The past few years have forced all of us to face unprecedented circumstances and to change direction, sometimes at a moment’s notice. In these turbulent times, one thing remains the same: our commitment to serving families throughout the Bay Area.

Trusting our team to preplan your funeral or commemorate your loved one’s life means you receive dedicated, professional care that puts your family’s needs front and center.

As we look ahead to brighter days, we’re proud to share this inspiring letter from our President and CEO Robert A. Gordon Jr. which was written to our associates here at Cypress Lawn.

Looking Back …

Although the pandemic began in 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, the disease has infected more than 100 million people around the world, and over 2.5 million people have died from the disease or disease-related complications. Now, two years on, as experts begin to report an end to the pandemic and transition to an endemic stage, we are all finally beginning to find our new “normal.”

Today…

We now face new challenges, both as individuals and cemetery and funeral operators. The war in Ukraine has taken us all by surprise and is already having global implications. Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine.

In addition, our country is experiencing its highest inflation in decades. I had hoped for a breather from the urgency of making daily pivots, listening, learning, and adjusting. The pandemic taught us that making decisions in real-time is the new way of working.

Our company performed extremely well and delivered on our promise. We set our annual goals — but never took our eye off what was happening in our environment, economy, and community — and adjusted to it. As an association, we all learned new ways to work, communicate, and serve our community. We are better for it.

Our Mission Guides Us …

Organizations that continue to succeed through adversity have a clear understanding of how and why they show up every day. For 130 years, associates of Cypress Lawn have woken up, suited up, and served. They have always understood that we share a sacred trust with our community. They count on us to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help them celebrate life, heal from loss, and remember those they love. It is a promise we deliver thousands of times per year on an at-need basis, and tens of thousands of families have before-need plans (promises) with us. This number continues to grow as our team of advisors keeps sharing the benefits of planning ahead.

Values Are the Unshakable Beliefs That Guide Our Actions and Decisions Every Day.

At Cypress Lawn, we aim to deliver impeccable service in a timely and caring manner. We support this vision by acting in accordance with our company values, which guide our interactions with families and all other stakeholders.

The Families We Serve

We believe in providing our families with high-quality service(s) that exceed their expectations. We further believe that all our interactions with families should be delivered with extreme care and in a timely manner.

Our Associates

We believe in providing our employees (associates) with opportunities to gain experience in their careers and achieve their goals. We also believe in providing our associates with a safe working environment and an opportunity to balance their own quality of life.

Treating Each Other with Respect & Dignity

We believe in providing our associates with a working environment based on trust (i.e., a safe working environment) where their ideas, opinions, and frustrations can be heard without repercussion or retaliation. We also believe that everyone can make an important contribution to the company, everyone has something to learn, and everyone has something to teach.

Acting with Honesty & Integrity

We believe there is never a right way to do a wrong thing. We also believe in building relationships with ourselves, families we serve, and other stakeholders that are based on trust and reliability.

Teamwork

We believe we are all in this together.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

We believe in always doing our best and looking for ways to make our best even better.

Safety & Security

We believe in working safely. We also believe in ensuring that our grounds and buildings are properly maintained, are free of hazards, and are firmly secured.

Going Forward …

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This can apply to any activity, but in my mind, it fits so well with those of us who have chosen the funeral and cemetery profession.

Our sights are set on making small, continuous improvements in the services and employment experience we deliver. Our desire to lead the way in the celebration, healing, and remembrance profession remains. I am counting on each team member to join us in this journey.

In service and gratitude,

Robert A. Gordon Jr.
President and CEO

If you’d like to learn more about the many ways our team at Cypress Lawn can serve you and your family, contact us today. We are here 24/7, whether you’re in immediate need or wish to plan for the future. We look forward to serving you and your family for years to come.