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Silicon Valley Historical Association

Silicon Valley Cemeteries and Genealogy

The cemeteries in Silicon Valley have a deep historical connection to the local communities. They bring residents and visitors closer to an understanding of the past and help to provide insights into how people within the area used to live. Viewing the headstone details about those that have since passed, one can glean information about the importance of individuals in their community and learn about the jobs and social connections they had during their lifetime.
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  • Golden Gate National Cemetery: A Wife's Grave at Christmastime

    Golden Gate National Cemetery: A Wife's Grave at Christmastime

    This photo was taken at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California, in December 2009. Lillian R. - His Wife - January 17, 1898-May 27, 1984. Grave number 2C 5109.

  • Muslim Burial at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California

    Muslim Burial at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California

  • Cameo baby portrait Santa Clara Mission Cemetery Lydia Gonzales 1954

    Cameo baby portrait Santa Clara Mission Cemetery Lydia Gonzales 1954

    This photo was taken at the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery (located in Santa Clara, California) in an area dedicated to deceased infants. The gravestones in this section were all in good condition with the exception of this one that was located right next to the inner cemetery road. The infant on the cameo was named Lydia Gonzales. Lydia was born on May 8, 1953, and died on December 7, 1954.

  • Cat resting on the Cooley family crypt at the Union Cemetery in Redwood City, California

    Cat resting on the Cooley family crypt at the Union Cemetery in Redwood City, California

  • Domed roof of the memorial building at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo

    Domed roof of the memorial building at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo

    This photo shows the domed roof of the memorial building at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, California.

  • Alfred John Beer and Charlotte A. Beer Gravestone

    Alfred John Beer and Charlotte A. Beer Gravestone

    Located in the Union Cemetery in Redwood City, California, this is the grave of Alfred John Beer. He died on April 20, 1909, aged 63 years. Native of England. He is buried with Charlotte A. Beer who was born in 1845 and died in 1941.

  • Ana McQueen de Satter at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto

    Ana McQueen de Satter at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto

    Ana McQueen de Satter died on May 20, 1887, at the age of 33 years. She is buried at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California.

  • Batarse headstone at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, Califoria

    Batarse headstone at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, Califoria

  • Statue near a Chinese crypt at the Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California

    Statue near a Chinese crypt at the Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California

  • The Nicora family  ceramic photos on a gravestone at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

    The Nicora family ceramic photos on a gravestone at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

  • Funeral procession in San Francisco, California at the Presidio - 1917

    Funeral procession in San Francisco, California at the Presidio - 1917

  • Pilarcitos Cemetery in Half Moon Bay, California

    Pilarcitos Cemetery in Half Moon Bay, California

    Located at Main St and Route 92 in Half Moon Bay, California, the Pilarcitos Cemetery was established by the Catholic Church. The cemetery, in use from 1820 to 1923, was established by priests from Mission Dolores.

  • Gate of Heaven Cemetery pond and waterfall in Los Altos, California

    Gate of Heaven Cemetery pond and waterfall in Los Altos, California

    Gate of Heaven Cemetery located at 22555 Cristo Rey Drive Los Altos, California. This photo was taken in August 2009.

  • Cat resting on the Cooley family crypt at the Redwood City Union Cemetery

    Cat resting on the Cooley family crypt at the Redwood City Union Cemetery

    While touring the Union Cemetery in Redwood City, California, this adorable and apparently stray cat appeared to be the watchmaster for the small, fenced in area that held the Cooley family plot. The plot contained three worn graves and a fairly large crypt. The historical association's tour group spent close to an hour touring the historical graves in the cemetery and upon our departure, the cat was still resting upon the crypt.

  • Filomena and Lena Cerelli grave at the Italian Cemetery in Colma

    Filomena and Lena Cerelli grave at the Italian Cemetery in Colma

    Filomena and Lena Cerelli gravestone at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California.

