The great Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips and shows itself in deeds.”

With Thanksgiving upon us, the team at Cypress Lawn is examining our own sources – and evidence – of gratitude, and we imagine you and your family probably are too! What comes to your mind and heart when you consider this season?

When we think about what we’re thankful for, it’s really not “things” that come to mind – it’s mostly people! Our families and friends, and of course, the people we meet in the San Francisco Bay Area through our work of planning funeral services, visitations, and receptions. We walk alongside families during some of the most difficult times in their lives, and there’s not a moment we take this role for granted. We’re grateful for the trust put in us, and we feel honored to play a part in telling the story of a life.

We also cherish the opportunities we have to meet some incredible people through the Cypress Lawn Heritage Foundation’s numerous educational and cultural outreach programs. Our much-loved lecture series, book club, and new historical trolley tours draw so many different kinds of people to our grounds.

And of course, we’re grateful for our community and the many people who have come before us and made it such a diverse, rich tapestry of ethnicities, faiths, and cultures. We consider ourselves so fortunate to be involved in the preservation and restoration of the incomparable art, architecture, and arboretum at Cypress Lawn Cemetery, which plays a critical role in California history.

We’re also thankful for the beauty of nature. The San Francisco Bay Area is, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful regions in the entire country. Maybe the world! Anyone who has visited our 200-acre grounds and arboretum can attest to the breathtaking beauty of our local flora and fauna.

So, tell us . . . this Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for?

This Thanksgiving, we hope your home and heart are filled with the spirit of gratitude. We understand that if you are struggling on your grief journey, this can be a difficult time of year for you. And while it might be challenging in the midst of sadness and loss to think of what to be grateful for, you might find the practice aids in the healing process. We want to make ourselves and our vast grief resources available to you to help with this. At our website, you can connect with our Acute Loss Period grief materials, or avail yourself of our 24/7 interactive, online grief support. And of course, our compassionate team is always here. Reach out to them today.