San Mateo County Cemeteries: Eternal Home

Eternal Home Cemetery was established in 1901 on 2 acres acquired by Congregation Ohabi Shalome.

"The cemetery is but the gate to the Eternal Home. The name we have chosen for this spot symbolized the supernal destiny of man, symbolizes the change from the transient and mortal to the everlasting and the undying." Rabbi Isador Meyers

Between 1903 and 1926, there were two cemeteries on the site, Eternal Home and Chevra Kadisha. 

A monument to those moved from the cemetery of The Stockton Street Congregation (Congregation Shaair Zedek f.1890) after it was dissolved in 1910 is located in the section that was originally Chevra Kadisha.

In 1926, the cemetery was sold to Sinai Memorial Chapel which had been established in 1902 with the mission to provide a dignified burial for all Jews (Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed) regardless of their ability to pay. Over the years it has expanded to it's current 25 acres.

Among the highlights is the Court of the Twelve Tribes of Israel located near the road and separated from the rest of the cemetery by twelve pillars along the walk. All of the tombstones in this section are of uniform size and color.

The Holocaust Monument was erected in 1983 by Bikur Cholim of San Franciscodedicated to the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust which was erected by several organizations including Bikur Cholim of San Francisco, the San Francisco Zionists and the American Jewish Congregations of Northern California.  The memorial was restored and moved to a new location in 2012.

There are over 15,000 burials in the cemetery as well as cremains.

Eternal Home Cemetery - Find A Grave Over 5000 burials listed with 93% photographed.


Eternal Home Cemetery
1051 El Camino Real, Colma
Phone: 650-755-5236
Sinai Memorial Chapel

San Mateo County Cemeteries: Home of Peace

San Francisco Bulletin
28 Oct 1865
p3 The Cemeteries of San Francisco

Home of Peace Cemetery was was dedicated in Nov 1888 by Congregation Emanu-El on 20 acres at the foot of the San Bruno mountains. 

It was the third cemetery established by the congregation, the first opened during the gold rush on Vallejo St., the second Navai Shalome, (the Peaceful Abode) in 1860 in the area that is now Dolores Park. Across Eagle street Giboth Olam (Hills of Eternity) opened early the next year. 

In 1888 the two congregations bought adjoining land in San Mateo County and all burials were removed from San Francisco and reinterred individually. 

San Francisco Chronicle
30 Nov 1888 p8

San Francisco Chronicle
27 Dec 1888

Today there are designated sections for two bay area synagogues; Congregation Beth Sholom (San Francisco) and Peninsula Temple Sholom (Burlingame).   

Some of the famous buried there include: the Fleishhaker Family (banking); Adolf Sutro; Levi Strauss; the Sellerbach Family (Crown Zellerbach); and IW Hellman (founder of Wells Fargo).

 

Home of Peace Cemetery 1299 El Camino Real, Colma (650) 755-4700

Home of Peace on FindAGrave  over 3000 listings over 80% photographed

San Mateo County Cemeteries: Hills of Eternity

In Judaism death is viewed as a natural part of life. 




In 1850 the Congregation Sherith Israel established a cemetery in the area now known as Pacific Heights (Vallejo St. between Gough and Franklin) in accordance with the two basic principals that are part of the natural life cycle: k’vod ha-mayat — the dignified and respectful treatment of the dead — andk’vod he-chai — the honored treatment of the mourners.


Ten years later they dedicated a second cemetery the area that is now Dolores Park.  On 22 Jan 1867 the San Francisco Bulletin (V.XXIII I.89 P. 3) reported the incorporation of the Hills of Eternity Cemetery Association.....  

Twenty one years later, on 30 Nov 1888 the Bulletin (V.LXVII I.47 P. 3) reported the opening of a new cemetery in San Mateo County..

Click here to read entire article

Hills of Eternity Memorial Park (Giboth Olam ) consists of twenty acres of  the foot of the San Bruno Mountains.  Endowed care helps keep the landscaping throughout the cemetery.  In addition to in ground burials, the Portals of Eternity Mausoleum, which was designed in neo-Byzantine style by Samuel Hyman and Abraham Appleton in the early 1930s, and the Gardens of Eternity Mausoleums offer above ground burial and niches for cremains. 


Hills of Eternity has designated sections for several Bay Area synagogues including: Congregation Beth Am, Congregation Beth Jacob, Congregation Kol Emeth, Congregation Or Shalom, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, and Peninsula Sinai Congregation.

Three of the four Jewish Cemeteries in Colma, Home of Peace, Hills of Eternity, and Salem Memorial Park, share staff and record-keeping.  Contact the office for help in locating burials within the cemetery.

Hills of Eternity Memorial Park

1301 El Camino Real
Colma CA 94014
(650) 755-4700

Hours   8:30 to 4:00, Sunday through Friday.

For more information:

Congregation Sherith Israel
FindAGrave 13032 Burials listed 80% photographed
Cemetery Travel: Week #116
Roni & Jerry's Genealogy - Portals of Eternity shows a map for the mausoleum as well as some pictures inside and out.
American Jewish Archives - Congregation Sherith Israel - San Francisco 1866-1900
International Jewish Cemeteries Project

San Mateo County Cemeteries: Salem Memorial Park

"So Teach us to number our days so that we may get us a heart of wisdoms"

Chapel Inscription in Hebrew and English

Originally established in 1877 as a designated area in City Cemetery near Ocean Beach, Salem (Peace) Memorial Park was the third of the Jewish Cemeteries to be reestablished under the hills of Colma.

On 21 Dec 1891 the San Francisco Bulletin reported "Salem Cemetery, the new burial place of the Hebrew Congregation Beth Israel, in San Mateo county, was dedicated yesterday. A special train carried the congregation down to Colma, which is near the cemetery. The dedication services were conducted by Rev. Dr. M.S. Leavy. Addresses were made by President Peckerman and Secretary Leavy. A corner-stone was laid which contained various records and publications. The site purchased by the congregation embraces thirty-five and one-third acres. Contracts have been let for buildings to cost $6,400. A handsome mortuary chapel will be erected near the main entrance to the cemetery. A side track has been laid to near the entrance for railroad trains. It is expected that all the buildings will be completed within ninety days. The old Salem Cemetery has not been closed but the officers of the society will discourage interments there.  

(Monday, December 21, 1891, 

San Francisco Bulletin 

V: LXIII 

I: 64 

P: 2)

Around 700 bodies were moved from City Cemetery to the new cemetery.

In 1974 Congregation B'nai Emunah erected a monument in the center of the cemetery dedicated to the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished in the holocaust.

Salem Cemetery Map

• Salem Cemetery - Official Website

• Jewish Cemeteries

• FindAGrave (3935 burials listed with 90% of them photographed.)

1171 El Camino Real, Colma
650-755-4700
Hours: 8:30 to 4:00
Sunday through Friday

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