Granite memorials at Cathedral Memorial Gardens in Garden Grove, California
VJ Memorials · Garden Grove, California

Cathedral Memorial Gardens Headstones

Designing, engraving, and delivering granite and bronze memorials from our Chino factory since 1966. Cathedral Memorial Gardens, on the Christ Cathedral campus, is about a half hour drive from our door.

CemeteryCathedral Memorial Gardens
LocationGarden Grove, CA
Established1991
Making Memorials Since1966
Pricing

Honest Numbers, Backed by Our Price Guarantee

Memorial pricing for Cathedral Memorial Gardens depends on the type of memorial, size, granite color, and the artwork or inscription you choose.

Starting Prices for Cathedral Memorial Gardens

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

Cathedral Memorial Gardens 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 →

Cemetery Regulations

What’s Allowed at Cathedral Memorial Gardens

Cathedral Memorial Gardens is 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 the gardens are 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.

The 18 granite colors VJ Memorials offers, shown as polished swatches

Cathedral Memorial Gardens 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.

Setting & Installation

Who Sets the Stone at Cathedral Memorial Gardens

How It Works

What we handle: Design, engraving, and delivery. Because Cathedral Memorial Gardens 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: The gardens’ 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.

Common Questions

What Families Ask About Cathedral Memorial Gardens

What are Cathedral Memorial Gardens’ visiting hours?

Cathedral Memorial Gardens’ 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 (714) 282-3052.

What types of memorials are allowed at Cathedral Memorial Gardens?

Cathedral Memorial Gardens 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 Cathedral Memorial Gardens?

Cathedral Memorial Gardens 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 Cathedral Memorial Gardens?

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 Cathedral Memorial Gardens, the cemetery typically sets the marker within five business days.

Can I add an inscription to an existing memorial at Cathedral Memorial Gardens?

Yes. We add inscriptions to existing memorials on site at Cathedral Memorial Gardens. 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 Cathedral Memorial Gardens have to include a cross?

Yes. Cathedral Memorial Gardens follows the Diocese of Orange’s memorial guidelines, which require every memorial to include a properly proportioned religious cross of at least 1½ inches, with artwork that reflects Catholic teaching. We design your memorial to meet these guidelines so it’s approved without delay. You can review the full memorial guidelines at the Diocese of Orange Cemetery Rules & Regulations.

Can we buy our headstone from VJ Memorials for Cathedral Memorial Gardens?

Yes. Families are welcome to purchase their memorial from us. We design, engrave, and supply it built to the cemetery’s requirements, and the gardens’ own crew installs it on the grounds.

Do you handle the approval process with Cathedral Memorial Gardens?

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.

Your Local Monument Craftsmen

From Our Chino Factory to Cathedral Memorial Gardens

Our factory and showrooms in Chino are about 25 miles from Cathedral Memorial Gardens, roughly a 33 minute drive south on CA-57. Every memorial bound for the gardens is designed and hand finished here in Chino, then delivered by our own team.

Cathedral Memorial Gardens is an easy drive from our Chino factory, so we’d love for you to visit us in person.

Driving directions from VJ Memorials (4737 Schaefer Ave., Chino) to Cathedral Memorial Gardens (13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92840).

About the Park

A Garden Cemetery at Christ Cathedral

On the Christ Cathedral Campus Since 1991

Created in 1991 at the base of Christ Cathedral and its 10,000 panes of glass, the Diocese of Orange’s only ecumenical cemetery.

The gardens date to the campus’s Crystal Cathedral years and became part of the Diocese of Orange Catholic Cemeteries with the campus. An $18.5 million expansion completed in 2021 doubled the grounds and added the Sanctuary of Eternal Life mausoleum; Bishop Kevin Vann blessed the expanded gardens on All Souls Day that year. As an ecumenical cemetery, the gardens welcome families of all Christian traditions.

Families from across central Orange County use Cathedral Memorial Gardens, including Garden Grove, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, and Westminster.

Ownership: Private, religious. Owned and operated by the Diocese of Orange Catholic Cemeteries.

Cathedral Memorial Gardens: Official Site · Google · Christ Cathedral

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