Most of my family is at rest at St. Mary's Cemetery in Oakland. We have a long history there over the years. My grandfather worked there during the days you had to dig graves by hand. It is a very peaceful cemetery with beautiful views. I recently lost my 99 year old uncle I was caring for. He had already purchased a crypt in the wall with pre-need insurance for everything else. The office staff (Maria and Rosario) were very understanding, compassionate and helpful. They set me up with Tony Tran, one of the Family Service Advisors, to coordinate final arrangements with the church and mortuary. I highly recommend working with Tony during your time of need. He really helped me out greatly with all the forms required and answered all my questions. He has lots of experience working with families in grief. He was present during the entombment to ensure everything was coordinated with the priests and staff. I highly recommend St. Mary's Cemetery for your pre-need arrangements and when the need arises. read more

If you are in an immediate need situation, they can be helpful but the way their actual service was conducted was absolutely unacceptable. A staff member, whose picture and name are no longer showing on their website, was extremely rude and obnoxious to my guests, who had a few questions when inside the office. Luis Tovar actually interrupted my Priest while he was conducting the gravesite ceremony to speak to me about a non-urgent matter that could have been discussed AFTER this sacred and solemn event had concluded. Staff member Maria Karger, who initially assisted me, was most helpful throughout the process. The Inurnment of my Dearly Departed took place on April 25th, 2025. read more

The staff was very polite when my mom past in 2015, I like the space she purchased up on the hill. The only problem I had was it raining that day and we couldn't be there when she was lowered to the ground, but over all I was happy we found a nice serene place for her. read more

In all honesty there are places you don't want to go. In any capacity. However the staff at St. Mary's was wonderful and very helpful. read more

Lovely views within Oakland with rolling hills and lush greenery. We drove much farther than I thought. Everything looked well Maintain. The staff from the Chapel of the Chimes were polite and respectful. They helped with the burial, traffic control, and parking. It was a lovely service under the circumstances. read more

St. Mary Cemetry - Outside views of the cemetery. - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Oakland, California

Peaceful. Serene. Gorgeous views. Is it just for Catholics though? I have the pleasure of living steps away from this cemetery. While I know that this is a place where the dead rest, I can't help but find myself taking several of my morning walks here. There is less to no people around, it's quiet, and there are a few nice easy paths to navigate. I don't have to think much as I listen to my podcast and walk/jog up and down the hill, paying respects to the dead in their "dormitories." From the top of the hill, you can see Oakland's high rise buildings, including my KP Regional office buildings. Grass is freshly green and it looks like the property is well-maintained by the groundskeepers. I recommend coming through if you are in the area for a quick walk/run or to schedule burial services. (If needed) read more

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My experience was absolutely the worst! This lady named Maria Krager was being super rude and was giving us attitude the whole time. I think it might have also been a racist manner in which she was treating us horribly because she wasn't even trying to understand or sort something out. She threatened to cancel the burial service and didn't let it continue until everyone who wasn't the 10 selected family members left. Even with the difficult situation we were going through she did not care and kept being disrespectful. I would not pay $50K. read more

My brother Raul & mother in law Martina are buried here. Yelp and online say it's closed weekends. However it's open daily till 5pm

The service our family has received here has been an absolute nightmare. After our grandmother passed away last year, after going through everything that we did emotionally, the service here has taken it over the top. One would think that the cemetery and their employees would have more empathy towards those dealing with the loss of a loved one, but that's not the case here at this cemetery. we have been trying to get her plaque for many months now, and we still can't get an answer. We have dealt with multiple employees there, but they have been rude and keep contradicting themselves. I will never recommend anyone here, the overall experience here has been horrendous! David & Maria need training! Or St. Mary's should hire better employees because they are horrible. read more

The office staff here are horrible in particular the girl with the long dark brown hair. As someone in the service industry, particularly dealing with death and grief, it would be helpful to have a better attitude. On the day of my mother's service in February at the chapel on the cemetery grounds she was incredibly RUDE. First she stated that she couldn't outfit the chapel with 50 chairs after another member of her team said they had 50 chairs. I remember everything from that day including how horribly she treated me and her incredibly rude 50 foot stare intentionally not looking at me. What a disgrace to the Catholic Church. I was just here to put another family member to rest and I walked out because of her attitude. read more

