Funeral operators are supposed to possess sensitivity and the ability to handle details. Unfortunately, in our case, Dodsworth & Brown let us down badly in more ways than one.
First of all, there was a dual burial. Yes, two members of our family died rather close together, and we arranged a double burial of the ashes, both of the deceased having been cremated.
We drove in from out of town, over five hours in the rain. When we arrived, there was only one vault prepared. There is no doubt that they were informed and our request was acknowledged.
We had to bury one and turn around and drive back without completing our mission. The part that made it worse was the lackadaisical and unsympathetic attitude of the driver who insisted that there was only one burial requested, which was a flat out lie.
The other affront was that the funeral director gave away our private family property—the guest book and the photos and personal effects—to a third party who has still not provided them to us.
Upon requesting an explanation, we received several contradictory stories, including he gave it to the executor, he didn't know where it is, and then finally, the executor told him to do what he did.
The property is family property and should have been given back to the family. Now we have to fight for it and the funeral director is rude and dismissive. Where I come from when a person makes a serious error, like ruining a dual burial they should say they are sorry not, "No, you're wrong!"
I have a close friend who is a funeral director, and his sensitivity and compassion are inspiring. But he is hundreds of miles away. Stay away from Dodsworth and Brown. When they seriously mess up, all they have is excuses, lies and accusations.