Olinger Highland Mortuary and Cemetery

Years ago my wife bought a preplanned funeral from Olinger. Later I decided to get one also so I signed up, and paid for a preplanned funeral through them. My wife died in 2008, I had her body shipped to Denver they took care of everything. In 2013 I tried to transfer my plan to Salt Lake City area where I live. They insisted I had no such plan. I found the pink copy of the paperwork that I signed and tried to make headway again. In 2014 I drove to Denver just to meet with them. Still nothing they said for sure they would stay on top and find the exact paperwork in their files, we NEVER heard from them again.\r Two weeks ago we sent two more copies to them showing I AM the insured policy holder, no answer.\r What a way to run a business !!!!! more

We live in KC MO about 10 hours one way, we flew our uncle out but, I drove my 85 yr old uncle out in the car we made the trip out and back in 3 days. our funeral director was on the phone with me on and off all the way out there making sure all was as we wanted, she arranged a miliary funeral for us in 2 days, then called on on Thursday evening to make sure we made it home. I would highly recomend this place on a scale from 1-10 i give it a 15. more

jvela, I am so glad that you posted your message, because I am experiencing the exact same thing. My father's head stone is missing his vase and when I called Olinger, they had a groundskeeper call me back and he told me that I am responsible for replacing the vase. However, he was kind enough to tell me that I need to file a stolen property report with the Thornton/Northglenn police. He said they had a problem with thieves stealing the vases and cashing them in. I told them how do we know that they are not the ones cashing it in and making us buy a new one. Later, I was fortunate enough to talk to a manager at Olinger and he explained that when my parents paid for their plot, the legaleze stated that the headstone belongs to them and my parents have the right to remvoe the headstone whenever they want. In addition, what they had paid for was a spot for the remains to be buried and the up-keep of the area. I was very disappointed, but know I have a better understanding. Also, the manager told me that they hand out ""environmentally-friendly"" vases at the front desk for free. I think it stinks that they don't take responsiblity for what happens on their property, but he is correct in that it is a criminal act. Our family has decided file a police report and not replace the vase. We will use their ""green"" vases. more

i purchased a headstone with the vase for my brothers plot umpteen years ago and has not been bothered, but over the last few months the vase has gone missing along with my uncle's. i went to the office and asked who is responsible for replacing it and they said it was my responsibility which i disagreed. she preceeded to let me know that once i purchased the property it was no longer there concern to replace or fix what was on their prooperty. am i wrong or should it be their responsibility? should this not be protected by the property of the cemetary. this woman was so uncaring and so disconerned i couldn't believe it. so if i am to purchase another vase and it continues to get stolen who's making the money here. this is not just my brothers vase and my uncle's this is many vases throughout the cemetary. more

Over the years, my wife and I have dealt with Olinger several times for family members. When my wife was diagnosed with brain cancer 5 years ago, we decided to plan ahead and purchase our lots ahead of time so our children wouldn't be left with that burden. When my wife passed away recently I contacted Tom and from our initial meeting until everything was completed, he and Leslie could not have been more helpful, caring and compassionate. They explained everything that needed to be done and were always available for any questions I had. They followed up with phone calls and made sure this very difficult time was made as easy as possible with dignity and care. Everyone we dealt with, right down to the limosine drivers made sure my family, who included some elderly relatives, were safe and comfortable on a very cold and slick winter day of the funeral. All of the paperwork was handled quickly and without any complications. To make a horribly difficult time even worse, my father passed away 3 weeks later in another state. He wanted to be buried in Denver and when we contacted Tom about having him transfered to Denver, he made all the arrangements to receive him when he arrived and helped arrange the military service at Fort Logan. Again they helped provided my family with a beautiful and very dignified memorial service. They even had set up a viewing at their facility which we did not expect and provided some late arriving family members the opportunity to say goodbye. Thank you. more

