Rose Hills Memorial Park

Rose Hills Memorial Park is a cemetery and mortuary located in northern Whittier, California. It is an affiliate of Service Corporation International (formerly Loewen Group) and is the largest cemetery in North America. Sites Mausoleums Whittier Heights Mausoleum, built in 1917 as "Mausoleum #1" or "The Little Mausoleum", was the second public mausoleum in California (the first being at Anaheim Cemetery in Anaheim) and portrays a sense of early California architecture with its Spanish Renaissance influence. Over a period of years, four garden mausoleums (Terrace of Memories, Court of Eternal Light, Mausoleum of the Valley, and Lakeview Mausoleum) were constructed. El Portal de la Paz (Doorway of Peace) was 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 hallways are named for the California Missions. 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. Chapels Rainbow Chapel, built in 1942 as "Rose Chapel", is an example of early California Mission architecture. This chapel has a maximum seating capacity of 90 people. It is located behind El Portal de la Paz Mausoleum. Hillside Chapel, built in 1956, 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 is said to have perfect acoustics. Sky Church, a glass building also completed in 1956, was destroyed by the Whittier Narrows earthquake of 1987. 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 to 1959 and son of Rose Hills founder Augustus Gregg. Memorial Chapel seats approximately 192 people. SkyRose Chapel is on a central hilltop 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. The building consists of three levels, the upper containing a custom Quimby pipe organ, one of the largest in the Los Angeles area. The lower level is an 11,200 sq. ft. mausoleum. The corridors of the mausoleum are named for the woods used in the building's construction. SkyRose was built in the 1990s, replacing Sky Church Saint Nicholas Chapel, established in 1999 by Greek Orthodox Memorial & Cultural Foundation of Southern California, is an independent Non-Profit Religious Corporation supporting the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. Gardens Cherry Blossom Lawn, a Japanese garden with 2-acre Lake of the Roses (0.81 ha) and an azumaya (meditation house). Notable burials Dorothy Abbott (1920–1968), actress Alvin Ailey (1931–1989), dancer Lamar Allen (1914–1989), baseball player Troy Archer (1955–1979), football player Lewis Arquette (1935–2001), actor George W. C. Baker (1872–1953), politician Jerry Barber (1916–1994), golfer Griff Barnett (1884–1958), actor Brent Billingsley (1975–2024), baseball player Keith Black (1926–1991), racing engineer Marlin Briscoe (1945–2023), football player Dominic Brooklier (1914–1984), mobster Timothy Carey (1929–1994), actor Ken Carson (1914–1994), country singer Bobby Castillo (1955–2014), baseball player Bob Chandler (1949–1995), football player Boyd Coddington (1944–2008), hot rod builder Charley Cowan (1938–1988), football player Donfeld (1934–2007), costume designer Kathryn Eames (1908–2004), actress Eazy-E (1964–1995), rapper Ted Edwards (1884–1945), actor Sally S. Emory (1864–1959), philanthropist Jaime Escalante (1930–2010), educator Ron Glass (1945–2016), actor Mary Gordon (1882–1963), actress Bryan Gregory (1951–2001), guitarist Nathan W. Hale (1860–1941), politician Pearl Hart (1871–1955), outlaw Walt Hazzard (1942–2011), basketball player Harold A. Henry (1895–1966), newspaper publisher and politician Dick Hoerner (1922–2010), football player Wally Hood (1895–1965), baseball player William Hopper (1915–1970), actor Clara Horton (1904–1976), actress Gladys Hulette (1896–1991), actress Anthony Johnson (1966–2021), actor Louis Johnson (1955–2015), bassist T. C. Jones (1920–1971), female impersonator Goodwin Knight (1896–1970), politician Nguyễn Cao Kỳ (1930–2011), politician, Prime Minister of South Vietnam Jack Larson (1928–2015), actor Tommy Lasorda (1927–2021), baseball player, coach and manager Billy Laughlin (1932–1948), actor Bob Leach (1914–2008), journalist and author Guan Linzheng (1905–1980), Chinese general Keye Luke (1904–1991), actor Link Lyman (1898–1972), football player Dave MacDonald (1936–1964), racing driver Linda Martinez (1975–2015), pianist and composer Chuck McMurtry (1937–2014), football player Felicitas Méndez (1916–1998), civil rights activist. Bob Meusel (1896–1977), baseball player Haing S. Ngor (1940–1996), actor Lupe Ontiveros (1942–2012), actress Hsin Ping (1938–1995), Buddhist monk Rosa Porto (1930–2019), baker and businesswoman Hugh Prosser (1907–1952), actor John Spenkelink (1949–1979), convicted murderer Robin Stille (1961–1996), actress Mark St. John (1956–2007), guitarist Miiko Taka (1925–2023), actress Felicia Tang (1977–2009), actress and model Mickey Thompson (1928–1988), racing driver Joseph Tommasi (1951–1975), National Socialist Liberation Front leader Thuy Trang (1973–2001), actress Dương Văn Minh (1916–2001), politician, President of South Vietnam Alan Wiggins (1958–1991), baseball player Ellen Beach Yaw (1869–1947), opera singer Members of the Richard Nixon family (his parents, Francis A. and Hannah, and his brothers: Harold, Donald, and Arthur) are interred here. References External links Official website Rose Hills Memorial Park at Find a Grave U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rose Hills Memorial Park