News Archives
Church
of the Redeemer Columbarium
St. Gabriel Dedication and Open House
View
Spring 05 Newsletter
Habitz Receives CCE Designation
Glen Eden Receives Beautification Award
Glen Eden East Holds Open House
Glen Eden Donates $51000
St. Gabriel Groundbreaking
Habitz Elected to Cemetery Assoc. Post
Glen Eden Named Outstanding Company
Other Web Sites of Interest
Church
of the Redeemer Columbarium
Birmingham’s Lutheran Church of the Redeemer planned
its new Columbarium with the aim of restoring the age-old practice of burial
of church members on church property. The increased preference for cremation
has made it possible to bring back that tradition for churches which construct
columbaria – an arrangement of niches into which an urn, containing cremated
remains, is permanently placed.
The Church’s Columbarium was dedicated in the fall of 2005, and has proved
to be a popular addition.
According to Pastor Randy Schlak, the Columbarium has been welcomed by the congregation
with great enthusiasm. “Whenever they’re at the church, people feel
a real connection to their loved ones,” Schlak said. “And when the
congregation is at worship, many take comfort in knowing that now, their loved
ones are part of our community in actuality as well as in spirit.”
With its red brick façade, the Redeemer Columbarium complements the church
building, which was modeled after the Martha-Mary Chapel at Greenfield Village.
Placed in walls around a contemplative garden area whose centerpiece is an impressive
bronze sculpture of Christ the Redeemer, the niches are faced with rich, red
granite affixed with bronze plaques engraved with the inscriptions of each loved
one. Most of the spaces are companion niches, designed for the placement of
two urns, the remainder being individual niches for single purchasers.
Even members whose final resting place is elsewhere can be memorialized in the
Columbarium Garden cenotaphs – bronze plaques, cast with family and individual
names.
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Columbarium was built by and is administered
by Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park of Livonia and Macomb Township. Principally
for church members, the Columbarium is also open to all Christians, as is Glen
Eden.
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is at 1800 West Maple Road, Birmingham and
is on the web at redeemerbirmingham.org. For information on securing space in
the Columbarium, contact Mary Anne Bittner at Glen Eden East, 586-677-5400 or
on the web at www.glenedenmemorialpark.org.
GLEN
EDEN LUTHERAN MEMORIAL PARK ANNOUNCES DEDICATION OF NEW ST. GABRIEL MAUSOLEUM
IN LIVONIA
Open House To Follow 3 p.m. Ceremony On Sunday, June 26
The Board of Directors and officials from Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park invite
the public to attend the dedication of the new St. Gabriel Mausoleum at Glen
Eden in Livonia at 35667 West Eight Mile Road. The ceremony will begin
at 3 pm, and will feature remarks by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Ahlersmeyer, president
of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, and music by the Lutheran Choralaires.
An open house reception will immediately follow the dedication, along with tours
of St. Gabriel, which continues the striking architectural design that abounds
throughout Glen Eden’s property. Created to be an everlasting memorial,
it has been built with the finest Italian marble and granite. Exquisitely carved
bronze archangels create a dramatic and unique centerpiece highlighted by several
skylights to bring in natural light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere
for year round visitation. An array of placement options are available including
over 650 marble fronted crypts in individual, deluxe, and true companion styles.
For those choosing cremation, approximately 650 stained glass or marble fronted
niches are available
“There is a consistent and increasing demand for above ground burial options,”
says Thomas A. Habitz, CCE, General Manager of Glen Eden. “With our Chapel
Mausoleum near full capacity it is time for a second mausoleum so that we can
continue to offer families throughout southeast Michigan every option to meet
their needs.”
The mausoleum was designed by the architectural firm of J. Stuart Todd of Dallas,
Texas, an international firm with over 1,500 completed cemetery projects to
their credit. St. Gabriel mausoleum was built by McCarthy & Smith, Inc.
of Farmington Hills, Michigan, providers of construction services to cemeteries
throughout southeast Michigan for over thirty years. Both of these firms developed
Glen Eden’s new property, Glen Eden East, in Macomb Township as well.
With almost 75 years of experience, Glen Eden is a long established and well-respected
cemetery, known for its superior service and immaculately maintained buildings
and grounds that blend the beauty of the natural environment with modern facilities
in a peaceful, religious setting. Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park offers a
full range of burial choices including traditional in-ground burial, aboveground
mausoleum entombment and cremation niches. Spaces are available for purchase
at special pre-planning prices.
