About Us
The Italian Cemetery was founded in 1898 by the La Societá Italiana di Mutua Beneficenza, which is the oldest continuous Italian organization in the United States, itself established in 1858. The first burial took place in early 1899. The cemetery came into being for the purpose of having a dignified place for the burial of its members and the Italian community at large.
In 1977 the Society and the Italian Cemetery separated into two specific entities. The Italian Cemetery became a stand-alone nonprofit corporation administered by a board of directors of Italian-American businessmen. Any profits from the operation of the cemetery are directly reinvested into the upkeep of the property and new construction.
The Italian Cemetery mausoleums have been acclaimed in various architectural publications as well as in the print media for their uniqueness and design beauty.
A recent article in the
San
Francisco Chronicle titled "Memorial portraits in stone,
Working-class art left unforgettable faces from the past"
wrote:
The 40-acre Italian Cemetery in Colma, meanwhile,
"represents the art form at its highest evolutionary
point," Horne said.
As you continue your visit through this website, you will see how the Italian Cemetery combines old world style burial with the most modern new world mausoleums.
On the occasion of our 100th anniversary, a celebration was held. The Italian Cemetery received numerous proclamations from Federal, State, and local agencies. We are very grateful and proud of this recognition.
History
The Italian Cemetery is the offspring of the Societa' Italiana di Mutua Beneficenza, the oldest continuously existing Italian-American organization in the United States.
Founded in 1858, the Beneficenza's function was to provide medical care and death benefits to a membership largely made up of immigrant Gold Rushers. But although burial services had always been a part of the equation, it was not until 1899 that the Beneficenza was able to establish a cemetery of its own for members. Most of them lived in San Francisco but with the city enacting a policy of relocating burial grounds outside its limits just then, the new Italian cemetery was set up, along with many others, in the little town of Colma.
The question is frequently asked: "Do you have to be Italian to be buried in the Italian Cemetery?"
The answer is: "No. You do not have to be Italian."
Although the funds to establish the cemetery came from the Beneficenza and its first concern was to provide a service to members, the cemetery welcomes all faiths and nationalities. Many nationalities are drawn by their feeling of kinship with the Italian Cemetery's Catholic, Latinate ambience. Likewise, inter-marrying Italians have brought in Irish, Anglo-Saxon, and Spanish or Tagalog-speaking cultures.
The looks of the ground have also evolved over the years. The first building on the property, completed in 1904, was the Receiving Vault, designed by the architect John A. Porporato. Its purpose was to provide temporary storage of coffins until relatives of the deceased had the chance to build a permanent tomb or family chapel.
Two new buildings, one a workers area, the other, and adjunct office, were put up in 1935. But the Benefit Society's Headquarters remained in North Beach until 1962, the year in which both the Society and the Cemetery Staff relocated to its present, 540 F Street, Colma address.
The move augured well for the future, leading the way for additional building construction on the grounds. While the first mausoleum was erected in 1956, five new other mausoleums have been constructed since then. More recently a thriving town of Colma has redone the old F Street dirt road into an old-fashioned red-bricked thoroughfare, complete with elegant turn-of-century-style street lamps. The Italian Cemetery has developed into an integral part of the vibrant, and ethnically diverse Bay Area community.
Services
The Italian Cemetery offers a complete range of services in a non-sectarian setting, that include:
- Traditional Ground Burial
- Entombments in both Indoor Mausoleums and Outdoor Garden Mausoleum
- Inurnments in both Indoor and Outdoor Cremation Niches
- A Children's Burial Section
- Two Receiving Chapels for Committal Services
-
Cremation Services
- Indoors with a Marble Front
- Indoors with a Glass and Brass Front
- Outdoors with a Granite Front
The Italian Cemetery also offers financial payment plans to suit all reasonable circumstances. Any pre-need arrangements may be had on liberal terms without interest or carrying charge. We have a sensitive and experienced staff ready to help you create the arrangement that is right for you.
Currently, we are not available to do genealogical research through this site but assistance by phone or email is gladly provided as time permits.
Contact Us
The Italian Cemetery is located in the Town of Colma, California, just a few minutes south of San Francisco. Colma is fondly called a necropolis due to there being 17 cemeteries located here.
Please call or write for our information package.
To reach us by telephone, please call (650) 755-1511
To reach us by email, please email us
italiancemetery@sbcglobal.net
We are located at:
540 F Street
Colma, CA 94014
Personal visits to the office are always appreciated.
Our office hours are Weekdays, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM,
and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Take 280 North
- Take the Hickey Blvd. Exit (in South San Francisco)
- Turn right on Hickey Blvd.
- Turn left on El Camino Real
- Drive approximately half mile (North toward San Francisco) until you come to an overpass
- Make a sharp right immediately after going under the overpass - this will be F Street
- Drive two blocks uphill on F Street until you come to Clark Ave. - the Italian Cemetery office will be on your right
- Take 280 South
- Take the Serramonte Blvd. Exit
- Turn left on Serramonte Blvd.
- Turn left on El Camino Real
- Drive a few blocks (North toward San Francisco) until you come to an overpass
- Make a sharp right immediately after going under the overpass - this will be F Street
- Drive two blocks uphill on F Street until you come to Clark Ave. - the Italian Cemetery office will be on your right
Management team (from left to right): Andrew, Sebastian, Giuseppe
"Show me the manner in which a community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals." - Gladstone
The Italian Cemetery is such a place.