Stonewall Memory Gardens

This past June we laid my Mother to rest at Stonewall Memory Gardens. She made prior arrangements for a space at Stonewall Memory Gardens for her urn.
I have to say the place is very peaceful and beautiful. It’s located off of U.S. 29 next to Manassas National Battlefield Park.
We held a small private interment ceremony after the Church funeral service — which went as well as it could. It was an uncharacteristically cool day for late June, with a gentle rain falling. The staff were on hand waiting for us when we arrived with our Pastor.
Why only three stars if the place is so beautiful? When the urn arrived, we had to make arrangements to have the funeral home notified. First Stonewall told us we had to come and pick up the urn, after previously advising us that they would deliver it to the funeral home.
Then Stonewall told us that either we or the Funeral Home would have to transfer the remains into the urn — they would not do it. Excuse me? You expect family members to handle transferring ashes from one container to another? So incredibly tacky! We were told by the Funeral Home that it is standard procedure for the provider of the urn — which was purchased and provided by Stonewall Memory Gardens — for the provider to handle this transfer. They refused.
I was driving back and forth between the Funeral Home and Stonewall with my Mother’s ashes in a temporary plastic urn — while my Sister-​in-​Law was on the phone with both places, trying to get it straightened out. My Sister-​in-​law was furious with the way the Stonewall staff was treating us
Ultimately, Stonewall balked, and the funeral home stepped up to the plate, and performed the task for us — even though they were not supposed to.
We were already incredibly upset and stressed out over the passing of my Mother, and the last thing we wanted, needed, or expected was this crass, inconsiderate, unprofessional behavior by Stonewall Memory Gardens.
It is my understanding that Stonewall Memory Gardens used to be privately owned and run — but was recently acquired by a for-​profit company — and as a result — that the level of personalized service has declined.
Be very careful in any negotiations with Stonewall Memory Gardens. Insure that all of the details are spelled out contractually in writing with regard to small details such as delivery of urns to other locations, transfer of ashes from temporary urns to urns, and such.

I visited Stonewall Memory Gardens looking for the grave of an old high school classmate. The staff couldn’t have been nicer. I spoke with Amy Shaw over the phone and she gave me the information I needed. When I arrived she greeted me, drove me to his grave, and gave me the time I needed.
A cemetery is a place most people don’t want to think about, but Amy made it a positive experience.
Thank you Amy!