Headstones in the San Francisco Bay Area: Colma, the East Bay and the South Bay

San Francisco banned most new burials in the early 1900s, and many of its cemeteries moved south to Colma, where the dead famously outnumber the living. Today Colma's Catholic, Jewish, Chinese, Italian, Serbian, Greek and Japanese cemeteries serve families across the Bay Area. Veterans may be buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno or San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio.

Many traditions

Chinese families may include characters, photos and ancestral details; Filipino families often add portraits and Tagalog. See Chinese traditions and Filipino traditions.

Mild, foggy weather

Coastal fog and mild winters are kind to granite, though salt air and moss can affect softer stones. Polished granite is best.

Cemetery rules

In the United States, cemeteries are regulated state by state, and every cemetery — municipal, religious, nonprofit or private — sets its own rules on memorial sizes, materials, foundations and installation. Before you order:

• Ask the cemetery for its rules and fee schedule in writing (foundation, setting and any permit fees).
• Confirm who installs — cemetery staff or an approved monument company.
• Submit the design for approval before production.

Our cemetery headstone rules guide has a full checklist, and headstone setting fees explained covers the extra costs.

Veterans

Eligible veterans can receive a government headstone, marker or medallion, and families can also choose a private granite monument that includes service details. See veteran headstones and VA rules, the VA medallion and military inscriptions.

Factory-direct to the Bay Area

Marwaa Memorials manufactures in our own factory and delivers door-to-door across the USA under DAP terms, with freight, customs and duties included in the quote. Plan the design in our Design Studio, request a quote, or call our US team via the contact page. Read how DAP delivery works.

Local pages: our California headstone guide.