Glen Eden Memorial Park

Founded: 1929
Families served: 40,874
Owned and operated by:
Community of
Lutheran Churches
Business structure:
Non-profit
Open to: All Christians

Burial place of:
More than 100 Lutheran
Pastors at Pastors Point

Rev. Jack Wallace,
founder of
Detroit World Outreach

Rev. Bartlett Hess,
founder of Ward Evangelical
Episcopal Church

Sid Abel,
Detroit Red Wing Hockey
Hall of Famer

Harry J. Will,
Funeral Director

Available choices:
Traditional burial
Above-ground entombment
Cremations

Locations:
Glen Eden West
35667  West Eight Mile Rd.
Livonia, MI 48152
248-477-4460

Glen Eden East
19810 26 Mile Road
Macomb Township,
MI 48042
586 677 5400

Office hours:
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. to 4:30 pm

Saturday 9 am to 3 pm
or by appointment

Glen Eden Offers FREE Preplanning Seminars and Presentations Which Can Save You Money

Glen Eden Memorial Park’s Director of Community Relations Sharon Engel is offering free seminars to community groups on the economic and emotional benefits of preplanning your burial arrangements. By pre-arranging you can save a substantial amount of money on the services, which will relieve your family of emotional and financial stress at their time of grief. Sharon will introduce you to Glen Eden’s facilities and will also provide useful information about Glen Eden’s numerous modern memorialization options and its strong endowment that provides for perpetual maintenance.

Preplanning your burial arrangements is similar to making out a will or buying life insurance. This seminar will answer many of your questions regarding the steps involved in this process such as; I don’t like to think about dying, do I really need to plan for it now? How does pre-planning really save me money? What happens to my money once I’ve pre-paid? How do I know my money is safe?

Pre-planning discounts save you money now and protect your family from future price increases, conserving their financial resources. To arrange a presentation for your group or for more information about Glen Eden contact Sharon Engel at sengel@glenedenmemorialpark.org (586-677-5400).

Non-profit Glen Eden, founded in 1929, serves Michigan with two cemeteries, one in Livonia and Glen Eden East on 26-Mile Road in Macomb Township.

Good Neighbor Policy Helps Win Beautification Award for Fifth Year

Glen Eden's Tom Habitz wants the entire community to enjoy the memorial park that he and his staff diligently plan and meticulously nurture. "We are creating the most beautiful place that we can" said Habitz. “By avoiding visual barriers, creating the most seamless landscape transitions into all our neighbors' land, invites people in. These byways and gardens are for our neighbors to enjoy as well as the families who come here to remember their loved ones." 

Habitz is the General Manager of Glen Eden, and he believes his "good neighbor" policy contributes to Glen Eden's appeal and winning the Annual Beautification Award from The Eight Mile Boulevard Association for the fifth time in six years. "When more people see and feel the joy of the natural grace of Glen Eden, then we fulfill our purpose," said Habitz. 

It takes a year-round commitment to achieve Habitz's lofty goals. Glen Eden’s 75 acres of lawn are constantly fertilized, mowed and trimmed. Hundreds of annual flowers are planted in key locations to brighten the landscape with a pallet of rich and vivid colors. Trees that were lost due to the Emerald Ash Borer insect have been replaced. In addition, this year has seen the construction of brand new cement walkways for the Main Mausoleum, and most of the cemetery’s roads were given a fresh asphalt seal.

"We're obsessed with sharing this beauty," said Habitz. "Glen Eden is a place for the people to walk, bike, jog, or sit and have a moment of peace or a good conversation. Getting close to nature can be a great spiritual boost."

Tami Salisbury, Executive Director of the Eight Mile Blvd. Association, said, “Only 20 properties out of over 1,600 get recognized with this award each year.  Glen Eden has consistently been recognized by 8MBA because of the stunning landscaping and impeccably maintained appearance throughout the year.”

