Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary

Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary, located at 1702 Fairhaven Avenue in Santa Ana, California, is a distinguished funeral home and cemetery that has served Orange County for over a century. Established on August 28, 1911, by Oliver Halsell and other local businessmen, Fairhaven was founded as a memorial park with flat markers and expansive green lawns, creating a serene and park-like environment for families to honor their loved ones.

The history of Fairhaven is rich and intertwined with local and Hollywood lore. In 1916, Halsell developed one of the first mausoleums in Orange County, and during its final construction in the 1930s, he installed one of the area's earliest crematories. This historic mausoleum gained unexpected fame in the mid-1950s when actor Charlton Heston recorded parts of his dialogue for the film 'The Ten Commandments' within its walls, drawn by the acoustics described as 'god-like.' After Halsell's death, the Waverley Church was built in his memory, an architectural gem that resembles an English countryside church and serves as a popular venue for weddings and committal services.

Today, Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary and its adjacent 73-acre cemetery are proud members of the Dignity Memorial network, North America's largest provider of funeral, cremation, and cemetery services. The funeral home, constructed in 1976, features a chapel that seats approximately 80 guests and offers a warm, home-like atmosphere. Families can choose from a range of personalized services, from traditional funerals to creative memorials that celebrate unique lives—such as displaying flowers in work boots or hosting a brunch where guests all wear hats.

Cremation services are a specialty, with transparent pricing and a rigorous custody-of-care program to ensure the identification and dignity of loved ones. Options include scattering ashes, memorialization at Neptune Memorial Reef, or even Celestis Memorial Spaceflight. The cemetery's beautiful cremation garden, Eternal Springs, was designed with feng shui principles and features a meandering stream, arched bridge, and ornamental gardens that attract monarch butterflies.

Additional notable areas include Serenity Court mausoleum with its state-of-the-art music equipment, Willow Garden with historic stonework, and Oxford Gardens with whimsical statues. The Garden of Valor honors veterans. The park is a community hub, hosting Easter sunrise services, Memorial Day flyovers, summer movie nights, rockabilly concerts, and Dia de los Muertos celebrations.

Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary is open 24/7 for immediate needs and offers pre-planning services with up to 10% savings. The facility is wheelchair accessible with free on-site parking and accepts prepayment plans. With a rating of 4.3 stars from over 400 reviews, the team is known for compassionate, personalized care. Whether families need immediate assistance or wish to plan ahead, Fairhaven provides a peaceful, historic setting to honor life and create lasting memories.