So when you read a review of a cemetery, I'm sure you expect to hear about funerals, deaths and memorials. And to some extent this review is no different. My maternal grandparents are buried on the right side of the cemetery, right next to the the fountain memoralizing St. Mary. My paternal grandparents are up the hill on the left. My uncle is on the left, mid way up the hill. The next thing I am about to tell you in crazy, but true. My parents will be buried a ways up from my paternal grandparents, and so will I. YES, my parents have already bought their plot as well as room for me and my FOUR siblings!!!! That alone is reason enough for giving this cemetery five stars. St. Mary's is and will always be a huge part of me, as insane as this may sound, I grew up in that cemetery. Just a little bit of background info, my family immigrated to the US in 1975. We were lucky enough to have the majority of my extended family sponsored by parishes in the bay area. My uncle and his family were sponsored by St. Leo's and were moved to Howe Street. Now if you drive in the cemetery through the Howe St entrance, look towards your left, you'll see a set of steps leading up to a HUGE Edwardian. That is where I spent the summers of my youth. My uncle, his wife, my grandmother and my eight cousins lived there. I learned how to bake sweets, garden, climb trees, swim (yes, swim), ride bikes, fired off firecrackers and countless other things in this cemetery. We ran over head stones, played hide and seek, and picnicked throughout the cemetery. I love the fact that even though you are in the city, there is an area in the midst of the hussle and bussle that is completely dark, without city lights and the only natural light come from the stars above. My uncle no longer lives there, but St. Mary's Cemetery is still the place of many of my happiest childhood memories. read more

St. Mary Cemetry - Entrance to St. Mary's - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Oakland, California

Hello, I am writing this review to save others the headache of dealing with this cemetery. We all know the loss of a loved one is never easy but they have been giving us the runaround for over 7 months. My grandmothers service was 5/16. I called July because a family member told me she did not have her plaque with her name spoke with Maria and David the told me she will have it in 2 weeks. I followed up in July they then proceeded to tell me she does not have it because they are waiting on approval of the layout. When the previous month they gave me different information. We are no longer in contact with the family member who is "taking care of this" so we couldn't verify the validity. I gave it another month August followed up spoke with David and Maria (RUDE) David told me he will look into it any get back to with via phone call that never occurred it was like playing phone tag. October rolls around I call again he David finally tells me they are having a delay and it will be shipped Jan 9, 2023. Ok all this run around I call Jan 10 (TODAY) and David tells me he's not giving info out of respect for my family members. Hello it's my grandmother who is without a name plate. Service has been horrible, incorrect information given numerous time.. no one should wait over 7 months for a name plate that it's beyond disrespectful. Employees need empathy and to actually do their job they get paid to do. Please save yourself and go to another cemetery. I couldn't check myself because we are 6 hours away! Update: another excuse they used one month was a ex employee failed to submit the paperwork that is why they had a delay. When I called a minimum 10 times!!!!! UNACCEPTABLE. read more

Truly a local gem - this cemetery is a gorgeous little quiet place to visit. Not as grand in scale as Mountain View next door - but also lacking in the speeding cars, partying teenagers and foot traffic. I remember seeing a sign that says it closes at 4:30 - so get in there for a nice morning or mid-day walk and enjoy some of the excellent stone masonry from 150 years ago on display throughout. One of my favorite local urban parks! read more

St. Mary Cemetry - Polka allowed in heaven ? - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Oakland, California

It's that time of year...the holidays when many of our customers who have moved out of the area return to visit familia both living and deceased. I've grown to think of my career choice as the continuation of the living legacy started by my Grandma Rosa, our founder, who passed away before I was born. Everyday I hear stories about her, other family members, friends, former neighbors and customers that take place anywhere in time from last week to over 60 years ago. Sometimes I don't catch who is still with us and who has passed away since present and past tenses get blurry with everyone involved in the conversations. I love the "I remember when" stories about when Old Oakland was the barrio and a thriving community at that. It seams like almost every family in the neighborhood had a least one member who worked at La Borinquena and I get lots of "my grandma worked for your grandma" or "I worked for your family when I was a kid." Other times it's "my favorite tio or tia would always bring me for lunch" or "my grandma would bribe me when I was little to be quiet at church with the promise of tamales." So many of these fine people including my maternal grandparents, my favorite tia and now my Pops are now resting peacefully at St. Mary's, the first cemetery in Oakland. It wasn't till the summer of 2006 that I got acquainted with the office here since Pop left me in charge of helping Mami make his arrangements. Even though he was originally from Mexico, Oakland was where he lived most of his life and where he would remain. Regina, our family service counselor, was understanding and kind yet professional while taking us through the steps necessary in securing a grave. I have to say gracias to Mami for giving me such a healthy outlook on dying and death. Maybe it's because we come from a long line of merchants and good or bad, happy or sad, the show (our business and life) must go on. Mami says funerals and resting places are not for the dead but for the living. They give us something to hold on to, a place to visit and to help reminisce about those we care for who have gone to another place but still remain in our thoughts and in our hearts. According to my family, our loved ones become guardian angels who watch over us, visit in our dreams and pull our feet while we sleep if we've been bad! So I'm not kidding when I say I have lots of dead people in my life. We picked a spot for Pops in the new area where the statue of St. Joseph is located. It has spectacular views of Oakland and is on the top of the hill next to the Claremont Country Club golf course. "!Que Special!" (sarcastically) would have been my father's remark about his final resting place. Mami has commented that it has always been bright and sunny when we go to the cemetery, that he wouldn't want it to be sad, dark and dreary when we visit. Sweet Bratty Niece finds visiting her grandpa here very tranquil and soothing and I also agree. More members of the Old Neighborhood are making their way to this section and reforming a community of sorts. Mami is glad that they are keeping each other company and that our families are still connected as they are in life as well in death. One of my favorite little old lady customers who's immediate family are all at St. Mary's told me they do a Day of the Dead celebration complete with a Mariachi band. I'll try to check it out next year. This place, like Oakland in general, holds a special place in my heart and will be home for me and many of my family, friends and acquaintances now and for always. read more