By putting the needs of families first, Glen Eden has earned their reputation
for trust and integrity. “Personal attention is the foundation of our
business and families are our first priority,” says Mr. Habitz. “Our
Memorial Advisors are experienced and caring. Their goal is to provide families
with complete and accurate information on the many options available and to
guide them through the selection process. We want families to be completely
comfortable with the choices they make.”
“We offer the experience of working with virtually every type of family
preference and individual situation,” adds Mr. Habitz. “We cater
to the needs of the area’s large Christian community. We observe Christian
traditions and beliefs and provide a peaceful and lasting memorial that honors
both families and their Christian heritage.”
Mr. Habitz recommends that families pre-plan their memorialization. Just like
writing a will or taking out life insurance, it is an essential aspect of sound
estate planning that many families overlook. “By pre-planning you take
a huge emotional and financial burden off your family. You also help them avoid
emotional overspending, an expensive situation that many families face when
they need to make immediate decisions at a highly stressful time,” says
Mr. Habitz.
As a non-profit cemetery, Glen Eden is owned and operated by a community of
Lutheran churches. Financially secure, an endowment fund provides for Glen Eden’s
perpetual beauty, care and maintenance. A portion of each grave, crypt and niche
purchase is placed in an endowment trust fund and the full purchase of interment
services is placed in an escrow account to be accessed at the time of need,
ensuring the investment of families that pre-plan with Glen Eden.
For more information on Glen Eden contact Thomas A. Habitz at 248-477-4460 or
visit the website at www.glenedenmemorialpark.org.
THOMAS
A. HABITZ JOINS ONLY 201 WORLDWIDE TO RECEIVE CCE DESIGNATION
The International Cemetery and Funeral Association has awarded Thomas Habitz,
Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park’s General Manager, the coveted Certified
Cemetery Executive designation (CCE). He will be formally recognized at the
ICFA annual convention in Las Vegas this March.
After an extensive review process, only a handful of the top cemetery and funeral
executives are selected each year to receive the CCE designation. Based on the
individual’s experience, professional expertise, education, references
and community involvement, a committee determines if the candidate has met the
high standards of management set by the ICFA. As of March 2004, only 201 people
worldwide have been awarded the CCE designation.
“This is a very distinguished certification and I am honored and proud
to have received it,” says Mr. Habitz.
The ICFA Certification Program was established to recognize individuals who
have demonstrated a high degree of competence and a high level of management
experience and skills in the cemetery and funeral industry. The certification
is intended to raise the standards of those engaged in cemetery and funeral
management, to encourage individuals to participate in a program of continuing
education and development, and to encourage self-assessment through guidelines
for achievement. The International Cemetery and Funeral Association designation
program also assists in identifying people with expansive knowledge of the principles
and practices of cemetery and funeral management, of related disciplines and
of laws governing the industry.
Mr. Habitz has been the General Manager of Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park
since April of 1998. Prior to that he worked as a funeral home director for
over 28 years, most recently with McCabe Funeral Home in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Mr. Habitz is a graduate of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana and
received his degree in Mortuary Science from Wayne State in Detroit and currently
resides in Novi, Michigan.
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FOR
SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, GLEN EDEN LUTHERAN MEMORIAL PARK RECEIVES BEAUTIFICATION
AWARD
The Eight Mile Boulevard Association has once again selected Glen Eden Lutheran
Memorial Park as a top recipient of their Annual Beautification Award. Nearly
1,900 properties were judged with awards presented to those achieving best overall
site appearance.
To visitors it’s obvious, the management and grounds crew of Glen Eden
take special pride in the property and spend a tremendous amount of time on
the appearance of the park, and the attention they pay to the smallest details
has not gone unnoticed by the Eight Mile Blvd. Association.
“Glen Eden is just a gorgeous property with an inviting entrance and well
landscaped grounds,” says Tami Salisbury, Executive Director for the Eight
Mile Boulevard Association. “Every year they continue to stand out and
maintain the highest standards of overall appearance.”
“We at Glen Eden are truly honored to receive this award,” says
Thomas A. Habitz, General Manager of Glen Eden. “We are very proud of
our facility and strive to maintain its appearance to the utmost level possible.”
The Eight Mile Blvd. Association was established in 1993 and began awarding
the Beautification Award nine years ago to encourage property owners to go above
and beyond the everyday in maintaining their property appearance. Each summer
a committee representing various businesses and communities located along Eight
Mile Road, take part in evaluating the many properties that line the 27-miles
of roadway that stretches from I-94 to I-275. Everything from office parks,
to malls and big box stores, independent shops, private residences, and cemeteries,
are considered.
