Wallace Broadview Funeral Home

After a horrible experience in 2010 following the death of my mother Wallace Broadview was definitely a step up. On April 29^th I found my 61yr old brother dead in his apartment. The police told me the body was being released to me and who did I want to pickup the body? Who… I went into a tail spin, my brother wasn’t responding to my phone calls now I’m asked who do I want to take his body! I don’t know but definitely not the same people that took care of my mother!!! I called my sister and she suggested Wallace. Rory came to get the body, he was pleasant and offered his condolences. Since the ME had not examined the body we were instructed to go home and wait for a call.
When called, I went to the funeral home. The first thing I noticed was several signs that said we only take money orders, cashier checks, cash or insurance and payment plans are not an option! I was so angry I told my husband I should pay them in singles… better yet have an armored truck deliver payment in pennies! Once I got over my anger and lack of information about how the insurance company could pay for the funeral cost I went to the bank and got a cashier’s check for payment.
When the question was asked about military service I told Rory my brother was in the Marines, he asked for his discharge papers. DISCHARGE PAPERS, INSURANCE POLICY!!! I’m on a paper chase. You know what my brother needs to be cared for and I don’t have time to look for all the things they are asking for. They ask but don’t help you navigate the process. A friend directed me to the office of veteran affairs and they were very helpful. I was given a copy of the procedure funeral home should follow for veterans. We did have a veteran with honors gravesite service and a flag draped coffin. Linda is the one who assist with vets but I never spoke to her.
We had a video presentation. A large flat screen TV and VCR was brought in for the visitation and wake. The facility is dated and the layout is poor. I had to walk through someone’s service to get to the office. Overall everyone was nice and pleasant. They really do accommodate your requests but you have to ask. Would I use them again, yes. I would like them to be more informative since funerals are not easy to plan and it’s not a thing you do every day. So much nicer than my 2010 experience!

My father passed away January 16, 2013 in a nursing facility. Since death is not common in my everyday life I had no clue on who to call or what to do. The last death in my family where my family was involved in the planning was over 20 years ago. We went to Vernon Wallace who had went to school with my dearly departed aunt. I remembered that they did an wonderful job and thought that they’d do the same 20+ years later with my dad’s services. I contacted the funeral home from my dad’s room. The lady that answered the phone was very nice and sympathetic. At the time we were informed that Mr. Wallace had passed away a few months prior and his wife who my family also went to school with was running the business. First impressions are everything! I felt good about my decision to go with Wallace. The next day we went to the funeral home to make the arrangements. The funeral director was the grandson or nephew to the Wallaces’. Rory was ok, nothing spectacular. The funeral home looks exactly how I remembered it 20 years ago, which means it is in dire need of a overhaul. I think they are aware of this. I wanted to play a dvd slide show during the services, no such luck they didn’t have a projector or other display. I had to bring in my flat panel tv from home and dvd player. They did have an audio system which we played a cd of my dad’s favorite songs during the wake. The one problem that I had which pissed me off was with Linda, I believe that was her name who handled military services, burial flag, etc… We asked about this when making arrangements and was told by Rory that we would have to apply for this ourselves. My father had a long-​time care-​giver at the VA hospital who when learned of my dad’s death stepped in and took care of this for my grieving mother. This haint Linda had the nerve to call and want to question my grieving mother as to why the nurse was handling this, as if she’s stepping on her toes. Really lady? I’m so glad that I took the call for her. I had to remind her that we have lost a loved one. SMH!!! So it came time for the viewing on January 22, 2013. The mortician guy is kind of creepy and non-​customer oriented, but my father looked fabulous and that’s what saved the personnel from getting a verbal beat down. Come to think of it, I don’t remember anyone coming to check on us to see how we were doing or if there was anything that we needed. hmph. I didn’t like that the flowers, but they were apart of our funeral package wasn’t out for the visitation, but on the funeral the next day i knew why! They were cheap filler flowers… carnations, not what my father deserved at all!!! They would have disintegrated during the services. Anywho, the funeral was lovely although we were rushed and the poem for my dad wasn’t read, but i guess all in all everything turned out ok, I just wouldn’t go there again. If you like doing all of the leg work for the services, then this place is for you! I prefer a more modern funeral home and more compassionate, customer oriented funeral personnel. Hopefully, I won’t have to choose a funeral home anytime soon.