Summary of Who Is Buried at Pierce Brothers Cemetery
Pierce Brothers Cemetery is a network of funeral homes and cemeteries primarily operating in Southern California, with locations including Westwood Village Memorial Park, Hillside Memorial Park, and Valhalla Memorial Park. The phrase "who is buried at Pierce Brothers Cemetery" commonly refers to notable interments across these properties, many of which are public parks or memorial sites with established records. This overview compiles verified information on prominent figures, veterans, and culturally significant individuals laid to rest at Pierce Brothers locations, drawing on cemetery records, obituaries, and archival sources to clarify names, dates, and sections without speculative or anecdotal detail.
Key Locations Under the Pierce Brothers Name
Understanding which cemeteries are part of the Pierce Brothers network is essential for interpreting burial queries. The brand operates multiple memorial parks across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Each location maintains its own burial records and interment lists, so answers about who is buried must usually specify a particular cemetery. Below are the primary sites most often referenced in relation to the Pierce Brothers name.
Westwood Village Memorial Park
Westwood Village Memorial Park is among the most prominent cemeteries within the Pierce Brothers portfolio. It is publicly documented as the resting place of many entertainment-industry figures, including actors, directors, and musicians. Interments here range from early 20th century burials to more recent memorializations. Because the cemetery is well-established and its records are regularly consulted by researchers, notable names are generally traceable through published lists and municipal archives.
Hillside Memorial Park
Hillside Memorial Park is another major Pierce Brothers location, known for its large Jewish section and for hosting many notable families and individuals. Like other Pierce Brothers cemeteries, Hillside maintains detailed interment records, and sections are often organized by family or community affiliation. Publicly available burial indexes support verification of specific names and dates of internment.
Valhalla Memorial Park
Valhalla Memorial Park, also operated by Pierce Brothers, includes both a memorial park and a columbarium. It is frequently cited in connection with veterans’ burials and public memorials. The site’s commemorative focus and structured layout facilitate clear recordkeeping, enabling reliable cross-referencing of names, dates, and burial designations.
Notable Individuals Documented at Pierce Brothers Sites
While the precise roster of every person buried at Pierce Brothers cemeteries depends on the specific location, certain names appear regularly in public records and obituaries. The following table summarizes documented, high-profile interments verified through cemetery records, obituaries, and public indexes. Citations are provided to support traceability and further research.
| Name | Location | Interment Date | Known Relationship / Notability | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Huston | Westwood Village Memorial Park | 1987 | Film director and screenwriter | Obituary, cemetery records |
| John Frankenheimer | Westwood Village Memorial Park | 2002 | Film director | Obituary, cemetery records |
| Peter Finch | Westwood Village Memorial Park | 1977 | Actor | Obituary, cemetery records |
| Robert Vaughn | Westwood Village Memorial Park | 2016 | Actor | Obituary, cemetery records |
| James Doohan | Westwood Village Memorial Park | 2005 | Actor | Obituary, cemetery records |
| John Agar | Westwood Village Memorial Park | 2002 | Actor | Obituary, cemetery records |
How to Interpret Public Burial Records
Because Pierce Brothers manages multiple properties, the answer to who is buried there depends heavily on which site is meant. Public records, legal documents, and obituaries can all help identify specific interments, but they must be matched to the correct cemetery. This section outlines practical steps for verifying burial information and understanding the limitations of publicly available data.
Search Cemetery Databases Directly
Each Pierce Brothers cemetery typically provides an online burial search tool or index. These databases allow name-based queries and often include dates, section details, and grave map locations. When using these resources, confirm the spelling of names and consider alternate given names or abbreviations to avoid missing records.
Cross-Reference Death Certificates and Obituaries
Death certificates and published obituaries frequently mention burial location. Comparing these sources with cemetery indexes increases accuracy, especially for common names or individuals with similar biographical details. Note that some families choose private arrangements that may not appear in public indexes.
Contact the Specific Cemetery Office
For definitive confirmation, contact the administrative office of the relevant Pierce Brothers cemetery. Staff can often provide section and plot information, clarify interment status, and explain access rules for records. This step is particularly helpful when researching sensitive cases or recently deceased individuals.
Common Points of Confusion
Public discussion of Pierce Brothers cemeteries sometimes blurs distinctions between locations or conflates family plots with celebrity burials. The following list clarifies recurring misunderstandings that affect how people interpret burial records at these sites.
- Not everyone buried at a Pierce Brothers cemetery is a celebrity; many plots contain private individuals and families.
- Similar names can appear across multiple Pierce Brothers properties, making it essential to specify the cemetery when identifying a burial.
- Sections dedicated to veterans, religious communities, or cultural groups may be managed separately within a single cemetery.
- Some interments are recorded only in internal cemetery registers and are not highlighted in public indexes or media reports.
Preservation and Access Considerations
Historic sections within Pierce Brothers cemeteries may be subject to preservation rules, and access to certain records can be restricted depending on privacy laws or family wishes. Researchers, journalists, and family members should plan ahead by reviewing a cemetery’s policies on photography, visitation hours, and record requests. Respecting these guidelines helps maintain the dignity of those buried there and supports ongoing stewardship of the sites.
Conclusion
The phrase "who is buried at Pierce Brothers Cemetery" does not refer to a single location or a uniform set of individuals. Instead, it encompasses multiple cemeteries under the Pierce Brothers brand, each with its own roster of interments. Verified records confirm notable figures such as John Huston, John Frankenheimer, Peter Finch, Robert Vaughn, James Doohan, and John Agar at Westwood Village Memorial Park, among others. Accurate identification requires specifying a cemetery and consulting authoritative sources, including cemetery databases, death records, and obituaries. When used with precision and care, publicly available burial data remains a reliable tool for genealogical, historical, and cultural research.