Queen of Heaven Cemetery & Funeral Center

Queen of Heaven Cemetery & Funeral Center, located at 1965 Reliez Valley Road in Lafayette, California, is a serene and sacred resting place nestled in the rolling hills of Contra Costa County. Operated by Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Oakland, it is one of nine cemeteries under the diocese’s care, serving 16 Catholic parishes in the central Contra Costa area. Dedicated on May 19, 1963, by the Most Reverend Floyd L. Begin, the first bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, this cemetery holds historical significance as the first Catholic cemetery established in the San Francisco Bay Area in 50 years. The nearly 200-acre property was once a walnut orchard belonging to the Haviside family, and the original farmhouse, barns, and cottages still stand on the grounds, preserving a sense of pastoral heritage.

The funeral center offers a comprehensive range of services to honor loved ones with dignity and faith. These include traditional ground burial, cremation services, cremation niches, mausoleum crypts, family estates, and on-site funeral and cremation services. The first mausoleum, consecrated in 1982, honors the four evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and was designed by architect Aaron Green, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. It accommodates up to 1,000 entombments and 792 niches for cremated remains. A second mausoleum, dedicated to the angels, was consecrated on November 2, 2003. The cemetery also features an onsite chapel, financial assistance options, and wheelchair-accessible facilities, including an accessible entrance and parking lot. A memorial mass is held on the first Saturday of each month, providing ongoing spiritual support to families.

Queen of Heaven is not only a place of burial but also a memorial park that offers a peaceful environment for reflection. With a rating of 3.6 from 45 reviews on Google, the facility is recognized for its compassionate staff and beautiful, well-maintained grounds. The operating hours are Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM, and closed on Sunday. For more information, families can contact the funeral center at (925) 932-0900. As a Catholic institution, it provides a sacred space where faith, history, and nature converge to offer comfort and solace to those mourning their loved ones.