Fifty years ago, only a tiny fraction of Americans – 3.6% – chose cremation. Now, that number hovers right around 50% and is increasing rapidly every year. Sunset View Cemetery has been serving El Cerrito, Oakland, Richmond, and Berkeley families for more than 100 years, and our staff has certainly noticed more families choosing cremation over that time.

We’ve also noticed that even though cremation is more popular than ever, it’s common for people to still have questions about it. Whether your family is in El Cerrito, Oakland, Richmond, or Berkeley, we have experienced teams who are ready to inform you about your many cremation memorialization options with Sunset.

One of the main concerns we hear – and really a major misconception – is that you can’t have a service when you choose cremation. Families want to tell the story of their loved one’s life and pay tribute in a meaningful way. The good news is that the Sunset team provides many avenues to do so!

As with traditional burials, we offer a family choosing cremation a variety of choices to celebrate their loved one. We’re here to help you create any or all of the following:

  • A visitation, service, catered gathering, or graveside burial.
  • Vaults, caskets, and urns that bear emblems and engravings reflecting religious affiliation, special interests, and/or military or civic service.
  • Personalized memorials that highlight your loved one’s interests, hobbies, accomplishments, personality, faith, and cultural traditions.
  • Elements such as flowers, music, readings, and even a viewing.

Sunset View Cemetery gives added peace of mind to those choosing cremation, as we own and operate our own crematory. Unlike other funeral homes and cremation societies that outsource cremation to third-party providers, your loved one remains in our diligent and professional care.

Whether you choose traditional burial or cremation, our professional team is here to explain every detail and describe how a final farewell can be personalized to fit your needs. Simple details and personal touches make for deeply meaningful memorial service families will never forget. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to learn more.