The Eight Mile Blvd. Association was established in 1993 and began presenting the Beautification Award 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 evaluates the many properties that line the 27-miles of roadway that stretch from I-94 to I-275. All properties along the route are considered -- office parks, malls, big box stores, independent shops, private residences and cemeteries.

Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park, founded in 1929, is a non-profit cemetery, owned and operated by a community of Lutheran churches. Glen Eden has two cemetery locations, in Livonia on Eight-Mile Rd. and in Macomb Township on 26-Mile Road. Glen Eden also administers the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Columbarium in Birmingham. 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 contact Thomas A. Habitz at 248-477-4460.

Glen Eden Names Engel Director of Community Relations

Glen Eden Memorial Park has appointed Sharon Engel Director of Community Relations for the Macomb Township cemetery.  She brings 30years of experience including event planning and sales to her new position. Engel will reach out to community groups throughout the area including senior, religious and business to introduce Glen Eden’s facilities which feature old world architectural design. She will also provide useful information about Glen Eden’s numerous modern memorialization options; its strong endowment that provides for perpetual maintenanceand the economic and emotional benefits of preplanning.

To arrange a presentation for your group or for more information about Glen Eden contact Sharon Engel at sengel@glenedenmemorialpark.org (586-677-5400).

Steeped in the Past, Endowed for the Future
Glen Eden Memorial Park Celebrates Its 80th Anniversary
The year was 1929. The Detroit Red Wings (known at the time as the Cougars) were playing their second season in the Detroit Olympia Stadium under the leadership of coach and general manager Jack Adams. Work had just been completed on the Ambassador Bridge—at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world—linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. And a small group of local investors purchased 170 acres of farmland in Livonia, Michigan to found a cemetery called Glen Eden Memorial Park.

Eighty years later, the Detroit Red Wings have won the most Stanley Cup Championships of any NHL franchise; the Ambassador Bridge is North America’s busiest international border crossing; and Glen Eden Memorial Park—now expanded to two locations, Glen Eden in Livonia, and Glen Eden East in Macomb Township—has helped 40,874 Michigan families create enduring memorials to their loved ones.


Carefully managed and strongly endowed
Sound financial management and a commitment to Christian values are among the reasons why families have trusted Glen Eden for 80 years, according to Thomas A. Habitz, who has served as Glen Eden’s General Manager since 1998 and was recently honored as 2008 Lutheran of the Year by the Lutheran Luncheon Club of Metro Detroit.

 “We take pride in providing families of all Christian faiths with individual care and understanding, holding ourselves to the highest standard of excellence,” Habitz says. “We are non-profit and strongly endowed and funded for perpetual maintenance. Families can be sure that Glen Eden’s place in our community will remain for generations to come.”
Visitors also appreciate the natural beauty of Glen Eden. Seasonal flowers, towering oaks, the steadfast beauty of evergreens and an abundance of wildlife create an environment of peace and tranquility. Glen Eden in Livonia has been awarded the Annual Beautification Award from The Eight Mile Road Boulevard Association for four of the past five years.
“We allocate more than  $1 million a year to maintain the grounds of both of our Memorial Parks,” says Habitz. “Sometimes, when we have visitors who have been considering other cemeteries, we ask them to simply drive around the grounds for a few minutes. The beauty of Glen Eden sells itself.”


Serving the Christian community
In 1932, a twist of fate transferred ownership and operation of Glen Eden Memorial Park to four Lutheran churches. Since then, Glen Eden has focused on serving the Lutheran community and the larger Christian community of Metropolitan Detroit. Since 1995, Glen Eden has provided financial support to organizations that serve the Lutheran community by providing education, family and social support, or missionary work.

