New Company to the area provides burial plot care

Thursday, April 29, 2004
Greenville Record-Argus

A Massachusetts-based company that provides burial plot care and maintenance for thousands of clients in 21 states is bringing its services to western Pennsylvania.

“The remembrance industry comes to Greenville,” declared President and Founder of Westland Services Corporation Philip G. Haddad, Jr.

Westland provides Peace of Mind through long-term beautification and maintenance at a family’s gravesite at any location.

For a one-time cost ranging from $3,900 to $13,900, Westland will provide personalized care for a burial site for 25 years.

“What we have created is the remembrance industry,” said Haddad. “There’s no one in the country or world that do what we do,” he said.

Westland’s services include things like fertilizing the lot, planting flowers before Memorial Day and removing them in the fall, scrubbing the headstone, trimming grass or shrubs, but are catered to fit the family’s needs.

“We tailor it to their specific wishes,” said Haddad.

There are four different levels of services, The Tribute Plan, The Legacy Plan, The Executor Plan and The Trustee Plan, that range in price based on the extent and frequency of the care.
Westland sends a color photo of the site to the family twice a year to show the family the work that’s been done.

Westland has been in business for 17 years and has never had a complaint, according to Haddad.

“We give them significantly more than they pay for,” he said, adding that he’s very proud of the commitment and dedication of the company’s employees.

“Westland has no clients we only have Westland family members,” said Haddad.

“We’re concerned, dedicated and attentive to the needs of our family,” he said.
Westland is headquartered in Westborough, Mass., but has regional offices throughout the states.

William Hovis is the local representative for Westland and provides plan counseling services for those in Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Venango counties.

Hovis, a native of Greenville, has 24 years experience working in the death-care industry and works from an office in Cochranton.

“The need is tremendous in the area,” said Haddad.

According to a survey Westland conducted of 17,000 people between the ages of 60 and 65, who will take care of their grave is the third biggest concern behind health/financial concerns and death, said Haddad.

The cost of Westland’s services qualifies as a spend down for those doing Medicaid planning, and if a family enters an irrevocable burial maintenance contract before the time of the death, it can shelter those funds from being an asset available for nursing home payments.
The cost of the Westland Peace of Mind Program is a one time investment that goes into a trust and is taken out at the rate of 4 percent plus interest over the 25-year period, according to Haddad.

Westland’s Peace of Mind takes the responsibility and guilt associated with grave maintenance from the surviving family members, said Haddad.

He said family members are twice as likely to visit the site knowing that the burial plot is well maintained as they are if they are responsible for it themselves.

“People deserve to have peace of mind in their senior years,” said Haddad. “We’re very proud of what we do.”