Woodlawn Funeral Home

Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park, located at 1000 El Camino Real in Colma, California, is a historic and full-service funeral, cremation, and cemetery provider dedicated to serving the diverse communities of the San Francisco Bay Area. As part of the Dignity Memorial network, the facility has been a cornerstone of the 'City of Souls' since the early 20th century. Colma, known for its many cemeteries, earned its nickname due to its role as the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of San Francisco residents.

The funeral home itself is an architectural marvel, often referred to as 'the Castle.' This Gothic-style chapel was constructed from white granite transported by train from the Sierra Nevada mountains. Built by George Skaller, the chapel took nearly 15 years to complete and opened on October 29, 1904. Inside, the nondenominational chapel features stunning stained-glass windows, a rare historic organ (one of only 30 produced by its maker), and modern amenities such as a 90-inch television for multimedia tributes and a lobby with a large screen to broadcast services for overflow guests. The grounds are adorned with gorgeous Italian marble statues, blending timeless elegance with modern functionality.

Woodlawn specializes in serving families of all cultures and religions, with particular expertise in traditional Chinese funeral services. The team speaks multiple languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Tagalog, Japanese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The funeral home provides an outdoor area for burning paper money and other paper offerings, a key tradition in many Chinese funerals. The cemetery, Woodlawn Memorial Park, was designed with feng shui principles and includes the Moon Gate Garden, which features east-facing walkways and a traditional moon gate. A fortune teller is consulted before developing new garden sections, and families are welcome to bring their own fortune tellers to select burial plots.

Woodlawn operates an on-site crematory with a private witness room, one of only a few such facilities in the San Francisco area. This ensures that your loved one never leaves the care of the funeral home from start to finish. The memorial park offers a wide range of burial and cremation options, including ground burial, upright monuments, crypts, niches, scattering gardens, and private estates. The 60-acre property features rolling hills with well-manicured gardens, palm, cypress, and pine trees, offering breathtaking views of the Colma valley. It is also conveniently located near the Colma BART station, making it accessible for families avoiding San Francisco traffic.

The cemetery is the final resting place of notable figures such as Emperor Norton I (Joshua A. Norton), the eccentric San Franciscan who declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, and Etienne Guittard, founder of Guittard Chocolate. Woodlawn hosts a variety of annual events celebrating diverse traditions, including Ching Ming (a spring festival honoring ancestors, attracting thousands of visitors), Chung Yeung, Emperor Norton Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, Dia de los Muertos, and a holiday season light display with a life-size nativity scene.

Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park is committed to excellence, offering a 100% service guarantee and 24/7 availability by phone with a real person. Pre-planning services are available with up to 10% discount on cemetery property and funeral plans, helping families protect their loved ones and lock in current prices. Whether for an immediate need or future planning, Woodlawn's caring and professional staff provides a beautiful, dignified atmosphere for every family.