Pastors Point, a special section set aside for Lutheran pastors and their spouses, provides a look at the history of Lutherans in Michigan. Since 1930, more than 100 pastors have chosen it as their final resting place. Among them are: Rev., Rev. Armin Born, Rev. Ernest C. Fackler, Rev. E. T. Bernthal,  Rev. Gilbert Otte, and Rev. Paul J. Gold.
In the late 1940’s Glen Eden opened its gates to Christians of all denominations, attracting other Christian pastors, such as Rev. Jack Wallace, founder of the Detroit World Outreach Christian Center Church, and Rev. Bartlett Hess, founder of Ward Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Other noteworthy gravesites
Not all of the locally prominent citizens buried at Glen Eden come from the religious community. Sports fans can visit the grave of Hockey Hall of Famer Sid Abel who, with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, comprised the Detroit Red Wings’ notorious “Production Line” of the 1940s and 1950s. Nearby is the crypt of author/historian Ford Richardson Bryan, a fourth cousin of Henry Ford I, who authored numerous articles and several books about the Ford family.  Harry J. Will, founder of the Harry J. Will Funeral Home in Livonia, also chose Glen Eden as his final resting place.

Honoring local heroes
Throughout the decades, Glen Eden has maintained a
strong tradition of honoring members of the military, police and fire departments. More than 5,000 veterans are buried at Glen Eden, many of whom chose as their final resting place the Garden of Valor, a special section set aside in both Memorial Parks exclusively for veterans and their spouses.

In June of 1962, Lutheran War Veterans Auxiliary,
Gold Star Mothers and Blue Star Mothers, dedicated Glen Eden’s Veteran’s Monument as a special place to pay tribute to veterans. It now serves as the focal point of the Garden of Valor in Glen Eden. A specially commissioned massive bronze sculpture of an American
eagle stands guard over Glen Eden East’s Garden of Valor.

The largest funeral in Glen Eden’s history took place in 1998 for Detroit Police Officer Shawn Bandy, 22, who was killed in the line of duty. The following year, Glen Eden opened Memorial Plaza, which features an eight-sided bronze flagpole cenotaph memorial honoring firefighters, police officers, members of the military and church workers.

East side expansion
In 2004, the 80-acre Glen Eden East opened in Macomb Township to serve the eastern suburbs. It was the first cemetery opened in Macomb County in 30 years. The centerpiece of Glen Eden East is Our Redeemer Chapel, designed like an old world church with steeple. Bathed in natural light from arched windows and surrounded by classic old-world beauty with a covered front porch, tiled entry way and vaulted ceilings highlighted by decorative wood beams, the chapel is a peaceful and serene place for meditation. With seating for 150, it provides a comforting setting for religious services.

Changing with the times
In recent years, cremation has seen a steady rise in acceptance among people of all backgrounds and faiths. Recognizing this trend, Glen Eden expanded its options for cremated remains, including traditional burial plots, indoor mausoleums and a new outdoor niche plaza at Glen Eden.

The increased preference for cremation has also made it possible to renew the age-old tradition of burying church members on church property. The Redeemer Columbarium, built and administered by Glen Eden and located at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Birmingham, Michigan, is an arrangement of niches, into which an urn can be permanently placed. Principally for members of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, the Columbarium is also open to all Christians, as is Glen Eden.


The gift of pre-planning
One thing that has not changed over the decades is the wisdom of planning ahead, according to Habitz. “Like making a will or buying life insurance, pre-arranging your burial arrangements is one of the most considerate and practical plans you can make. You relieve your family of emotional and financial stress at their time of grief; you make choices with which you’re comfortable; and you save a substantial amount of money through pre-planning.

“We see it everyday,” Habitz continues, “families who have pre-planned are able to focus on their emotional needs rather than worry about the details and financial decisions of memorialization.

“Everyone wants to be remembered,” Habitz continues, “and a permanent memorial at Glen Eden provides future generations with a setting to remember loved ones and preserve family history. Our promise is to endure throughout the generations, as we have already endured for the past 80 years.”

To find out more about Glen Eden Memorial Park, call Mr. Habitz directly at 248-477-4460.


