Planning a funeral in Berkeley

While there are few funeral homes within the Berkeley city limits, you’ll find a wealth of options in nearby cities and towns around the East Bay. Most people in Berkeley opt for cremation over burial, as it’s more environmentally friendly and it can be thousands of dollars cheaper.

Many people in Berkeley chose to hold a celebration of life, instead of a traditional funeral ceremony. A celebration of life is usually a happier event, focusing on the impact that the person had, and is separated from the disposition of the person’s body. If you choose to do this, a direct cremation may be all you need. Any of the funeral homes around the Berkeley area should be able to help you with this.

If you’d like to scatter your loved one’s ashes, there are several companies that will help you do so in the San Francisco Bay. You may also want to consider one of the beautiful outdoor areas surrounding Berkeley; think of a place that may have been special to the person who passed.

If you want have your loved one buried, there are a number of beautiful cemeteries in the East Bay, as well as a certified green cemetery nearby in Napa.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the notion of planning a funeral, you may want to try our free funeral planning guide to make key funeral decisions, get a planning checklist, and find places and vendors that are right for you and your family.