a highly desirable location within a beautiful area of Jacksonville. My family has owned plots for a century, and I needed support and guidance in selling two of them to private buyers. Secondly, my boss and his wife assigned me to research and locate grave plots they might purchase near to his parents, who are buried in Oaklawn. I have been so very grateful to work with an amazingly gracious, kind, patient, knowledgeable and trustworthy representative, Nicole Ruff, who put in so much effort on our behalf over an extended period of time. Nicole is a woman of integrity who always communicated respectfully and positively. I recommend her highly and the company behind Oaklawn Cemetery, Dignity Memorial.

Hardage Giddens Oaklawn Cemetery and Chapel handled my husband’s Celebration of Life beautifully. Every detail that evening was beyond any expectations that I had. Everything they said they would do was done and more. Every single person that I dealt with was courteous, kind and understanding. Phyllis Gregory, Daniel Geoghagan, all the funeral staff that night and office staff made a very difficult time much easier for me and my family.

So our turn finally rolled around to plan for our funeral arrangements. We wanted to do exactly what my parents did for my sister and me. They had pre-planned and paid for all of their services. When they passed, we didn’t have to do anything other than pick out the flowers. Everything was done. So we just did that with the guidance and help of Tom Harris and his team. It couldn't have been easier and now we have beautiful plots in a gorgeous location. Everything has been planned and paid for. I can't stress the importance of taking this burden off of your family. Do it now ... while you can. There will be no regrets and nothing but peace of mind. Thank you Tom! You're the best!

Oaklawn is the cemetery that we have always considered for our burials. Jennifer was very helpful. She was polite, professional and thorough. There was a little mix-up on the site we chose first and it wasn't available. We considered a second site but had reservations about it. She continued working with us and for us and found a site and headstone we liked and ultimately decided to purchase it.