The last funeral home in Berkeley

Yesterday I visited the last funeral home in Berkeley.  I hear there used to be nine, which makes sense, because a lot of people live here and, I imagine, many of them also die.  But over the years, Berkeley funeral homes have faded and closed, as families have chosen cremation or gone elsewhere for their services.  Harris Funeral Home, located on San Pablo Ave. near Gilman, was opened over 50 years ago to provide for the death needs of the African-American community, who at that time were not allowed to be embalmed with whites.

The business became a center of the community, providing micro-loans to families and providing care to generation after generation.  Though the founders are now deceased, their relatives have continued to provide services at some of the lowest prices available, and are committed to finding ways to keep their doors open.

I visited and spent about an hour with Stephanie Cheever, one of their family counselors, who also manages the books, takes calls in the middle of the night, helps with arrangements, and drives from San Francisco to host their estate sales on weekends.  She shared stories from the diverse clientele they have served over the years, emphasizing that they are not an African-American funeral home--they are a funeral home for the whole community.

A beautiful, custom-painted mandala is framed in their entry-way, the work of an Iranian artist they commissioned to create an energetically balanced color scheme for grief.  They have private prayer rooms upstairs for Muslims and others who prefer to maintain all-night prayer vigils.  They have cameras set up for skyping live services to family members and loved ones too distant to attend.  They create custom programs for families, and they "turn the place upside down" to accommodate whatever is right for each individual.

It was moving to hear their commitment to this community, members of which Stephanie says still call "to rake the leaves," or contribute in other ways as an expression of their gratitude.  Whatever our changing death needs may be, I pray that community centers like this one--where people of all faiths can simply come in and pray--will continue to find ways to fund themselves, and to provide for the people that need them.  Thank you for sharing your time with me!