Despite Economy Glen Eden Gives $30,000
The spirit of giving is not in recession at Glen Eden Memorial Park.  This year the Livonia and Macomb Township Michigan memorial parks are contributing $30,000 to eleven Lutheran human service organizations, continuing an annual tradition begun in 1995 that has awarded over $630,000.

“We consider it a privilege to be able to faithfully support valuable organizations that serve the people of the Lutheran community,” said Thomas Habitz, Glen Eden Memorial Park General Manager.  Lutheran organizations chosen to receive donations serve their communities by providing education, family and social support or missionary work.

Donations to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod organizations: The Lutheran High School Association; Concordia University, Ann Arbor; Lutheran Center Association of Greater Detroit; Lutheran Special Education Ministries; Latino Mission Society; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri and the Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. 

Donations to the Wisconsin Synod: Huron Valley Lutheran High School; Michigan Lutheran Seminary Foundation; Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin as well as the Wisconsin Lutheran Radio Hour.

Glen Eden Memorial Park, founded in 1929, is a non-profit cemetery, and owned and operated by a community of Lutheran churches.

Despite a nibbling beetle, Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park Receives Beautification Award for the fourth time

Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park has been presented with the Annual Beautification Award from The Eight Mile Boulevard Association. In the last 5 years Glen Eden has been awarded this honor 4 times by the Association. Glen Eden has been cited by the Association for its overall appearance, from the nearly 1,900 properties judged.

Glen Eden’s 75 acres of lawn are fertilized four times a year and mowed every week during growing season. Hundreds of annual flowers are planted around the cemetery brightening the landscape with a multitude of colors with special attention to the front entrance.

This year Glen Eden began the arduous task of replacing a number of trees that were lost due to the Emerald Ash Borer insect. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), is an exotic beetle that nibbles on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. EAB has killed more than 40 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone. Due to the significant loss of trees within Glen Eden’s grounds this replanting will continue into 2009. Other improvements this year have included new cement walkways for the Main Mausoleum and half of the cemetery’s roads were given a new asphalt seal.

Tami Salisbury, Executive Director of the Eight Mile Blvd. Association, said, “Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park is a true asset to the Eight Mile corridor. We are delighted to continue to see Glen Eden enhance their overall visual appeal every year and it is a great pleasure to acknowledge them this year as one of the Eight Mile Boulevard Association Beautification award recipients.”

“We are pleased to have received such a prestigious award for a fourth time,” said Thomas A. Habitz, General Manager of Glen Eden. “Our groundskeepers take great pride in enhancing the natural beauty of our grounds providing a special place to reflect on the memories of loved ones honored here.”

The Eight Mile Blvd. Association was established in 1993 and began presenting the Beautification Award 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. All properties along the route are considered -- office parks, malls, big box stores, independent shops, private residences and cemeteries.

Glen Eden Memorial Park Ceremony Pays Tribute to Local Police & Firefighters

As each man’s name was placed on the cenotaph an Honor Guard representing the State Police and Redford Township Fire Department saluted and Redford Township Fire Chief Leslie Wedge rang the traditional firefighter memorial bell.

George Bays served with the Michigan State Police for 30 years. He was an officer and founder of the Michigan State Police Command Officers Association. For almost 40 years Roger Snow served with the Michigan State Police retiring at the rank of Assistant District Commander (Inspector). John Gerich was a fireman for almost 30 years with the Redford Township Fire Department attaining the rank of Captain.

State Senator Glenn S. Anderson and representatives from the Michigan State Police and Redford Township Fire Department addressed the audience of family and friends.

“We are honored at Glen Eden to have the opportunity to pay tribute to these men who served our communities and to provide a place of reflection for all who will come and visit this memorial,” said Thomas Habitz, Glen Eden Memorial Park General Manager.

The Memorial Flagpole Court is the centerpiece of Glen Eden’s Memorial Plaza Boulevard. Cenotaphs to honor those who served surround a majestic elevated flagpole. Each cenotaph is a bronze bas-relief depiction of police, firefighters, clergy and veterans.