Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary

Memorial Day 2024 - Remember & Honor

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

Picture It! 📷 at Woodlawn
Woodlawn is a photogenic, historic landmark in the center of Santa Monica. Capture the spirit, beauty and/or essence of Woodlawn and send your photo to [email protected]. We’ll regularly feature the best shots. Beautiful January days are not too uncommon in Santa Monica and yesterday was one of them. We thank Ann Naylor who sent us this beauty shot of the grand James & Mary Wood tombstone against the clear blue sky. James and Mary Wood were two early Santa Monica residents who passed away in 1928 and 1942 respectively. This majestic monument graces the southeast section of the Cemetery grounds.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

Did you know ...
○•═•○•─•○•═•○. that in 2016 Woodlawn became the second cemetery in the Los Angeles area to offer green/natural burial? Casket burial plots and cremation graves for green/natural interments are now both available in Eternal Meadow, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary's green/natural burial section. With green/natural burial, there is no embalming and there are no cement vaults. Burials are completed using only caskets made of wood with no metals or lacquers, burial shrouds made of organic fabric, or biodegradable urns for cremation interments. Eco-friendly concepts are also at work above ground. Eternal Meadow is composed of native California grasses and wildflowers that provide habitat for the region's native birds and pollinator insects. For more information, contact our office by phone at (310) 458-8717 or by email at [email protected].

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

Since 2011, Ian Kimbrey has been working to increase the region’s bluebird population including the numbers here at Woodlawn. The nesting season ended a few weeks ago and the final numbers for the year are in. According to Kimbrey, 2023 has been a big success. The number of nests at Woodlawn increased from seven in 2022 to nine this past year, and the number of eggs produced increased from 39 to 49. 41 chicks successfully left the nest in 2023, a 64% increase from 2022.

Upon seeing the cartoon bluebirds in Disney’s “Song of the South,” as a child in England, Kimbrey was surprised not to see many when he first arrived in California in 1980. In 2009, he finally put up a nest box at Penmar golf course and his commitment to increasing their numbers began in earnest. Bluebirds are a colorful addition to Woodlawn and the region, but they’re also beneficial. They eat a lot of bugs, reducing the need for pesticides. They are, however, affected by heavy predation and are threatened by habitat loss and degradation. They also face competition for nesting cavities from non-native birds. Kimbrey hopes to build on his success in 2024. You can follow his adventures on Instagram - . And we thank Barbara Weaver for her images of these beautiful creatures on the Cemetery grounds.

From the Staff of Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary , have a safe and Happy Holiday season. Here are our operating hours for the remainder of the holiday season and please note Office Staff can be reached 24/7 at (310) 458-8717 x1 for emergencies such as the passing or imminent passing of a loved one or facility emergencies:

CEMETERY GROUNDS
Daily: 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM

MAUSOLEUM
Weekends, Holidays: 10 :00 AM - 4:00 PM
December 26 through December 29: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

OFFICE
December 25: CLOSED
December 26 through December 28: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
December 29: 8:00 AM to 12 NOON
December 30 through January 1: CLOSED
Regular hours will resume Tuesday, January 2

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

~ ON THIS DAY ~
Born: Barbara Billingsley - Film & Television Actor
(December 22, 1915 - October 10, 2010)

After years of uncredited and small parts in film and television, Barbara Billingsley landed her first and only major film role in 1957, co-starring with Dean Stockwell and Natalie Trundy in "The Careless Years." That same year, she made her mark on TV as June Cleaver, the matriarch of the Cleaver family, in "Leave It to Beaver." The top-rated sitcom ran for six seasons from 1957 to 1963. She reprised the role in the 1980s reboot, "The New Leave It to Beaver," which aired on The Disney Channel and TBS from 1984 to 1989. She passed away in 2010 and is interred in the southern end of the the Cemetery grounds.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

Picture It! 📷 at Woodlawn
Woodlawn is a photogenic, historic landmark in the center of Santa Monica. Capture the spirit, beauty and/or essence of Woodlawn and send your photo to [email protected]. We’ll regularly feature the best shots. The Moongate is a recent addition to Woodlawn, located in Eternal Meadow, the cemetery's green/natural burial section. We thank Kristina Sado for her beautiful photograph. You can find out if green/natural burial is right for you by contacting our office at (310) 458-8717 x2 for more information or to schedule a tour of the Meadow with a Cemetery representative. Information can also by requested by email at [email protected] .

