• Take a Tour of Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland

    The rich history of the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland spans a century. The chapel was founded in 1909, but the exquisite architecture was the product of the famous Berkeley architect Julia Morgan in 1928. Today, people choose Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland for end-of-life services because of its commitment to quality and historic reputation.

    This video will walk you through the reception halls and sun-filled chapel of ornate stonework, statues, and mosaics. Watch the video to admire the quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that have made the chapel so famous.

    Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland offers the perfect atmosphere to celebrate and remember the life of your loved one. Call us at (510) 992-6709 for more information.

  • Famous Burials at Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland

    John Lee Hooker

    Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland is a landmark that serves as the final resting place of many historic figures. Famous musicians, U.S. Congressmen, and athletes are just some of the celebrities buried on the grounds here:

    • Delta Blues Musician John Lee Hooker

    John Lee Hooker was born on August 22, 1917 and laid to rest in the Chapel of the Chimes cemetery after his death on June 21, 2001. He grew up the son of a sharecropper in Mississippi but didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps. Instead, he pursued a career in music. His unique brand of country blues and his “talking blues” style earned him recognition nationwide. Hooker also appeared in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.

    • Baseball Great Dick Bartell

    Richard William Bartell was a highly competitive American shortstop who served in WWII and played in three World Series. At 19, Richard Bartell, who went by the nickname “Rowdy Richard,” was the youngest player in the National League in the 1920s. He was born on November 22, 1907 in Chicago and died in 1997 in Alameda, California.

    • Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis

    After becoming the youngest person in professional football history to fill both head coach and general manager positions at the age of 33 in 1962, Al Davis eventually became the principal owner of the Oakland Raiders from 1972 to 2011. His signature tough-guy personality and motto, “Just win, baby,” made him a popular owner on the sports scene. Davis was born in 1929 in Brockton, Massachusetts and died in his Oakland home on October 28, 2011.   

    Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland is a top cremation service provider in Northern California. We offer funeral and cremation services to the residents of California. Give us a call today at (510) 992-6709, and ask about our free historical tours .

  • Funeral Arrangement Tips From Chapel of the Chimes Oakland

    Rose on the tombstone

    Funeral planning can be a trying experience. That’s why the best funeral homes make the process simple and affordable during your time of mourning.

    Contact the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland at (510) 992-6709 for more information on funeral service arrangements. We also offer funeral service pre-planning.

  • FREE Historical Tour at Chapel of the Chimes Oakland!

    Attention everyone!

    Mark your calendars for our FREE Historical Tour! This will take place on Saturday, May 19th, 2012 at 10:00 am.

    Please RSVP to Linda Charles at lcharles@lifemarkgroup.com

  • Take a Virtual Tour of Our Columbarium and Mausoleum

    Columbaria and mausoleums are buildings used to house the remains of deceased loved ones. Visits to these places following the passing of a loved one are important. These visits help families become more at ease with their loved one’s passing and help people to feel more comfortable making important disposition decisions.

    Take a look at this video for a virtual tour of the facilities at Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland. At Chapel of the Chimes, remains are held within beautiful granite niches. Many feature glass doors. These cases allow families to view the beautiful vases containing their loved one’s remains.

    Your loved ones deserve the very best, and Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland is one of the finest crematoriums in the area. Call us at (510) 992-6709 to learn more about our renowned columbaria.

  • Mark Your Calendars for Jazz at the Chimes on May 20th!

    Jazz at the Chimes May 2012

  • Funeral Traditions: Cultural Differences

    At the Funeral (burial)

    The loss of a love one is extremely personal, and most cultures and religions have unique funeral traditions to celebrate departed family members. The following overview shines light on some of these international funeral service traditions:

    • Western Funerals
      Funerals planned in North America and Europe are heavily influenced by Christian traditions. The acts of sending flowers , making donations to a favorite church or charity, and black dress colors are all characteristics of a Western-influenced funeral.

      Roman Catholic funerals often involve additional religious touches, such as wakes, graveside prayers, and burial rites. While pioneered through religious communities, many of these traditions are no longer specific to the Catholic faith. In fact, most Western funerals incorporate some of these components as a part of cultural tradition.

