Ascension Cemetery Headstones
Designing, engraving, and delivering granite and bronze memorials for Ascension families since 1966. Our Chino factory is about a 40 minute drive from the cemetery.
Honest Numbers, Backed by Our Price Guarantee
Memorial pricing for Ascension Cemetery depends on the type of memorial, size, granite color, and the artwork or inscription you choose.
Flat Granite Markers
Cremation / Child 24″ × 12″: from $570
Standard Adult 28″ × 16″: from $830
Side by Side 36″ × 18″: from $1,156
Lawn Crypt 20″ × 28″ with 2 Vase Holes: from $1,212
Lawn Crypt Side by Side 20″ × 40″ with 2 Vase Holes: from $1,802
Upright Granite Monuments (designated sections only): from $2,600
Ascension charges a setting fee on all markers, billed separately from the memorial (see our FAQ below for the fee schedule). Every quote from us is itemized. Bring us a competitor’s written quote and we’ll match or beat it. See our full pricing page →
What’s Allowed at Ascension
Ascension is a Catholic cemetery operated by the Diocese of Orange, so every memorial follows the Diocese’s memorial guidelines. Flat granite or bronze markers are standard, with one memorial per grave; upright monuments are permitted only in sections specifically designated for them. Because Ascension is a sacred, consecrated ground, every memorial must include a properly proportioned religious cross of at least 1½ inches, and the artwork and inscription must be consonant with Catholic teaching. Management reviews the size, style, color, lettering, and artwork of every design before it’s made, and no cement borders are permitted around a marker.
Cremation / Child 24″ × 12″
The standard cremation and child marker size (some spaces may permit a smaller 10″ × 20″). Granite at least 3″ thick with a 1/8″–1/4″ bevel edge. A cross of at least 1½ inches is built into every design.
Standard Adult 28″ × 16″
The standard flat marker for a single adult grave. Room for names, dates, an inscription, and artwork such as a portrait, scene, or floral design alongside the required cross.
Side by Side 36″ × 18″
A companion flat marker for two adjacent grave spaces, centered across both. Same 3″ granite and bevel edge specifications as the standard adult size.
Lawn Crypt 20″ × 28″
For lawn crypt spaces, installed with two vases in cored vase holes.
Lawn Crypt Side by Side 20″ × 40″
The companion version of the lawn crypt marker, for two adjacent lawn crypt spaces.
Upright Monument
Granite or bronze, permitted only in sections the cemetery has specifically designated for uprights. We’ll confirm whether your family’s plot qualifies before any design work begins.
Ascension allows our full palette of 18 granite colors for standard markers.
Allowed marker types and sizes vary by section. Not sure what your section permits? Give us a call and we’ll look it up for you.
Who Sets the Stone at Ascension
What we handle: Design, engraving, and delivery. Because Ascension reviews every memorial for the required cross and Catholic imagery before it’s installed, we build your design to those guidelines from the start and handle the permit paperwork with the cemetery office.
Who sets the marker: Ascension’s own grounds crew sets every marker. Once we deliver the finished memorial to the cemetery with its permit, their team places it level with the ground.
What Families Ask About Ascension
What are Ascension’s visiting hours?
Ascension’s gates are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during daylight saving time and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during standard time. For holiday hours or section access questions, call the cemetery office at (949) 837-1331.
What types of memorials are allowed at Ascension?
Ascension allows flat granite and bronze markers, plus upright monuments in designated sections, each following the Diocese of Orange’s memorial guidelines. See the Cemetery Regulations section above for every permitted size and section rule.
What is the setting fee at Ascension?
Ascension charges a $700 setting fee on all markers, granite or bronze, billed separately from the memorial and paid directly to the cemetery.
How long does it take to get a headstone made and set at Ascension?
In-stock flat markers are ready in 2–4 weeks. Special orders may take longer; we’ll let you know up front. Once delivered to Ascension, the cemetery typically sets the marker within five business days.
Can I add an inscription to an existing memorial at Ascension?
Yes. We add inscriptions to existing memorials on site at Ascension. We bring our portable engraving equipment right to the gravesite, so there’s no need to disturb the memorial or coordinate a removal. Adding a second name, a death date, or a short inscription typically takes a couple of hours on site. Learn more about on-site engraving →
Do memorials at Ascension have to include a cross?
Yes. As a Catholic cemetery, Ascension requires every memorial to include a properly proportioned religious cross of at least 1½ inches, and the artwork must reflect Catholic teaching. We design your memorial to meet these guidelines so it’s approved without delay. You can review the cemetery’s full memorial guidelines at the Diocese of Orange Cemetery Rules & Regulations.
Can we buy our headstone from VJ Memorials for Ascension?
Yes. Families are welcome to purchase their memorial from us. We design, engrave, and supply it built to the cemetery’s requirements, and Ascension’s own crew installs it on the grounds.
Do you handle the approval process with Ascension?
Yes. Everything goes through our office. We check your design against the Diocese’s memorial guidelines before you approve the proof, then handle the installation permit and delivery coordination with the cemetery. No separate paperwork on your end.
From Our Chino Factory to Ascension
Our factory and showrooms in Chino are about 34 miles from Ascension, roughly a 40 minute drive south via the 91 freeway and the 241 toll road. Every memorial bound for Ascension is designed and hand finished here in Chino, then delivered by our own team.
Ascension is an easy drive from our Chino factory, so we’d love for you to visit us in person.
Serving South Orange County Since 1965
Opened in 1965 to serve south Orange County’s Catholic community, more than a decade before the Diocese of Orange itself was formed.
Ascension began under the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and became part of the Diocese of Orange when the diocese was established in 1976. A 6.5 acre expansion, the cemetery’s first since opening, brought the grounds along Trabuco Road to roughly 16 acres.
Families from across south Orange County use Ascension, including Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Hills, and Rancho Santa Margarita.
Ownership: Private, religious. Owned and operated by the Diocese of Orange Catholic Cemeteries.
Ascension Cemetery: Official Site · Google · Yelp
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