Our Services
Traditional funeral & burial services in the San Francisco Bay Area
We begin by listening — learning about the life being honored, the religious or cultural traditions that guide the service, and how family and community wish to gather during this time.
Personalized traditional funeral services
At Fernwood, traditional funeral services are shaped in close partnership with the families we serve. We begin by listening — learning about the life being honored, the religious or cultural traditions that guide the service, and how family and community wish to gather during this time.
Our team has experience supporting faith-based and non-denominational rites and customs, including Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and Hindu traditions, and can help you craft a meaningful ceremony and burial that honors religious rites.
Services may include viewings, prayer or chanting, scripture readings, ritual elements, or moments of shared reflection. Personalized elements may also be woven into the service, such as meaningful music, readings, photo displays, or video tributes that reflect the life, relationships, and memories being honored.
Traditional services may be held in Fernwood’s Remembrance Room and/or at the gravesite, depending on custom and preference. Throughout the process, we invite families to rely on us to attend to the details so they can remain present with each other through grief and remembrance.
Remembrance Room
Our Remembrance Room is an open, peaceful, and contemporary setting for funerals and memorial gatherings, filled with natural light, greenery, and views of the patio waterfall. Modular furnishings and a fully equipped sound system support a wide range of service needs.
Graveside services
Many families choose a private graveside service for an intimate farewell in direct connection with the land. Held among mature trees and open sky, these services offer space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance. Graveside services may stand alone or follow a funeral service held in the Remembrance Room.
Off-site funeral services
We offer off-site funeral services for families who wish to hold a ceremony at a church or other place of worship, a private home, or other setting. We coordinate the transportation of the deceased and remain present to support the service.
The values that guide us
We are authentically inclusive and honor expressions of love, grief, and remembrance in all forms.
Inclusivity
We listen deeply, attune to every detail, and walk beside families at every step.
Empathy
We go beyond surface gestures and serve with reverence, honoring the weight and wonder of a life lived.
Depth
We are devoted to our role as stewards — of land, of tradition, and of the profound trust that families place in us.
Devotion
We ensure our promises, practices, and places are worthy of the lives we honor.
Integrity
Meaningful burial planning with Fernwood
Fernwood offers thoughtful burial arrangements for families planning in advance and for those making decisions after a loss. The traditional burial process typically includes preparation, selecting a gravesite and grave marker, and planning the ceremony.
Preparation and care
Families are guided through preparation decisions with clarity around service details and respect for their traditions and wishes, including embalming (if desired) and casket selection. Fernwood handles all preparation on-site, ensuring every detail is carried out with care and attentiveness.
Selecting a gravesite & grave marker
Traditional burials are held on Fernwood’s historic cemetery grounds, where many gravesites offer views of Mount Tamalpais or Richardson Bay. The traditional section of the cemetery supports a conventional approach to burial, allowing embalming, any type of casket, and permanent memorialization through cut-and-polished headstones, monuments, and bronze markers. For families seeking eco-friendly burial, please see our green burial options.
Planning the ceremony
Families are supported in planning a funeral or memorial service that feels meaningful, appropriate, and true to the life being honored. Fernwood assists with coordinating ceremony details and logistics, allowing families to focus on gathering, remembrance, and honoring their loved one.
Frequently asked questions about our traditional cemetery
What is included in a Fernwood traditional burial service?
A traditional burial service at Fernwood includes guidance through burial arrangements, preparation and care of the deceased (including embalming if chosen), coordination of funeral or memorial ceremonies, and burial within the historic cemetery grounds. Services are tailored to the family’s wishes and may include a viewing, a religious service, a graveside ceremony, or a memorial gathering. Our dedicated, small team supports families to understand their options clearly.
What types of burial spaces are available at Fernwood?
We offer both above-ground and in-ground options, including niches for cremated remains, crypts for caskets, and traditional burial plots.
How does Fernwood ensure a respectful and dignified service?
Respect and dignity guide every aspect of care at Fernwood. All services — from preparation through ceremony and burial — take place on-site and are performed by our small, dedicated team. Each step is approached with care, professionalism, and deep regard for cultural and religious traditions, so families can trust their loved one is treated with honor throughout the process.
What support does Fernwood offer after burial?
Fernwood continues to support families after burial by assisting with memorialization, answering questions about visitation and ongoing care of the gravesite, and providing guidance on next steps as needed. While Fernwood does not provide clinical grief counseling, our team remains available to offer practical support, resources, and steadfast assistance as families move forward in their own time.
Are there any ongoing or monthly fees for a grave?
No. For pre-planning, payment plans may be arranged over time. For at-need services, payment is made in full.
Can memorials be added to or updated at a later time?
Yes. Memorials can be arranged or updated at a later date. Families often choose to add markers or make updates over time, and we are here to support those decisions whenever the moment feels right.
Are there guidelines for markers or memorials?
Yes. Guidelines are available upon request.
Our team can walk you through available options and requirements to ensure memorials are in harmony with the landscape. Please email memorials@fernwood.com
for more information.
Is Fernwood an endowment care property?
Yes. Fernwood is an endowment care property. When burial rights are purchased, a mandatory fee is collected and placed into an endowment care fund, which ensures the cemetery is maintained and cared for in perpetuity.
