Having established itself long ago as San Diego’s most prestigious funeral home and cemetery, Greenwood Memorial Park, Mortuary and Crematory is truly a place like no other.
Built in 1907 on a slight hill with an ocean view, Greenwood’s appeal began with its location. Over the years, it has expanded to include several chapels, a mortuary, crematory, three mausoleums, a collection of international and rare vegetation and statuary.
Many prominent San Diego residents are laid to rest here and many of the markers tell a fascinating story. For those unfamiliar with Belle Benchley, for example, it might come as a surprise to stumble across a grave marker depicting the face of a gorilla. Known as The Zoo Lady, Benchley was the director of the San Diego Zoo from 1927 to 1953, and guided its expansion from a small collection of animals to an innovative, world-class zoo.
At Greenwood, we understand that losing someone you love is one of life’s most difficult experiences, and that’s why it’s so important to us that our clients feel like an extension of our own family. Our incredible team of professionals have many years of experience, and as we comfort families in times of loss, we work tirelessly to ensure they’re all treated with compassion and respect.
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News
Flash Befitting a Diva: Aretha Franklin’s Funeral
Aretha Franklin died in August, and the world mourned her passing. One of the most famous entertainers in the world, she had a career that spanned seven decades, and music that transcended generations. To say she was very well-loved is an understatement, as was made undeniably evident during her public viewing, which included two outfit
Read More >>When There’s Time to Say Goodbye
The death of a loved one is often painful and difficult, no matter what the circumstance of that death may be. Sometimes we know in advance that death is approaching. It can be a painful time, as we watch our loved one suffer, knowing there’s nothing we can do to keep the end at bay.
Read More >>How to Honor a Loved One Online
When a loved one dies, it’s important to honor the memory of that person’s life. That’s why we plan a meaningful service, full of music and readings that reflect the nature and personality of our loved one. It’s also why we look for ways to memorialize those people we’ve lost, whether through headstones and statuary
Read More >>When the Holidays Hit You Hard
The holiday season is a warm and nostalgic time for many people. But for those grieving a loss, the holidays can be especially difficult. Gathering for all the usual events can feel overwhelming, and memories of the loved one who has died can intensify sadness. If you’re grieving, it’s important to take care of yourself during the holidays. Care for yourself physically. Make sure you’re
Read More >>Can Movies Help with Grief?
Grief is an intensely personal emotion experienced in many different ways by different people. Some counselors recommend movies as a way to ease the pain and process the grief. Movies that are full of emotion can be cathartic. They can also provide an opportunity for discussion and may help people to process their own feelings, which can be beneficial not only for adults but for children too. Seeing
Read More >>The Loss of John McCain: Grieving a National Hero
August saw the loss of Senator John McCain, and our nation grieved. A longstanding and sometimes controversial figure in American politics, McCain was well-respected across the aisle and celebrated as a national hero for his service to our country during his lengthy military career. No one was surprised by the news of his death because
Read More >>Suffering from SAD when You’re Sad
Winter is approaching, and with it the winter blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder affects between 10 and 20 percent of Americans, causing people to feel depressed or hopeless, disinterested in normal activities, and sluggish or fatigued. If you’ve recently suffered a loss, Seasonal Affective Disorder can be a double blow, intensifying those feelings of grief. The symptoms of grief and SAD
Read More >>What Happens to Your Facebook when you Die? (And other social media questions)
Most of us have a social media presence. In fact, about 73% of online adults have at least one social media account, and that includes 57% of the baby boomers who have an online presence. Social media is wonderful for keeping in touch with friends and family, sharing photos, thoughts, events, and more. Sure, there
Read More >>Ancient Traditions Around Death: Lessons We Can Learn
Modern medicine and contemporary funeral practices have made many of us far removed from death. Things tend to be much more sanitized than they were in the ancient world, and death typically happens out of sight, with the body handled by professionals and whisked away from view. There’s also a push to “get it over with” and rush past death, which means that some people choose to skip the funeral in order to
Read More >>Who’ll Care for Mom? Helping One Parent After the Loss of the Other
People in loving, lengthy marriages are always doing little things for each other throughout the day, whether it’s bringing a cup of coffee, checking the oil in the car, or any of the countless other small tasks that get taken for granted. As they grow older and one partner begins to fail in some way, the other tends to compensate for it, often subconsciously. Some couples may not realize the extent of their interdependence. For others, one might become the
Read More >>
Flash Befitting a Diva: Aretha Franklin’s Funeral
Aretha Franklin died in August, and the world mourned her passing. One of the most famous entertainers in the world, she had a career that spanned seven decades, and music that transcended generations. To say she was very well-loved is an understatement, as was made undeniably evident during her public viewing, which included two outfit Read More >>When There’s Time to Say Goodbye
The death of a loved one is often painful and difficult, no matter what the circumstance of that death may be. Sometimes we know in advance that death is approaching. It can be a painful time, as we watch our loved one suffer, knowing there’s nothing we can do to keep the end at bay. Read More >>How to Honor a Loved One Online
When a loved one dies, it’s important to honor the memory of that person’s life. That’s why we plan a meaningful service, full of music and readings that reflect the nature and personality of our loved one. It’s also why we look for ways to memorialize those people we’ve lost, whether through headstones and statuary Read More >>When the Holidays Hit You Hard
The holiday season is a warm and nostalgic time for many people. But for those grieving a loss, the holidays can be especially difficult. Gathering for all the usual events can feel overwhelming, and memories of the loved one who has died can intensify sadness. If you’re grieving, it’s important to take care of yourself during the holidays. Care for yourself physically. Make sure you’re Read More >>Can Movies Help with Grief?
