Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Lafayette CA

Queen of Heaven Cemetery was dedicated in 1963 by the first bishop in the Diocese of Oakland, Most Reverend Floyd Begin. It is the most recent addition to the diocesan cemeteries, established to meet the needs of Catholics and their families in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Once a Haviside family walnut orchard, the property preserves the original family home, barns and small cottages still maintained and inhabited by Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Extending across nearly two hundred acres, the beautifully maintained cemetery grounds provide the community with a peaceful, reverent place to honor the deceased.

In 1982, the first mausoleum was completed under the patronage of the four Evangelists; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This sacred space was designed by Aaron Green, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, and has a capacity for 1,000 entombments, and 792 inurnment spaces for cremated remains. A second mausoleum, Mausoleum of the Angels, was blessed and dedicated on November 2, 2003.


Over the course of the cemetery’s 44 years of service, more than 12,200 committal services have taken place. Queen of Heaven currently supports the Catholic burial needs of 16 parishes of the central Contra Costa County area, providing options for traditional ground burial, cremation niches, mausoleum crypts, and family estates. In addition, Queen of Heaven Cemetery provides funeral and cremation services to the community, becoming a complete resource for your funeral and cemetery needs. Whether you are interested in advanced planning or in need of immediate assistance, our Family Service Counselors and Funeral staff are available to offer support and guidance to our families.

Queen of Heaven Cemetery also offers various programs and events for our faith community. When you purchase cemetery property at Queen of Heaven you are contributing to the Legacy of Faith program, and may be eligible for a tax deduction based on the value of the property you select. Special events are hosted on Mother’s Day, All Soul’s Day, and other days throughout the year to join together as a community and celebrate the lives that have gone before us.

Memorial Mass is held on the first Saturday of each month.