Beth Israel Memorial Chapel-Delray Beach

Caring and Compassionate...she looked like herself
My grandmother's viewing was at Beth Israel. We had my grandfather's funeral at Beth Israel 15 years before, but this time around there were only 9 family members and we chose a graveside service after saying goodbye to grandma at Beth Israel. Steve and his team prepared my grandmother to be laid to rest with my grandfather. From the initial contact to the funeral procession, Beth Israel was wonderful to work with. My mother did the leg work, working directly with Steve, although most of the planning had been done by my grandmother years ago.

Steve listened to all of our concerns and made us feel comfortable. Grandma was buried in the dress she donned at my wedding, 5 years and 50 pounds ago. My mother wanted to buy a smaller dress, one that would fit grandma's frail body, but Steve assured her that they would make the dress work, and they did.

The day before the funeral, my mother called Steve and begged him not to put too much makeup on grandma. She was 91; we didn't want her to look like she was going to the prom. In a time of deep grief, this was a last minute detail that my mother clung to. Steve know how important this was and listened. Grandma looked natural, beautiful and peaceful. Her face, wrought with pain and fear during her last days, was gone.

Some of the more sensitive adult grandchildren didn't want to see grandma, but after approval from the rest of us, went in to say their final goodbyes. All agreed, she looked like herself--so much so that we were almost waiting for her to wake up and ask us why we were all staring at her!

My family cannot thank Steve enough for listening and making our beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother look beautiful and rested for her reunion with our Poppy in eternity. Thank you.