Our Services
Honoring loved ones with caring cremation services
Gentle, ecological cremation services in the San Francisco Bay Area
Cremation at Fernwood is grounded in environmentally mindful practices and takes place within our on-site crematory in Marin County. Serving families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Fernwood is one of the few mortuaries that performs cremation without transfer to an off-site facility. From beginning to end, your loved one remains in the care of our experienced team.
As part of our commitment to ecological practices, each cremation is paired with the planting and long-term care of native trees through a partnership with veritree. These plantings are designed to more than offset carbon emissions over the coming decades and support long-term environmental restoration, carried out at no additional cost to families.
Families may choose to take part in the preparation of their loved one before cremation. This may include washing, dressing, or braiding their loved one’s hair, or placing personal items in the casket, such as flowers, letters, or mementos. This optional involvement is guided by Fernwood’s experienced staff and offered with respect for each family’s wishes.
A vision rooted in land, care & memory
Mindfully guiding a return to nature
Returning to the earth is a sacred and timeless passage. This belief guides Fernwood’s commitment to green burial and environmentally mindful cremation, carried out through certified sustainable practices that honor life and the land.
Continuing memory through place
A final resting place allows remembrance to take on physical form, where cherished memories can be recalled, and connections with loved ones endure. At Fernwood, this is defined by the peaceful, restorative presence of nature.
Ongoing, connected care
We guide families as they move through loss with an experience that feels right for them. All services are carried out in-house — loved ones never leave our care — with every step shaped by emotional, cultural, and sensory fluency.
Types of cremation services Fernwood offers
Direct cremation is a simple, dignified cremation option without a viewing or ceremony at the time of cremation. All direct cremations are handled on-site at Fernwood, ensuring a respectful, environmentally attuned process carried out with care and attention.
Direct cremation
Witnessed cremation allows families to be present in the crematory at the beginning of the process. Observed in certain faiths as part of an end-of-life ceremony, Fernwood’s dedicated team honors and supports these traditions.
Witnessed cremation
Memorialization: Permanent placement within Fernwood’s cemetery grounds
Fernwood offers wall niches and outdoor boulder niches for as permanent memorials for cremated remains. The above-ground structures offer a permanent placement within the cemetery grounds.
Cremation niches
Fernwood is home to three designated scattering gardens set within the natural landscape. Scattering cremated remains allows the departed to return naturally to the earth.
Scattering grounds
Urn burial offers permanent placement of cremated remains within Fernwood’s natural or traditional cemetery sections, providing a lasting resting place connected to the land and open to visitation over time.
Urn burial
Tree-planting is also a meaningful option for a living memorial that grows over time. Families may select the tree themselves and scatter their loved one’s cremated remains there, if they choose.
Memorial tree
Cremation ceremony & funeral services
After the cremation, funeral ceremonies may be held indoors in Fernwood’s Remembrance Room or outdoors, at the chosen scattering garden, cremation niche, grave plot (for urn burial), or memorial tree. Services may reflect a range of traditions and faiths, including Buddhist cremation practices and secular or family-led ceremonies.
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
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What cremation services are available?
We offer on-site cremation services, including both witnessed and direct cremation options. Families may choose a witnessed cremation, allowing for a private moment before and during the process, or direct cremation without a viewing.
Cremation at Fernwood is grounded in environmentally mindful practices and takes place within our on-site crematory in Marin County. Serving families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Fernwood is one of the few mortuaries that performs cremation without transfer to an off-site facility. From beginning to end, your loved one remains in the care of our experienced team.
In addition, each cremation at Fernwood is paired with the planting and long-term care of native trees through a partnership with veritree. This commitment is designed to more than offset carbon emissions over time and is provided at no additional cost to families.
How long does the cremation process take?
The cremation itself takes a few hours. Fernwood’s staff will explain the timeline in advance based on the chosen arrangements.
Can I witness the cremation process at Fernwood?
Yes. Fernwood offers witnessed cremation for families who wish to be present. This option allows family members or close friends to gather and spend time with their loved one before the cremation begins.
Witnessed cremation takes place on-site in Fernwood’s thoughtfully designed crematory and is guided with care, allowing families to participate in a way that feels meaningful to them.
What are the environmental benefits of choosing green cremation?
Cremation generally requires less land use than traditional burial. Fernwood’s on-site crematory is designed for efficient energy use, helping reduce environmental impact.
In addition, each cremation at Fernwood is paired with the planting and long-term care of native trees through a partnership with veritree. This commitment is designed to more than offset carbon emissions over time and is provided at no additional cost to families. Learn more here https://impact.veritree.com/fernwood
Is scattering permitted on the grounds?
Yes. Scattering is permitted in designated areas throughout the grounds.
Options include scattering at a private memorial tree, a community tree, or within one of our scattering gardens, each offering a peaceful setting for remembrance.