“We are delighted to have Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park as one of our
top winners again this year,” says Ms. Salisbury. “They are an excellent
organization and we’re proud that they are a part of the Eight Mile Road
community.”
Since 1929, Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park has served families of all Christian
faiths. Non-profit, and owned and operated by a community of Lutheran churches,
Glen Eden is strongly endowed and funded for perpetual maintenance. For more
information on Glen Eden contact Thomas A. Habitz at 248-477-4460.
FIRST
NEW CEMETERY IN 30 YEARS HOLDS OPEN HOUSE
With
the continued growth of Macomb County, residential communities are not the only
development projects being completed. On June 13th, Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial
Park will hold a ceremony to dedicate its new 80-acre cemetery in Macomb Township.
The dedication ceremony will take place at 3pm at Glen Eden East, located at
19810 26 Mile Road and is open to the public. Immediately following the ceremony
there will be an open house reception with refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.
Guests are invited to tour the grounds and the buildings, including the centerpiece
of the new park, Our Redeemer Chapel and Mausoleum. Invited dignitaries include
members of the Macomb Township Board of Trustees, the Macomb Township Planning
Committee, and the Glen Eden Board of Directors. Area funeral directors, pastors
and Lutheran Church members will also be in attendance.
The memorial park will be the first new cemetery in Macomb County in over three
decades and the second cemetery in Michigan to carry the Glen Eden name. Since
1929, Glen Eden has served families of all Christian faiths in Livonia and this
second memorial park in Macomb Township answers the growing demand for more
burial options within the community.
“Macomb County is growing dramatically and our central location in Macomb
Township is easily accessible to all residents,” says Thomas A. Habitz,
General Manager of Glen Eden. “Residents can select a final resting place
in the area where they spent most of their lives and where family and friends
can visit in a familiar and close-by location.”
“Residents driving by Glen Eden East have watched the construction of
the chapel in particular and many have expressed great interest in getting an
up-close and personal look at this magnificent structure.” says Thomas
A. Habitz, general manager of Glen Eden. “We welcome all visitors and
I’m sure the classic beauty of its old-world style church with steeple
design will not disappoint. Memorial Advisors will be on hand to greet everyone
and answer questions about Glen Eden.”
The $6 million cemetery, being developed in a series of phases, rests on 80
acres of land surrounded by naturally wooded areas and streams. The first 10-acres
have been completed and are designed with meticulously groomed gardens surrounding
Our Redeemer Chapel and Mausoleum which forms the centerpiece of the park. With
seating for 150 people, the chapel reflects the classic beauty of an old-world
style Lutheran church with steeple. Arched windows, vaulted ceilings, exposed
wood beams, tiled entryways and a covered front porch provide a peaceful and
comforting setting. The old-world style design is carried throughout the park
and is incorporated into the design of the administrative buildings and mausoleum
which features stone masonry veneers and crown molding. With easy access from
the chapel through an enclosed entryway, the mausoleum allows year round visitation
regardless of the weather.
Surrounding the Chapel are four traditional burial gardens, beautifully landscaped
and distinguished by specific themes that reflect life and individual character.
The Garden of Faith, Garden of Hope and Garden of Resurrection feature individual
and family lots while two specially dedicated gardens honor our community members
who have served us during their lives; Our Pastors Point Garden reserved for
Lutheran pastors and their spouses, and Our Garden of Valor which provides a
special setting of honor for our veterans and their spouses
The design for the cemetery was created by the architectural firm of J. Stuart
Todd of Dallas Texas, an international firm with over 1,500 completed cemetery
projects to their credit. Construction services were provided by the Farmington
Hills company of McCarthy & Smith, Inc., which has been providing construction
services to cemeteries throughout southeast Michigan for over thirty years.
“Our goal was to create a park like setting that enhances the existing
environment,” says Steve Elliot, Project Manager with J. Stuart Todd.
“We wanted to create an atmosphere that is not only pleasant to visit,
but to pass by as well.”
Bordered by wooded areas, streams and farmland, the landscaping for Glen Eden
flows seamlessly into its surroundings. Originally farmland, the park will remain
as a permanent green space with extensive plantings including trees, ornamental
bushes and flowering plants native to the area that have been added to provide
a dense landscaping screen and create a natural beauty throughout the cemetery.
