Beyond the Headlines: Borgwardt Shares Its Side of the Story

NOTE TO OUR READERS: THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MINOR CORRECTIONS IN THIS VERSION OF THE ARTICLE. THE ONE IN THE PRINT VERSION HAD A FEW MISTAKES.

Much has been said, written and even shouted, at times, about the expansion that the Borgwardt funeral home plans to add to their building on Powder Mill Road. While community meetings were held, the owners have not said much beyond what was shared and I wanted to chat and see what the situation looked like from their side.

I got the chance to speak with Donna Borgwardt-Mabry, Donald Borgwardt’s daughter and business manager of the Borgwardts. I noted that while this has made local news on NBC4 recently (https://tinyurl.com/bwnbc4), and much had been discussed on our town’s Facebook page, there were still people in our community who may not have heard their reasons for expansion. She explained that “our community has been asking for it. In the ten years when we were first open, from 1985 to 1995, 90% of funerals were burials. Now cremations make up 52% of our business.”

Currently, if a customer would like a cremation for their loved one, the preparation and funeral itself are both done at Borgwardt’s but the actual cremation is done through a third party, in Virginia. Borgwardt’s has partnered with this company for nearly the entire time they have been open and operating, but since many customers previously have been dismayed that their loved one wouldn’t be cared for in one place, and would instead have be moved, the onsite cremation expansion was planned.

Regarding the health concerns mentioned, Ms. Borgwardt-Mabry stated, unequivocally, “MDE [Maryland Department of Environment] will not give us a permit unless we meet all the guidelines for safety and air quality.”

She said it’s often hard to hear about all of what is offered by a funeral home, since when one needs their services, it’s often the first time that person has entered a funeral home and it can be overwhelming. “You don’t need it until you need it.” I also asked about other possible expansions and she followed up with “Is the community going to need it?” Similarly, when I mentioned the new green burial practice set up in Elkridge, human composting, (https://tinyurl.com/efhcbw) she replied with the same question. Only time will tell what services the community will need in the years and decades to come.

And since the other Beltsville crematorium is mentioned in this conversation, I attempted to speak with folks at the Chesapeake Crematory over on Tucker Street, but was unable to get ahold of someone authorized to speak on behalf of the company by press time.

Borgwardt’s has been in the community longer than I’ve been alive and I believe they want the absolute best for their customers. I, along with most of the community, will be waiting to see the next steps coming for the funeral home.