St. Mary Cemetry - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Oakland, California

This cemetary is really quiet and quite scenic as the other side of it's neighboor Mountain View Cemetary. I have many Friends laid to rest here and a half my family is here. I love mosuleums are really nice. I enjoy laughing at the people's pictures,because they hella old and ugly. (LMAO i'mma go to hell for this.) But yea. other than it's really clean and nice and the smell of fresh grass is the best read more

One of the most beautiful, stunning active cemeteries I have ever seen. It makes you forlorn, and yes life is bittersweet.... ... but I couldn't imagine not being here right now and experiencing the swings that I do. I also want to mention I went with a wonderful friend that I do miss. Life is sometimes very odd, huh? Sometimes as odd as my reviews. read more

St. Mary's is beautiful, nicely kept and far enough away from the bustle of the city. On a good day, it's so quiet and serene there, it makes every minute spent there seem like a tiny trip to heaven. I have a close relative buried in the St. Joseph Section. At every one of my trips there, I always spend a few minutes taking in the vista. It's always beautiful. I love this place, but I had to knock 1 star off for the services. I don't know how it is at other cemeteries, but at St. Mary's they don't even let you put the stone up until they receive full payment of the plot. And, if you want to use their services for the stone, you're in for an exhausting time... This is my experience with ordering a stone through them: After we finished paying for the plot (which took us about 8 months), we had a consultation with one of the people that worked there. We worked out a size and a design and the person that worked there said that it would take a few days for her to let us know how much more it was going to be (the stone was a bit larger than what we had already paid for, so there was going to be another payment). We kept going back week after week to find out how much more we had to pay so that the stone would finally be ordered. The person that worked there kept saying something along the lines of "I keep trying to get a hold of them [the masons] but they haven't gotten back to me yet. Definitely by next week." It took them 2 MONTHS to give us the price...*sigh* After that, we went back and paid what was extra, and the order was placed after a week or two's worth of reconfiguring the design on the stone and sending back the final design. We were told that it would take 6-8 weeks for the stone to be put up and that they wouldn't know when exactly so they could let us know and that they couldn't call to tell us when it was put up. It would just be a "surprise." But with 10 weeks to go until Christmas, we thought it would be up by at least that day. After 8 weeks had passed the stone still wasn't up. Christmas came and went. As did New Year's, when we finally went on a time/day that the offices were open, we were told that they hadn't been able to put up the stone because of the rain. A week later, we brought the picture for the stone in and were told that the base was up. I'll give it to them, the base was placed perfectly... Days letter, I get an email from the person who works there telling me that they had made a mistake and didn't make a contract for the picture...*sigh* Now we have to make another payment (which we could've made the day we gave them the picture) and have to wait EVEN MORE for the stone to be put up. It may just be me...but how much work is there really at a place that can't have more than a few burials a week that they can't take care of business like they should? Also, the bathrooms stink. Other than that. It's beautiful and all the trouble that you have to go through is well, trouble that you have to go through. read more

