Forest Lawn Cemetery, Funeral Home and Crematorium (forestlawnomaha.com) stands on 349 acres of rolling hills. It’s home to historic figures and generations of community members. People are laid to rest surrounded by the state champion trees, which are also home to the designated bird sanctuary. For 140 years, Forest Lawn has been committed to serving families and improving all aspects of their funeral home and cemetery.
The cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation. The longevity of the peaceful place is thanks to a team of professionals who make sure every client, as well as every blade of grass, is taken care of.
Forest Lawn is a non-profit multi-facility cemetery that recognizes people’s needs have evolved with the times. They hold a commitment to listening to people’s desires. They offer a myriad of options for people to choose from. It was the first cemetery in the state to add an on-site crematorium. Now, they offer two crematoriums along with a funeral home and a brand new mausoleum. People can also purchase highly personalized glass front niches to display their tributes to the lives of their loved ones.
A funeral home chapel and a reception hall are also on-site, so people have everything they need in one place.
Veterans are a big part of Forest Lawn’s history. The cemetery is home to the resting place of veterans from every major war since the Civil War. This includes four Medal of Honor recipients. Military veterans continue to be an important priority. Forest Lawn offers comprehensive veterans’ burial benefits, and a brand new veteran’s garden is currently being designed for veterans as well as their families. This will include different options for the different military branches.
Human life isn’t the only kind of life celebrated at Forest Lawn.
Forest Lawn understands the eternal bond between a human and their furry friend. That’s why they offer the only “Forever Friend’s Pet Cemetery” in the state. Not only can pets be laid to rest in a beautiful sanctuary, but people can have their own ashes inurned with their forever friend.
Visitors can even be greeted by their resident dog, Bandit. Bandit has been coming to the funeral home with his owner, Director of Sales Angela Erickson, since he was a puppy. Bandit is the unofficial emotional support dog of Forest Lawn.
Erickson and Executive Director Steven Brunken said the ultimate goal of their positions is to help families and individuals navigate loss in an empathetic environment. They recognize that grief is a journey that is different for everyone. They want to make the funeral and burial process as simple and supportive as possible.
The significance of 140 years is not lost on the funeral home’s team. The cemetery is well-kept thanks to their full-time year-round beautification crew, as well as a growing perpetual care fund. Everyone at Forest Lawn is committed to upkeeping the cemetery for the next 140 years. “It is a perpetual care cemetery and will be here forever,” Brunken said.
Every accomplishment they have achieved is because of Forest Lawn’s staff’s ability to fulfill a client’s needs compassionately.
Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Cemetery, and crematorium (and Bandit) will be there for clients every step of the way when planning the celebration of a loved one’s life.
Bandit, Angela Erickson, Steven Brunken