The township plans to build a park on the southern border of Glen Eden and to
the east is a sod farm. The wooded lot to the north is vacant with no specific
development plans and a single-family residential community will border Glen
Eden on the west. An existing wooded area and creek between the residential
community and Glen Eden has been enhanced with a dense landscape screen.
With almost 75 years of experience, Glen Eden, Livonia, is a long established
and well-respected cemetery, known for its superior service and immaculately
maintained buildings and grounds that blend the beauty of the natural environment
with modern facilities in a peaceful, religious setting. Glen Eden Lutheran
Memorial Park East offers a full range of burial choices including traditional
in-ground burial, aboveground mausoleum entombment and cremation niches. Spaces
are currently available for purchase at special pre-planning prices.
By putting the needs of families first, Glen Eden has earned their reputation
for trust and integrity. “Personal attention is the foundation of our
business and families are our first priority,” says Mr. Habitz. “Our
Memorial Advisors are experienced and caring. Their goal is to provide families
with complete and accurate information on the many options available and to
guide them through the selection process. We want families to be completely
comfortable with the choices they make.”
“We offer the experience of working with virtually every type of family
preference and individual situation,” adds Mr. Habitz. “We cater
to the needs of the area’s large Christian community. We observe Christian
traditions and beliefs and provide a peaceful and lasting memorial that honors
both families and their Christian heritage.”
Mr. Habitz recommends that families pre-plan their memorialization. Just like
writing a will or taking out life insurance, it is an essential aspect of sound
estate planning that many families overlook. “By pre-planning you take
a huge emotional and financial burden off your family. You also help them avoid
emotional overspending, an expensive situation that many families face when
they need to make immediate decisions at a highly stressful time,” says
Mr. Habitz.
As a non-profit cemetery, Glen Eden is owned and operated by a community of
Lutheran Churches. Financially secure, an endowment fund provides for Glen Eden’s
perpetual beauty, care and maintenance. A portion of each grave, crypt and niche
purchase is placed in an endowment trust fund and the full purchase of interment
services is placed in an escrow account to be accessed at the time of need,
ensuring the investment of families that pre-plan with Glen Eden.
For more information on Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park East contact Thomas
A. Habitz at 248-477-4460 or visit the Glen Eden website at www.glenedenmemorialpark.org.
GLEN
EDEN LUTHERAN MEMORIAL PARK DONATES $51,000 TO LUTHERAN ORGANIZATIONS
At their annual meeting of church delegates on April 23rd, Glen Eden Lutheran
Memorial Park presented over $50,000 in donations to Lutheran organizations.
A committee, appointed by Glen Eden’s Board of Directors, selected thirteen
Lutheran organizations in the Missouri and Wisconsin Synods to receive cash
donations. Twelve of the organizations are past recipients of Glen Eden awards.
Lutheran Child & Family Services of Michigan was selected this year for
the first time to receive a donation of $1000.
For the past decade, Glen Eden has provided aid to Lutheran organizations to
help fund programs and missions throughout the community and the world. All
of the organizations selected serve the Lutheran community by providing education,
family and social support, or missionary work.
“These thirteen organizations are each very deserving of our support,
“ says Thomas A. Habitz, General Manager of Glen Eden. “They all
have strong ties to the Lutheran communities they serve, and each has a strong
track record of providing top quality service in their area of expertise.”
Donations to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod organizations will go to the
following: Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., Concordia Theological Seminary
in Ft. Wayne, Ind., the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Detroit,
Mi., Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Mi., People of the Book - Lutheran Outreach
(POBLO), the Lutheran Center Association of Greater Detroit, Mi., Lutheran Heritage
Foundation, Lutheran Special Education Ministries of Detroit, Mi., and the Lutheran
Child & Family Services of Michigan.
The Wisconsin Synod donations will go to the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Foundation,
Huron Valley Lutheran High School of Westland Michigan, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
of Mequon , Wis. and the Wisconsin Lutheran Radio Hour.
“We our very proud of our Lutheran heritage.” says Mr. Habitz, “Our
donations are intended to support the vitality of these fine Lutheran organizations
that benefit all families in their communities.
GLEN
EDEN LUTHERAN MEMORIAL PARK BREAKS GROUND ON NEW ST. GABRIEL MAUSOLEUM
On April 23rd, The Board of Directors joined officials from Glen Eden Lutheran
Memorial Park to break ground for the new St. Gabriel Mausoleum at Glen Eden’s
Livonia location. Construction is scheduled to begin in June. This will be the
park’s second mausoleum and will include over 650 crypt locations and
approximately 650 cremation niches to service the needs of families throughout
southeast Michigan.