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

Picture It! 📷 at Woodlawn
Woodlawn is a photogenic, historic landmark in the center of Santa Monica. Capture the spirit, beauty and/or essence of Woodlawn and send your photo to [email protected]. We’ll regularly feature the best shots. The Ireito is a 15-foot-high granite memorial monument on the Cemetery grounds that was erected after Japanese Americans returned from World War II camps. Today, it has come to represent the Japanese Americans who settled in our region and all other generations of Japanese Americans, including those who served in the U.S. military. An interfaith service is held at the Ireito each Memorial Day. We thank Phyllis Hayashibara for sharing these photographs.

~ ON THIS DAY ~
Passed Away: William Tuttle - acclaimed Hollywood make-up artist
(April 13, 1912 - July 27, 2007)

As a makeup artist for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), William Tuttle worked with the movie industry’s biggest stars and numerous well-known films. In 1965, he received an honorary Oscar for his impressive work in "7 Faces of Dr. Lao," 17 years before makeup became an official Oscar category. Later in life, he developed makeup company Custom Color Cosmetics and taught film classes at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1970 to 1995. Tuttle is interred in the Woodlawn Mausoleum.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

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With the introduction of Eternal Meadow in 2017, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary has been on the forefront of the natural burial movement in Southern California. Recently, additional options in the trend towards eco-frriendly end-of-life options have been developed. This news feature from CBS News provides a inside look at one of those new options - human composting. Though not a service provided by Woodlawn, human composting is now allowed in five U.S. states including California.

Human composting: The rising interest in natural burial Natural organic reduction, more simply known as human composting, is a natural process that transforms the body into soil. It has become a recognized alternative to embalming, and a climate-friendly option compared to cremation. Correspondent Ben Tracy visits the Seattle funeral home Recompose, the....

Thank you to all who have served our country. We honor you this Memorial Day, and every day. 🇺🇸

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

Is green/natural burial right for you? Join us tomorrow-Sat., April 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for our Eternal Meadow Tours where you can learn all about green/natural burial and Eternal Meadow, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary's green/natural burial section. You can also speak to our gardening professionals about the native California plants and wildflowers that compose the Meadow and receive water-wise tips for home gardens and landscaping. The event is free. Free parking is available on the Cemetery grounds and metered parking is available on 14th Street bordering the Cemetery.

~ ON THIS DAY ~
Passed Away: Irene Ryan - Television, Film, Broadway & Vaudeville Actor and Radio Star
(October 17, 1902 - April 26, 1973)

Irene Ryan was a veteran of vaudeville, radio, and television, and appeared in dozens of films from 1941 to 1960. In 1962, Ryan won instant acclaim and fame in her iconic role of “Granny” on the long-running television comedy The Beverly Hillbillies. When the show ended, Ryan joined the cast of the Broadway musical Pippin. During a performance in March 1973, she suffered a stroke and passed away the following month. She is interred in the Woodlawn Mausoleum. The Irene Ryan Foundation she started in 1972 still awards scholarships to student actors to this day.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

Picture It! 📷 at Woodlawn
Woodlawn is a photogenic, historic landmark in the center of Santa Monica. Capture the spirit, beauty and/or essence of Woodlawn and send your photo to [email protected]. We’ll regularly feature the best shots. Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary is a favorite location for the area's bird watching enthusiasts. Those who have been waiting to see signs of nesting this Spring at the Cemetery finally witnessed just that. We thank Barbara Weaver and Ian Kimbrey for these photographs of a bluebird carrying nesting material to a bird box on the Cemetery grounds and the nest being built inside that bird box.

Picture It! 📷 at Woodlawn
Woodlawn is a photogenic, historic landmark in the center of Santa Monica. Capture the spirit, beauty and/or essence of Woodlawn and send your photo to [email protected]. We’ll regularly feature the best shots. After the unprecedented series of winter rainstorms, Woodlawn's grounds have been disrupted and a few trees have been lost, but signs of Spring have already started to emerge. We thank Connie Day for her photographs of the brilliant Vermillion flycatcher, a reminder of the return of spring in Santa Monica.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary Woodlawn Cemetery, Mortuary and Mausoleum - FD #2101

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For the past few years, Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary has seen an increasing interest in its Eternal Meadow, the Cemetery's green/natural burial section. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, more than half of Americans are now seeking greener funerals. This article from The Washington Post highlights current green end of life options and may provide insight as to whether greener funerals are right for you.