Hello my aunt lost her husband a little over six months ago they were each other's world. Married for a super long time. They said the marker ie headstone would take several months about 6 or 7 months. My aunt wanted to include a photo and some special engraving. She likes red it's her favorite color so she specified a imperial red granite. She would call the office arranger Ericka and Ericka would never return her calls. My aunt wanted to know when her husbands marker would arrive and be placed finally Ericka responded and said the marker was in shipment. The markers come from there vender in Minnesota. When the marker arrived it was not the correct color of granite my aunt chose. Not even close it was a dark grayish black, my aunt ordered imperial red. My aunt hates dark grey for a monument ie marker. It's a sad color. Then the lady from ST Mary's Ericka told my aunt she would have to wait 6 months all over again until the correct granite marker arrives from Minnesota. I BOUGHT MY BURIAL PLOT FROM THEM as the location was close to my family members along side my cousin George and my uncle Tony. Now I will have my marker installed and engraved except for my death date, just to make sure they don't screw up for obvious reasons. read more

I hang out here less than at its neighbor, the Mountain View Cemetery, mostly because it's smaller. However, it's every bit as beautiful and peaceful. It loses a star in comparison to Mountain View Cemetery, however, because its views aren't as good and it's pretty hard to get in after dark. read more

PROS: - beautiful cemetery - landscape kept up nicely - recently renovated - decent visiting hours - next to a golf course - quiet - staff are pretty nice CONS: - parking can get kinda crazy - sort of hard to find if it's your first time there read more

Yesterday I was attending a emotional funeral and I had a lady approach me rudely about the amount of people coming in to the Cemetry. I told the lady I had 9 and she proceed to talk and want to let us know who she is. Little did she know I'm a current of plot here. I then talk to my family about if this is how they talk to you alive then imagine how they treat you dead. Horrible encounter I wouldnt recommend this resting area for any family. These people should know that during deaths, people are emotionally unstable. And this lady gave zero "f**ks". read more

Went during the lockdown to try to find my great great grandma and was given 15 minutes due to the lockdown but that was enough to find her.

Not a lot of people to talk to. There is constant and consistent aura of of lots of pretty dead folks around. The only lively things are the peaceful sounds of shuttering sprinklers moistening the vast hills of rolling lawns. Occasionally you also get the quick chirps of faraway birds that compete with the screaming names and dates etched on tombstones. Even if you have lots to do, this is a great place to unwind and reflect. read more

My sweet grandfather and my grandmother's (rest in peace) parents and sister are buried here. I love coming here because it reminds me of coming here with my parents and siblings as a kid and looking at all the old pictures on the old gravestones. I still look at them and wonder. However, I'm an adult now and I freely come and go to visit my grandpa. It saddens me to see the roads looking so destroyed and not taken care of as well as some of these really old gravestones falling forward. I know the land shifts, but the keepers should be maintaining this sacred place more carefully for more generations to see. I hope they fix the roads and pay more attention to the gravestones. read more

My family has several plots at St Mary's, but I only recently had the personal experience with the office there to inter my dad's ashes. Patricia was professional and responsive and guided me through the paperwork in a few emails and one visit. She is a gem. read more

If it wasn't for Regina, my rating would be lower. My brother and sister are there and we were having my mother buried with them. We started with Patricia M and our first impression was great. After that, it was all bad. She never returned calls or answered emails. I had to end up, each time going to Regina to finalize everything. Three months later we are still waiting for the headstone because it took two months for Patricia to get it right (with spellings and correct names). Still can't understand why because we did the original mock up with her ?? It was hard enough to go through a death without adding the frustration of not being able to finalized your plans. Regina is great, the place is great and without her help, my mother would not be with her children. Patricia M was not a good experience and fails past the first face to face. read more

I love this place every time I go, I say I would like to end up here. unfortunately we have several family members from my parents to grand parents aunts and uncles but what a beautiful place to rest. UNTIL we witnessed the RUDE dog owners playing Frisbee over the graves one dog even lifted his leg and peed on one of the lower wall crypts. We also witnessed a dog digging at the connecting Mt. View cemetery. Although they are not related someone cut the fence and the lowlife dog owner crawled through RUDE! You people entering this final Catholic resting place are probably not even Catholic let alone have one person that rests here. This may be a public place but is not meant to be a dog park! Take your local Home owner or rental butts somewhere else. You may be all Hoity totty living in these wonderful hills but you are less than ghetto with you inconsiderate actions. I told one of you off and the next time I see one of you rude people, I will let you have a piece of my mind in between the prayers and words I give to my loved ones who are interned here who have rights to a clean and decent final resting place. May you get peed and defecated on when your still alive, You know who you are! St. Mary's and family members lets band together to keep these locals out. Unless you have a family member here you should not be allowed to bring your pet. Thank you read more