  • Alta Mesa Memorial Park located in Palo Alto, California

    Alta Mesa Memorial Park located in Palo Alto, California

    Alto Mesa Memorial Park is located in Palo Alto, California. This photo was taken in September 2009 by Silicon Valley Historical Association staff. The cemetery has many notable burials: Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple), Tennessee Ernie Ford (Musician), Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (keyboardist, harmonica player and lead vocalist, founding member of the Grateful Dead), David Packard (co-founder of Hewlett-Packard and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense), William Shockley (developed transistor and won Nobel Prize for Physics), Frederick Emmons Terman (considered the father of Silicon Valley), Shirley Temple (American film and television actress, singer, dancer, and public servant), Larry Wu-Tai Chin (a famous Chinese spy), and many more.

  • Anchor and cross on a cemetery headstone at the Holy Hope Cemetery, Menlo Park

    Anchor and cross on a cemetery headstone at the Holy Hope Cemetery, Menlo Park

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  • Statue of an angel holding a lily at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

    Statue of an angel holding a lily at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

  • St. Anthony Cemetery graves in Pescadero, California

    St. Anthony Cemetery graves in Pescadero, California

    This photo shows the grave of Russell E. Jackson (1898-1971) and Frances S. Jackson (1887-1972) whose ashes were scattered after death off Pigeon Point in San Mateo, California.

  • Canadian Geese at the Golden Gate National Cemetery

    Canadian Geese at the Golden Gate National Cemetery

  • San Francisco Columbarium

    San Francisco Columbarium

    The San Francisco Columbarium & Funeral Home is a columbarium owned and operated by Dignity Memorial, at One Loraine Court, near Stanyan and Anza Streets, just north of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California.

  • Alta Mesa Memorial Park statue of a woman carrying a cross

    Alta Mesa Memorial Park statue of a woman carrying a cross

    This 1906 statue was moved from the Stanford University campus to the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto after the earthquake the great earthquake.

  • Broderick Monument in the Lone Mt. Cemetery in San Francisco, California c. 1860

    Broderick Monument in the Lone Mt. Cemetery in San Francisco, California c. 1860

    Lone Mt. Cemetery was opened in 1854 in San Francisco, California, and the cemetery was moved in the early 20th Century (the graves were relocated to Colma, California, just south of San Francisco). The Broderick monument was erected in 1859 to commemorate U.S. Senator David Colbreth Broderick.

  • 1917 Infant grave of  Hisako Fukata at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto

    1917 Infant grave of Hisako Fukata at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto

    The inscription on the headstone reads: Hisako — daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kyuaman Fukata died December 20, 1917.

  • Cemetery altar at the Holy Hope Cemetery in Menlo Park, California

    Cemetery altar at the Holy Hope Cemetery in Menlo Park, California

    Private cemetery altars honor the deceased. Flowers and stones on an altar or near a grave represent visits to the deceased. This altar is located at the Holy Hope Cemetery in Menlo Park, California.

  • Stone wall at the Skylawn Memorial Park in the Chinese burial area

    Stone wall at the Skylawn Memorial Park in the Chinese burial area

  • Bugarin niche at the San Francisco Columbarium

    Bugarin niche at the San Francisco Columbarium

  • Angel pointing towards the heavens at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

    Angel pointing towards the heavens at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

  • Iron fence with winding shrubs at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, California

    Iron fence with winding shrubs at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, California

  • Chinese graves at the Oakhill Memorial Park in San Jose, California

    Chinese graves at the Oakhill Memorial Park in San Jose, California

  • Seashell wind chimes at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Menlo Park, California

    Seashell wind chimes at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Menlo Park, California

    This photo was taken in the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Menlo Park, California. The sea shell wind chimes were hanging in a tree near an area of family graves. About the history of wind chimes in cemeteries: Wind chimes are often placed in trees near cemetery graves to attract peaceful spirits while protecting against evil forces. This idea originated in the second century CE, when wind bells were often suspended around Asian temples. The shell symbolizes a journey to the heavenly realm.

  • Alta Mesa Memorial Park statue of a woman carrying a cross

    Alta Mesa Memorial Park statue of a woman carrying a cross

    This 1906 statue was moved from the Stanford University campus to the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto after the earthquake the great earthquake.