In what is one of the most difficult times in a person's life the employees at Olinger Highland Mortuary, specifically Gina, make it harder. In order to settle the affairs of a loved one who has passed, we need a copy of the death certificate. I was told it would take ten days from the date of passing. We paid for 2 certified copies and then waited. We waited, and we waited. Several calls to the front desk, with the same answer ""it has not come in yet"", but no suggestion of when it might be coming, what was wrong or any help at all. So I call the coroner’s office, they say that the mortuary picked one up when they picked up the body, so they should have one. Back and forth, with no resolution. After four weeks, I am put in touch with Gina, who is rude and short and snippy and says that I have to order a copy of the death certificate. I had already ordered and paid for 2 death certificates, but now I have to order another one and it won't be ready for three more days. Then I call after 4 days, to find out that they sent the certificate, rather than allowing me to pick it up as I requested, so now it will be at least another day to get it. Horrible, horrible service. I have never dealt with anyone as rude and unacceptable as Gina, and if I had to choose again, we would never use any Olinger Mortuary Service! Beware! Cons: Rude, short and incompetent employees more

We went to Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetary several weeks prior to my mother's passing to make arrangements ahead of time to help eliminate the burden and stress that most folks face when their loved one dies. The first initial visit, they were very pleasant in helping to coordinate the arrangements. However, once they were paid, everything went south from there. Two day's after mother's passing we wet back to finalize the arrangements for the creamation and that's where the trouble began. The paperwork was never completely filled out, thus delaying the engraving and ordering of the headstone. We were informed that a temporary plaque would be placed on mom's stone until the engraver could come out to do the final engraving, and this would take place prior to the cremation service. On our arrival to the service, we noticed no plaque had been installed. Several days afterwards, we went back to inquire and spoke to the sales associate that helped us and was told he would get it ordered and it would be in within a few days. To make a long story short, it took us 4 follow-up visits, multiple phone calls, and 6 weeks, only to never receive the 'temporary' plaque on mom's headstone. We had explained that we were very upset because mom at least deserved an identity and that other family members could locate her in the gardens. After more calls to the Corporate and regional office, we were informed that the plaque would be mailed to us and that they had put in a request to have the engraver come out to add the finishing touches. Needless to say, we had to go back, time and time again to be greated by the sales associate, to hear multiple excusses. The best being that it was on back order. Upon our last visit, we noticed that the headstone down from ours had a temporary plaque and had been ordered after ours was. Why is it that if it was on back order, they received theirs, but we had not. We spoke to the receptionist and were informed that the plaque had not been received, not had the deed been typed out. We had requested that the salesman contact us immediately. Only then were we told that the plaques were on his desk and that the deed had been typed out the day before.....Excuses, Excuses, Excuses. Ironically, they are suppose to personally deliver the deed and plaques to day. We will see if it happen's or if it is another excuse. I would strongly deter anyone from using Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetary if possible. For the actual Celebration of Life Service and Reception, we used Horan and McConaty. They definately went over and beyond and we couldn;'t have been more pleased with the service we recieved from them. more

My father died in 1984 and was buried at Olinger Highland Cemetery. It was in good shape then - the lawn was well-watered and the trees were green. When my mother died in 2005, we returned to the cemetery to bury her. \r \r The cemetery is overrun with prairie dogs who have made holes everywhere. It is sickening to see tunnels dug through the graves. It is not a place you would want your loved ones to be buried and you certainly wouldn't want to visit them there. Unfortunately, my parents had paid for their plots many years ago so there was no choice.\r \r Aside from the prairie dogs, the grass is dead in very many places as are the trees. The cemetery looks more like an old western abandoned cemetery in a ghost town than a modern cemetery.\r \r There ought to be a law preventing such poor care of graves. If there is, I hope some resident of the area will bring this to the attention of the proper legal authorities. The only safe resting places are the above ground mausoleums.\r \r The place is disgusting! Pros: Nothing at all Cons: Prarie dogs dig thru graves, dead grass and trees, disgusting more