“There is a consistent and increasing demand for above ground burial options,”
says Thomas A. Habitz, General Manager of Glen Eden. “With our Chapel
Mausoleum near full capacity it is time to build a second mausoleum so that
we can continue to offer families every option to meet their needs.”
St. Gabriel will continue the striking architectural design that abounds throughout
Glen Eden’s park. Created to be an everlasting memorial, it will be built
with the finest Italian marble and granite. Exquisitely carved bronze archangels
will create a dramatic and unique centerpiece highlighted by several skylights
to bring in natural light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for year
round visitation. Wide arrays of placement options will be available including
marble fronted crypts in individual, deluxe, and true companion styles. For
those choosing cremation, stained glass or marble fronted niches will be available.
The mausoleum was designed by the architectural firm of J. Stuart Todd of Dallas,
Texas, an international firm with over 1,500 completed cemetery projects to
their credit. McCarthy & Smith, Inc. of Farmington Hills, Michigan providers
of construction services to cemeteries throughout southeast Michigan for over
thirty years will provide construction services on St. Gabriel. Both of these
firms are currently involved in the development of Glen Eden’s new memorial
park Glen Eden East, in Macomb Township as well. St. Gabriel is scheduled for
completion in December 2004.
Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park, founded in 1929, is a non-profit cemetery,
owned and operated by a community of Lutheran churches. They have two locations,
in Livonia on Eight Mile Road and in Macomb Township on 26 Mile Road. Glen Eden
takes great pride in providing families of all Christian faiths with individual
care and understanding, holding to the highest standard of excellence. Glen
Eden is strongly endowed and funded for perpetual maintenance. For more information
on Glen Eden you can contact Thomas A. Habitz at 248-477-4460 or visit the website
at www.glenedenmemorialpark.org.
|
GLEN
EDEN LUTHERAN MEMORIAL PARK NAMED OUTSTANDING COMPANY BY HISTORIC TRINITY LUTHERAN
CHURCH
At Historic
Trinity’s Annual Oktoberfest Dinner, Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park
received The Outstanding Company Award in recognition of their long-standing
efforts in enhancing and supporting the Lutheran Community. Rev. Dr. V. F. Halboth,
Chairman of Glen Eden’s Board of Directors accepted the award for Glen
Eden.
We are very pleased to have
received this award,” says Rev. Dr. Halboth. “Our staff and board
of directors are very gratified that our active participation to assist our
Lutheran community has been recognized.”
Historic Trinity has been holding the annual Oktoberfest dinner for twenty years
and has been giving the award for the last seven years. 150 people attended
the event, which was held at the Church’s Huegli Auditorium located in
downtown Detroit. In addition to the Outstanding Company award, Mr. Michael
Schoenshek received the Outstanding Individual Award.
“These awards were created to recognize organizations and individuals
that go above and beyond the everyday in their service to the Lutheran community,”
says Rev. Dr. David Eberhard of Historic Trinity.
Since 1929, Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park has served families of all Christian
faiths. Non-profit and owned and operated by a community of Lutheran churches,
Glen Eden is strongly endowed and funded for perpetual maintenance. They have
two locations, in Livonia on Eight-Mile Rd and in Macomb Township on 26-Mile
Rd. For more information on Glen Eden contact Thomas A. Habitz at 248-477-4460
or visit the Glen Eden website at www.glenedenmemorialpark.org.
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Additional Web Sites of Interest
www.thrivent.com
- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. Fortune 500 organization based
in Appleton, WI. Fraternal benefit society providing insurance, financial, educational,
and volunteer services, with 1.8 million members.
www.lutheransonline.com - Sponsored
by AAL. General news, info, weather, stocks, etc.
www.lcfsmi.org - Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan. Provides
counseling and social services to children and families throughout the state.
www.lcms.org - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Actually an association of 6,145 Lutheran churches around the country.
www.lhminc.org
- Lutheran Homes of Michigan, Inc. Operates non-profit assisted living homes,
one of which is located in Livonia. Supported by 70+ congregations of the Missouri
Synod.
www.wels.net - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Advanced website with
many links and resources. A smaller association of Lutheran churches (1,239
in the US). A few member-churches (6 - 10) are located near Glen Eden. Based
in Milwaukee, WI.
www.lwr.org - Lutheran World Relief. Disaster/mission
work around the world. Based in Baltimore, MD. Supported by ELCA, Missouri Synod
and the Wisconsin Synod.