Grief is an intensely personal emotion experienced in many different ways by different people. Some counselors recommend movies as a way to ease the pain and process the grief. Movies that are full of emotion can be cathartic. They can also provide an opportunity for discussion and may help people to process their own feelings, which can be beneficial not only for adults but for children too. Seeing Read More >>The Loss of John McCain: Grieving a National Hero
August saw the loss of Senator John McCain, and our nation grieved. A longstanding and sometimes controversial figure in American politics, McCain was well-respected across the aisle and celebrated as a national hero for his service to our country during his lengthy military career. No one was surprised by the news of his death because Read More >>Suffering from SAD when You’re Sad
Winter is approaching, and with it the winter blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder affects between 10 and 20 percent of Americans, causing people to feel depressed or hopeless, disinterested in normal activities, and sluggish or fatigued. If you’ve recently suffered a loss, Seasonal Affective Disorder can be a double blow, intensifying those feelings of grief. The symptoms of grief and SAD Read More >>What Happens to Your Facebook when you Die? (And other social media questions)
Most of us have a social media presence. In fact, about 73% of online adults have at least one social media account, and that includes 57% of the baby boomers who have an online presence. Social media is wonderful for keeping in touch with friends and family, sharing photos, thoughts, events, and more. Sure, there Read More >>Ancient Traditions Around Death: Lessons We Can Learn
Modern medicine and contemporary funeral practices have made many of us far removed from death. Things tend to be much more sanitized than they were in the ancient world, and death typically happens out of sight, with the body handled by professionals and whisked away from view. There’s also a push to “get it over with” and rush past death, which means that some people choose to skip the funeral in order to Read More >>Who’ll Care for Mom? Helping One Parent After the Loss of the Other
People in loving, lengthy marriages are always doing little things for each other throughout the day, whether it’s bringing a cup of coffee, checking the oil in the car, or any of the countless other small tasks that get taken for granted. As they grow older and one partner begins to fail in some way, the other tends to compensate for it, often subconsciously. Some couples may not realize the extent of their interdependence. For others, one might become the Read More >>
Recent Obituaries
“I lost my son in a tragic situation. He was a young adult and the comfort I needed came so effortlessly from the staff at Greenwood. I was in shock, grief, disbelief, numb and clueless as to what had to be done. Jennifer Berry’s warm, caring manner and comforting words helped put me at ease. Jennifer held my hand and took care of everything for me. I feel she was purposely put in my path and I will be forever grateful.” — E.M.
“I viewed my 98-year-old great grandma at Greenwood. Thank you for doing such a nice job on her makeup. She looked absolutely beautiful in her casket. I am happy that she is at peace and that my last image of her will be a good memory.” — K. B.
“Every single person we encountered was phenomenal! Desmond was outstanding! He was so pleasant and thoughtful” — P.K.
Contact Us
Greenwood Memorial Park & Mortuary
4300 Imperial Avenue
San Diego, CA 92113
California License FD#: 843 / COA 661
619.450.1479
© 2018 Greenwood Memorial Park & Mortuary
Proud Affiliate of NorthStar Memorial Group