Advice | Comparing green funeral options, from composting to natural burial to water cremation If you're planning a green funeral, you have a lot of choice. The Post's climate coach explains how much each one costs, both for you and the planet.

Picture It! 📷 at Woodlawn
Woodlawn is a photogenic, historic landmark in the center of Santa Monica. Capture the spirit, beauty and/or essence of Woodlawn and send your photo to [email protected]. We’ll regularly feature the best shots. The Square and Compass are among the traditional tools of stonemasons and they also form the symbol representing Mason fraternal organizations. One of the country's largest representations of the Square and Compass is at Woodlawn. The arrangement of several hundred headstones that form the symbol is 163 feet by 175 feet and is located behind the Mausoleum. We thank Emmanuel Paraskiv for this amazing image.

From the Staff of Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary, have a safe and Happy Holiday season. Our operating hours during this holiday season are as follows:

*** Please note Office Staff can be reached 24/7 at (310) 458-8717 x1 for emergencies such as the passing or imminent passing of a loved one or building emergencies.

CEMETERY GROUNDS
Daily: 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM

MAUSOLEUM
Weekends, Holidays, December 26 and January 2:
10 :00 AM - 4:00 PM
December 27 through December 30: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

OFFICE
December 23: 8:00 AM to 12 NOON
December 24 through December 26: CLOSED
December 27 through December 29: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
December 30: 8:00 AM to 12 NOON
December 31 through January 2: CLOSED

Regular hours will resume Tuesday, January 3

~ ON THIS DAY ~
Born: Barbara Billingsley - Film & Television Actor
(December 22, 1915 - October 10, 2010)

After years of uncredited and small parts in film and television, Barbara Billingsley landed her first and only major film role in 1957, co-starring with Dean Stockwell and Natalie Trundy in "The Careless Years." That same year, she made her mark on TV as June Cleaver, the matriarch of the Cleaver family, in "Leave It to Beaver." The top-rated sitcom ran for six seasons from 1957 to 1963. She reprised the role in the 1980s reboot, "The New Leave It to Beaver," which aired on The Disney Channel and TBS from 1984 to 1989. She passed away in 2010 and is interred in the southern end of the Woodlawn Cemetery grounds.

Picture It! 📷 at Woodlawn
Construction of the Moongate in Eternal Meadow, Woodlawn's green/natural burial section, is done! We thank Dr. Peter Bing for his generous donation in 2020 which has allowed for irrigation and landscaping upgrades as well as aesthetic enhancements. His interest in green/natural burial has enabled Woodlawn to improve Eternal Meadow for all community members that chose this interment option for years to come. Landscaping around the Moongate with native California plants, which compose all of Eternal Meadow, will conclude by the end of January 2023. We look forward to seeing it during wildflower season this coming Spring. If you have any questions regarding green/natural burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary, contact our office via email at [email protected] or call us at (310) 458-8717 x2.

For the 126th year, Los Angeles County mourns the unclaimed dead in a ceremony held at Evergreen Cemetery today-December 8th at 10AM. Unclaimed decedents in the LA County morgue and coroner’s office are cremated and their remains are stored. If decedents' ashes remained unclaimed and are not picked up in three years, the county buries them in a single grave. Due to the COVID pandemic, this year's ceremony for unclaimed decedents who passed away in 2019 will be held virtually and can be viewed live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lacuscmedical/ .

Did you know ...
○•═•○•─•○•═•○. that Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans living or dead? Memorial Day, observed annually in May, honors American service members who died in service to our country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum & Mortuary is the final resting place of hundreds of veterans. For Veterans Day this Friday, November 11, learn how you can honor our community's servicemembers and those throughout the U.S. in this article from History.com - https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-veterans-day

Veterans Day 2022 Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars, and Veterans Day 2022 will occur on Friday, November 11. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germ...

Dia de los Mu***os, also known as The Day of the Dead, is a two-day holiday originating in Mexico where families remember, honor, and commemorate their deceased relatives with food, drink, and celebration. Observed on November 1st and 2nd, Dia de los Mu***os is now popular in the United States as well. Click the link below to learn the meaning of the traditions, activities, and symbols behind the celebrations.

Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Mu***os) Day of the Dead is a celebratory holiday to remember the dead. Explore the vibrant traditions, tasty dishes, and everything that brings this day to life!