Rose Hills Memorial Park
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1914 |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Whittier, California |
| Type | Public |
| Owned by | Service Corporation International |
| Website | Rosehills.com |
| Find a Grave | Find A Grave.com - Rose Hills Memorial Park |
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Rose Hills Memorial Park is the largest cemetery in the United States and is located in Whittier, California. It is owned and operated by Service Corporation International (formerly, Loewen Group).
Contents |
[edit] Mausoleums and Chapels
In 1917, a small indoor mausoleum named "The Whittier Heights Mausoleum" after a short time as "Mausoleum 1", the second indoor mausoleum in California (the first was, and is, at Anaheim Cemetery), was opened on the grounds of the then Whittier Heights Cemetery. In 1929, construction began on the first phase of the El Portal de la Paz (Doorway to Peace) mausoleum.
Four garden mausoleums (Terrace of Memories, Court of Eternal Light, Mausoleum of the Valley, and Lakeview Mausoleum) and four chapels (Rainbow Chapel, Hillside Chapel, Memorial Chapel, and SkyRose Chapel) were also built.
In 1942, Rose Hills completed the installation of its crematorium, and in 1956 Rose Hills Mortuary and Flower Shop were opened, making Rose Hills one of the first cemeteries in the country to offer all the necessary services and facilities for memorialization.[citation needed] Also in 1956, Hillside Chapel and Sky Church were completed. Sky Church was destroyed by the Whittier earthquake of 1987.
[edit] Employees
Rose Hills employs approximately 600 employees.
[edit] Popularity
In Southern California, Rose Hills also provides services for adherents of Feng Shui.[citation needed]
[edit] Sites
[edit] Mausoleums
- Whittier Heights Mausoleum: Built in 1917, is considered to be the second public mausoleum built in California and portrays a sense of early California architecture with its Spanish Renaissance influence.
- El Portal de la Paz (Doorway of Peace): Dedicated in 1930 as part of the initial expansion program at the cemetery. Complete with an enclosed outdoor garden and fountain, Rose Hills' second mausoleum reflects California's early Spanish Mission era.
- The Buddhist Columbarium: Built in 1999, located on 2.5 acres (10,000 m2) at the highest elevation of Rose Hills, is the largest Buddhist pagoda in the United States. The three-story structure, containing 21,000 niches for the interment of cremated remains, is supported by crimson pillars and golden glazed tiles replicating the architecture of ancient Chinese palaces. The pagoda is associated with Fo Guang Shan's Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, CA.
[edit] Chapels
- Rainbow Chapel: Built in 1942 and originally named "Rose Chapel", Rainbow Chapel is an example of early California Mission architecture. This chapel features large windows overlooking gardens and has a maximum seating capacity of 55 people.
- Hillside Chapel: Built in 1956, Hillside Chapel is a contemporary diamond-shaped structure surrounded by a garden area. The interior was created for an effect of a sunrise through its rose-tinted skylight and 22-foot (6.7 m)-high windows. Hillside Chapel seats up to 182 people. This building has perfect acoustics.
- Memorial Chapel has three tall, white spires. It was completed in 1964 as a memorial to John D. Gregg (president of Rose Hills from 1950 - 1959) and son of founder, Augustus Gregg. Memorial Chapel seats approximately 192 people.
- SkyRose Chapel is on a central hilltop site with a view of the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles Skylines to the West and Sycamore Valley to the East. Skyrose Chapel seats 300 people and contains one of the largest pipe organs in the Los Angeles area.
[edit] Notable burials
- Alvin Ailey, Jr., African American modern dancer.
- George W.C. Baker, Los Angeles City Council member, 1931–35
- Rusty Burrell, Los Angeles County Superior Court sheriff's deputy, and bailiff for Judge Joseph Wapner, The People's Court
- Jaime Escalante, educator
- Harold A. Henry, Los Angeles City Council president
- Nathan Wesley Hale, American politician.
- Clara Horton, actress.
- William Hopper, actor.
- Goodwin Knight, 31st Governor of California.
- Billy Laughlin, actor.
- Keye Luke, Chinese-born American actor, voice of Brak on Space Ghost
- Dave MacDonald, IndyCar driver.
- Bob Meusel, baseball player of the 1920s.
- Hsin Ping, Buddhist monk, fourth and fifth abbot of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order in Taiwan (portion of ashes).
- Haing S. Ngor, Cambodian American physician and actor, winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, 1984.
- John Arthur Spenkelink, second man to be executed in the electric chair after the reintroduction of the death penalty in the United States.
- Mickey Thompson, American racing legend.
- Eazy-E (Eric Wright), American Gangster rapper, hip hop producer, and record executive.
- Thuy Trang, Vietnamese-born American actress who was cremated here, played Trini Kwan/Yellow Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
- Duong Van Minh, South Vietnamese President from 1963 - 1964 and 1975
- Boyd Coddington, Hot Rod Builder, owner of the Boyd Coddington Hot Rod Shop and star of American Hot Rod .
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 34°00′19″N 118°03′21″W / 34.0053°N 118.0558°W