    • Middle Eastern Funerals
      Funeral traditions in the Middle East are derived from Muslim and Jewish faiths. Muslim funeral traditions require the body to be buried as quickly as possible. Key features of a Muslim funeral include a silent procession, three days of mourning, and gifts of food. Unlike Western funerals, the sending of flowers is not an appropriate gesture in Muslim tradition.

      Similarly, Jewish funerals take place within a day of a family member’s passing. All men, even those of non-Jewish descent, are required to wear a yarmulke to the ceremony. Jewish tradition also calls for a mourning period, which lasts seven days. Again, flowers are an inappropriate condolence in Jewish tradition.

    • Pan-Asian Funerals
      Funerals in the Buddhist tradition are remarkably different than their Western counterparts. As Buddhists believe in the passing of life and journey toward Nirvana, funerals are a cause for celebration. Flowers are an appropriate gift of condolence, but food is not.

      On the other end of the scale, Hindu funerals take place in the home soon after the loved one’s passing. The ceremony waits until after a ceremonial cremation. Fruit is the most appropriate condolence gift for funerals in the Hindu tradition.

    Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland celebrates all types of funeral traditions . Contact us at (510) 992-6709 to learn how our grounds can accommodate your unique cultural needs.

  • Domestic Partnership: Your Rights to Plan Your Partners Funeral

    Couple at a Funeral

    Domestic partners share laughter, trials, and dreams and a life together. It, therefore, makes sense that a domestic partner should be the one to plan the funeral services when his or her loved one passes away. This guide explains the rights a domestic partner has for making funeral arrangements:
    • Defining Partnership
      Barring a lawyer given power of attorney, domestic partners are granted disposition rights after a loved one has passed. However, this domestic partner must be officially documented by the State of California Domestic Partner Registry. Any two persons over the age of 18 that are not related by blood or marriage are eligible for domestic partnership registry. According to the City Clerk of Oakland, partners also much share “common necessities of life” and have “resided together for at least six months prior to filing an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership .” Once these steps have been completed, a domestic partner is put in full control of funeral arrangements. 
    • Disposition Details
      The state of California’s Department of Consumer Affairs grants numerous rights to a surviving domestic partner. In terms of funeral arrangements, a domestic partner may choose funeral decorations incorporated into the service. Additionally, a domestic partner is in full control of the type of funeral service being held. If the domestic partner is unavailable or incompetent, these rights will be transferred to adult children or surviving parents. 
    • Arrangement Rights
      Department of Consumer Affairs provides several protections for surviving partners and family members. All funeral homes are required to quote prices over the phone and provide price lists during personal visits. Likewise, California law requires casket sellers to provide a written price list of caskets and alternative burial containers. Learn more by visiting the Department of Consumer Affairs online.
    At the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, we understand that the loss of a loved one is an inconsolable tragedy. We offer first-class funeral services and outstanding facilities to help you during your time of mourning. Contact us at (510) 992-6709 for additional details.

  • Dealing With Grief? Let Chapel of The Chimes Oakland Help You

    Depression.

    The grieving process doesn’t have to be an experience you go through alone. There are resources that may help you cope. Explore these links to find out more. 
    • Compassionate Friends offers friendship, understanding, and hope for those who have suffered the loss of a child. They also have advice on the grieving process in general.  
    • Do you want to know more about how you can help someone you care about through a time of grief? HelpGuide.org has step-by-step information on being supportive for someone experiencing difficult times.
    • If you have a loved one who has lost someone special to them, find out ways you can lend your support. Check out this link on how to help a loved one with the death of a family member from LiveStrong.com.
    • Sometimes people feel like they are not making any progress in the grieving process. Find out more about the complicated grief process in this article from BlogMemorial.com.
    • For advice on the internal struggles that grieving presents, explore this link from GoodGriefCenter.com . Here you’ll find 20 tips for the bereaved. 
    Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland provides personalized service options for remembering the life of a loved one who’s passed. For more information on cremation and funeral services, call (510) 992-6709.

  • Huge Success for Jazz at the Chimes

    Jazz at the Chimes Featured in The Line Up

    This past weekend, Chapel of the Chimes Oakland had their second sold out Jazz at the Chimes Concert with over 200 people who attended the event.

    Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the next Jazz at the Chimes Concert which will be held Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 2 PM with John Santos! Thank you to everyone who helped us make this event a huge success!