  • Caterina Viscuso ceramic bridal photo on a grave at the Italian Cemetery in Colma

    Caterina Viscuso ceramic bridal photo on a grave at the Italian Cemetery in Colma

    Caterina Viscuso - born in 1898 and died on March 8, 1921, in San Francisco County, California. Ceramic bridal photo on a grave at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California.

  • Agnes Wood 1874-1916: Holy Cross Cemetery, Menlo Park, California

    Agnes Wood 1874-1916: Holy Cross Cemetery, Menlo Park, California

  • Ana Maria Nuño headstone at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

    Ana Maria Nuño headstone at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

    The portrait on a grave (usually in the form of a cameo), gives an eternal face to those who have passed.

  • Santa Clara resident Antonina Serastiano 1874-1932

    Santa Clara resident Antonina Serastiano 1874-1932

    Ceramic photo on the grave of Antonina Serastiano at the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery in Santa Clara, California.

  • Brokquist and Broyles family plot at St. Anthony Cemetery in Pescadero, California

    Brokquist and Broyles family plot at St. Anthony Cemetery in Pescadero, California

  • Saint Bartholomew statue at the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California

    Saint Bartholomew statue at the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California

  • Mausoleum at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, California

    Mausoleum at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, California

    This photo was taken in November 2009 and features the Bowie Mausoleum at St. John's Cemetery in San Mateo, California. Henry Pike Bowie and his first wife, Agnes Howard, are interred in bronze caskets within this mausoleum. Agnes died in 1893, and Henry died in 1921 (at the age of 72). Henry Pike Bowie was an American lawyer, artist, author, Japanologist and diplomat. He was the co-founder of the Japan Society of Northern California, along with Stanford University's president, David Starr Jordan.

  • Jill Elaine Carpenter grave at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California

    Jill Elaine Carpenter grave at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California

    Child's grave at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California for Jill Elaine Carpenter - born June 27, 1965 and died September 10, 1972.

  • Cat on the Cooley crypt at the Union Cemetery in Redwood City, California

    Cat on the Cooley crypt at the Union Cemetery in Redwood City, California

    While touring the Union Cemetery in Redwood City, California, this adorable and apparently stray cat appeared to be the watchmaster for the small, fenced in area that held the Cooley family plot. The plot contained three worn graves and a fairly large crypt. The historical association's tour group spent close to an hour touring the historical graves in the cemetery and upon our departure, the cat was still resting upon the crypt.

  • Wooden grave marker for Chris Dutsch (1939-1999) at St. Anthony's Cemetery

    Wooden grave marker for Chris Dutsch (1939-1999) at St. Anthony's Cemetery

    Wooden grave marker for Chris Dutsch (1939-1999) at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Pescadero, California. Chris Dutsch was a graduate of San Jose State University and an avid painter and sculptor for over 40 years.

  • Aisle of Niches at the San Francisco Columbarium

    Aisle of Niches at the San Francisco Columbarium

    Located at 1 Loraine Court in San Francisco, California, the Columbarium houses niches of urns on its top floor.

  • St. Anthony's Cemetery at Pescadero - Amanda Maria Coffin headstone

    St. Anthony's Cemetery at Pescadero - Amanda Maria Coffin headstone

    Amanda Maria Coffin - wife of John W. Coffin gravestone at St. Anthony's Cemetery in Pescadero, California

  • Basile Crypt at the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California

    Basile Crypt at the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California

  • Bust of a Man at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

    Bust of a Man at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, California

  • Wasp nest in the hand of a St. Paul statue at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose

    Wasp nest in the hand of a St. Paul statue at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose

    This wasp nest was built in the hand of the St. Paul statue located at the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.

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    Gate of Heaven Cemetery pond and waterfall in Los Altos, California
    Alta Mesa Memorial Park statue of a woman carrying a cross
    Alta Mesa Memorial Park statue of a woman carrying a cross