By Hidden among the high rises on Wilshire Avenue in Los Angeles, rests Westwood Village Memorial Park. The cemetery is difficult to find because it is very small (about 2 1/2 acres) and has a narrow entrance, which is buried among busy office buildings.
The cemetery has a road that enters the park, circles around the lawn and then exits. Flat tombstones sprinkle the patch of grass, while walls of outdoor crypts surround the park. There are some private family plots, guarded by small locked gates, but the cemetery is very simple overall.
There are little extravagant statues, memorial markers, water features and rolling green hills. The cemetery is clean and well kept with flat, vibrant green grass and a small office on the side. Flowers and trees decorate the grounds, and the nearby skyscrapers offer a subtle reminder of some of the glitzy, Hollywood lives that the cemetery celebrates.
The cemetery is over 100 years old, but became known by its first celebrity burial in 1962. Marilyn Monroe, a 1950s actress and model, is buried at the park because two women who had raised her were buried there. According to CNN.com, ever since her arrival at the cemetery, Monroe’s grave is the most visited burial site in history.
The surrounding busy and bustling streets of Hollywood make Westwood a great location for Hollywood stars to be buried. Former Hollywood celebrity, such as Truman Capote, Bettie Page and Natalie Wood, has been buried in an area that is still booming with entertainment. In fact, many movie theatres, including Westwood Pavilion Cinemas and Landmark Theatres, surround the area.
While the cemetery may not be large, many of Hollywood’s most famous stars are buried there. The employees at Westwood Village Memorial Park respect their families’ right to privacy. There are no tours, movie screenings or other public events at the cemetery. However, if you ask politely to be pointed in the direction of the vintage bombshell Marilyn Monroe’s crypt, or the recent comedian Rodney Dangerfield, the staff will kindly help you out.
Due to the isolated, small layout, it is imperative that visitors are respectful and courteous in language and behavior at this cemetery. The employees are very serious about their jobs and due to the park’s size it is likely that people mourning their loved ones will be within earshot.
For information on park hours, location and more, visit dignitymemorial.com.
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