Olthof Funeral Home Inc, Elmira NY

Disappointed. No where near the quality of service we received in 2017 for my mother. A very noticeable difference in a negative way this July for my father Arnold Jerzak. First, The services were paid for in 2019 and the director kept bring up how the prices went up and they discounted the casket. (several times) it got a little annoying. The service was held on July 14th. I checked the Oltalf website on Wednesday afternoon July 13th and his obituary wasn’t posted. I had to call and they put it up. The service lacked the guidance, professionalism that my family had accustomed to over 3 generations of our family who had used their services. We notice during the calling hours that certain things were not placed as we had asked and the slide show didn’t include a few important pictures (which we actually printed from our phones to the next door RiteAid and got them so they would be included. Immediately after the conclusion of the services they started disassembling the setting. We had to speak to the staff not to remove the cards of the flowers and plants as they assumed all of them where to go to the gravesite the next day, which only one was to go to the gravesite. At the gravesite they forgot to bring the one flower arrangement from the car until someone mentioned it to them so they had to go and get it. We wanted a CD of course of the slide show which we didn’t get. They said something went wrong while trying to burn a disc. They did give us a disc (with no writing on it) and yes it was blank. They told us they will provide a thumb drive to the slide show. To date, we haven’t received it. My brother stopped last week to get it and the person responsible for that wasn’t in. My brother checked again today and he said nothing yet on the thumb drive. It’s been almost 2 weeks. We really wanted to send it to my daughter in California who was unable to get back home for the funeral. I actually came across my mothers- Jackie Jerzak’s folder from Oltalf’s in March 2017. The CD was a professional looking CD with her name and a beautiful background. Our entire family agreed it’s not the place it was 5 years ago. The personal touch is gone.
Since the service I has folks apologize for not attending the service since they looked on the Oltalf website for a few days but didn’t see it.
Both my family and my wife’s family who’s mother is a retired minister and used to love working with Oltalfs agreed we will no longer be using them in the future. When the Oltalf family moved on so didn’t the personal touch.

Jeff Jerzak

Joel was fantastic and his team at Olthofs as well! They accommodated us with requests and the prices are competitive and fair. We had one viewing with many in attendance and the staff did well. In a time like this we needed things explained and they helped with all our wishes.
I really appreciated Joel’s good communications and professionalism!
I have a sentimental note too as my great grandfather had the original corner of the building built as a home (long before Olthofs) and my grandmother lived there as a young girl.
Thank you Joel and staff!
Bill Owens

Used to be family-owned, and well run.recently not so much. Have sold out to a conglomerate, let their best funeral director go, and now are solely concerned with making money for the new company. The caring, compassionate atmosphere has been replaced by one of profits first, and the empathic staff have been replaced by mercenaries. Hints of unethical and unscrupulous business behaviors.

I can't say enough about the service from Olthof's. I have attended a couple funerals and calling hours here and the service has always been exceptional. At one event it was raining and staff was on hand to help people to their cars with umbrellas. Recently, a friend of my parents passed and I didn't have any contact information for the children but wanted to express my condolences in person. I shared my phone number with Olthof's staff and they were kind enough to contact the family, even thought the series had already taken place 2 weeks earlier. The family then contacted me due to Olthof's kindness in passing along my desire and information. It meant so much to me and I will always be thankful that Olthof's took the extra care to put family friends in touch.

Olthof funeral home does a wonderful job of offering comfort to the family. Very professional and caring.