Wade and Melissa Lind and their children of Eugene are the owners of this growing funeral facility.
Prior to purchasing Sunset Hills Cemetery in 2005, Wade managed funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories in the San Francisco and Sacramento area. His experiences have allowed him to serves families of many different nationalities and faiths.
In California Wade held licenses as a funeral Director, Embalmer, Cemetery and crematory manager, funeral home manager, cemetery broker and cemetery sales. Here in Oregon he holds a combination license as a funeral service practitioner and an embalmer.
Wade has been the vice president and president of the Redwood Empire Funeral Directors association holding those positions for four consecutive years. He is a master Mason, 32 degree Scottish Rite, is a member of the downtown Eugene Rotary Club and has participated in both the Eugene and Springfield Chamber of Commerce and Greeters groups.
Melissa Lind has many years of experience as a manager in the hospitality industry. She has been a banquet manager, wedding coordinator, retail clothing store manager, stay at home mom and has provided many volunteer hours at their children’s schools. She has been a member of the Cesar Chavez Elementary School PAC for the past three years and has been very influential in steering many events, activities and relations within the 4J school district.
When Wade and Melissa Lind purchased the Sunset Hills property in 2005, it was in a state of physical and economic decay. The landscaping had not been adequately maintained: grass was knee-deep throughout the grounds, trees and shrubbery were overgrown, dead and dying, grave markers were pitted and damaged or missing entirely, some graves were unstable and the mausoleum was sliding towards a state of disrepair. As you can see from the old satellite image (shown here) the grounds were in dire need of care.
Transforming to a family business in April of 2005, Wade and Melissa Lind, both raised in towns the size of Eugene, were eager to get back to the nostalgic of their wonderful memories of their youth. Their dream endeavored to not only create a family business, but to be active members of the community. In their search, they found a neglected cemetery called Sunset Hills. With their family, they settled in Eugene and set out to not only to correct the business’s weakness, but foremost to turn the cemetery into a responsive, accountable and viable partner within the community and state. Through their vision they knew, with hard work, the tired property could become a vibrant member of the community.
Since the Linds arrived they have made great strides in improving public perception regarding Sunset Hills Cemetery. They recognize that only a thoughtful model – one mindful of maintaining the upkeep of the property, along with sensitivity to the surrounding neighborhood – could they hope to create a jewel in the beautiful southeast neighborhood.To assure the longevity of the cemetery, create a self sustaining business and care for the property it was immediately clear that the Linds to add a crematorium and funeral home.
Why is it important to add facilities to the existing cemetery?
Cemeteries such as Sunset Hills are not subsidized via public funds and must change to the current needs of the community of become a blight on the neighborhood. The continuation of practices established in 1953 when Sunset Hills Memorial Gardens opened would never allow improvements to the cemetery or help the cemetery transition into a park like setting that would become a real jewel.
When Sunset Hills was originally purchased by the Lind’s in April of 2005, plans to open a funeral Home and crematory where immediately placed on track. Soon after beginning the planning stage, the Lind’s where informed that the cemetery would have to go through a conditional use hearing to allow the legal continuation of the cemetery business and expand services. After two and a half years of meetings, research, studies and hearings, a conditional use permit was approved for the cemetery.
Without delay the Linds went about designing the buildings and securing the financing to build the new funeral home and crematorium. Wade and Melissa chose to create designs that would blend and compliment the residential nature of the neighborhood. The initial concept drawing and drafting itself was completed by Wade. Once the concepts were agreed upon building permits were sought and construction was started. The Linds added the basic fixtures required to be licensed as a funeral home first, completing much of the construction themselves. This included adding a Embalming room, bathroom and refrigerated holding room in the existing warehouse building on the premises. Once the new facilities were inspected , the Linds were able to operate as a funeral home.This building was again designed to resemble a residence in many ways to provide a more comfortable feel for the families they will serve. The addition of the new facilities will benefit the community by providing a single location for funeralization, memorialization and interment.
The combination of the crematory, funeral home and cemetery will minimize the stress associated with the final care of a loved one as well as offer an independent choice in an ever shrinking market. The additions of the crematory and the funeral home will herald a new beginning for the cemetery by allowing it to provide complete and individualized services to Eugene’s families for generations to come.
