About Fernwood
About Fernwood: A legacy of ecological memorial services
Every element of care is grounded in an enduring sense of responsibility to the earth and to the families we serve.
Our mission, values, and history
In a field often defined by utility, we approach death care as a practice of stewardship. Every element of care is guided by a deep sense of responsibility to the earth and to the families we serve.
Our mission is to guide a return to nature through meaningful memorial services centered on continuity and respect. All care takes place on-site, allowing families to remain connected to both place and process, always knowing where their loved ones are, and enabling cultural, spiritual, and secular traditions to be carried out with integrity.
Originally established in the late 1800s, our cemetery was re-envisioned in 2005 as one of the nation’s early leaders in green burial. Set within a protected coastal woodland, our approach is rooted in the land itself. Sustainable burial practices, certified green standards, and careful stewardship of native habitat are not add-ons, but foundations.
Guided by empathy, integrity, and environmental responsibility, we support families in planning arrangements that feel authentic and meaningful, whether honoring long-held customs or creating non-traditional expressions of remembrance.
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
A landmark location in the San Francisco Bay Area
Set among the Marin coastal headlands of the San Francisco Bay Area., Fernwood rests at the meeting point of forest, hillside, and open sky. Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, the cemetery is bordered by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with trailheads weaving through its forests and wild grasses.
This protected landscape offers a sanctuary for burial, ceremony, and remembrance. Families return here for the feeling of place: expansive views, untouched beauty, and the sense of calm that rises from standing among trees, stone, and meadowland.
Carefully conserved and maintained by our team, Fernwood remains a natural haven for wildlife and a meaningful setting for honoring a life.
You Deserve to Have it
Done Your Way
Meet our team
Fernwood’s staff is a dedicated group of funeral directors, family service counselors, and land caregivers who bring warmth and sincerity to every service.
Yogu Kanthiah
Co-Owner & CFO
Tyler Cassity
Co-Owner & President
Set in the coastal woodland of Marin County, Fernwood is a rare funeral home, cemetery, and crematory offering a memorial landscape for ongoing remembrance.
We’re guided by care for the land around us and being in tune with what our neighbors need, including green burial, faith-based traditions, and a final resting place worthy of their loved ones and generations to come.
Through thoughtful land stewardship and personalized support, we hope to create a place for remembrance and returning.
Sincerely,
Yogu Kanthiah & Tyler Cassity
Meet the team
Sonia
Raymond
Nickol
Jermaine
Heather
Chuy
Carlos
Alicia J
Abby
Frequently asked questions about Fernwood
What makes Fernwood different from other cemeteries?
Fernwood is an environmentally attuned cemetery rooted in conservation, sustainable burial practices, and meaningful ceremony. Because much of the cemetery does not use traditional markers like polished headstones, the landscape itself becomes the primary visual presence — shaped by coastal forest, open meadows, and winding paths. Families experience a place of remembrance that feels natural, peaceful, and deeply connected to the land.
How does Fernwood support families throughout the burial process?
We offer steady, personal guidance from the moment a loved one enters our care. Because preparation, cremation, ceremony, and burial all take place on-site, families can be confident their traditions are carried out with integrity — from Buddhist cremation rites to Jewish Tahara—while knowing their loved one remains in attentive hands. Our team listens closely, shapes each experience with care and respect, and is available 24/7 for support.
What environmental certifications does Fernwood hold?
Fernwood is certified by the Green Burial Council, recognizing our commitment to natural burial practices and land stewardship. Fernwood is also a designated National Wildlife Federation Certified Habitat; our hillsides are blanketed with heritage oak and bay laurel trees, sword ferns, and native grasses, and our land is home to bobcats, blue herons, wild turkeys, deer, cranes, and a variety of other animals.
How is Fernwood supporting sustainability beyond green burial?
Through our partnership with veritree, each cremation funds the planting and long-term care of native trees. This initiative is designed to more than offset the carbon emissions produced during the cremation process over the coming decades. Learn more at: https://impact.veritree.com/fernwood.
Can I visit Fernwood before making arrangements?
Yes. Families are welcome to walk the grounds at their own pace. Guided tours are available by appointment only and can be scheduled in advance by phone or email. You may also begin by exploring our 360-degree virtual tour online.
Is there accessible parking and wheelchair-friendly pathways?
Much of the cemetery is accessible by car, with paved roads throughout the property.
Visitors can typically park along the road near a gravesite, with only a short walk required. Some areas of the grounds—particularly hillsides and natural dirt paths—are not wheelchair accessible. Gan Yarok, the Jewish section of our cemetery, is wheelchair accessible, with a paved pathway running through the area.
Is the cemetery open to the public?
Yes. The grounds are open during regular business hours.
Visitors are welcome to spend time on the grounds, whether for remembrance, quiet reflection, or simply to experience the landscape.
Do I need an appointment to visit the grounds?
No. You are welcome to visit the grounds without an appointment. However, if you would like a guided tour or wish to make arrangements, please call ahead to make an appointment with our staff.
