hello, this is mosaic. i'm tom burk. who da man? we know it's the one who knows where all the bodies are buried. she's here today. monika williams, you're da man, well, da woman today. you're the director of cemeteries for the archdiocese for san francisco. what a job. >> it is. >> did you like cemeteries as a kid? >> i grew up going to cemeteries on holidays and memorial day and all of that. >> not to mention the funerals.

>> yes, irish catholic background, that's what we did. no, never as a child did i say, i wanted to work here. i started as a summer temporary job. to work with people at such a difficult time and to be able to spend your time serving people, it's an amazing way to build a career. i stayed in the industry and moved in as a funeral director in different places and i'm back at holy cross now. >> i wanted to say you started as a grave digger, but you're in charge. so many interesting things. i have my marching orders. we have great notes here. you know, about the 125th anniversary. want to start there? >> yes! >> people are finding the after life home there today.

>> holy cross in coalma opens the first services, they opened in june, 1887. we'll start with a mass on a saturday, june 2nd in saturday. the archbishop is generous enough to celebrate the day with us. we'll invite back the priests of the archdiocese that have worked at the cemetery. >> and so many are there after life, the priests circle. how many would you say? >> it's a lovely circle. they all face an image of the last supper and there's a section off of that for the families of priests. >> of course, this mass will be in the main mausoleum.

they're all wonderful, but that's the principle mausoleum. >> yes, it's original. >> beautiful marble. >> yes, that's the door you'll walk through. all right. >> a lot of history in the building. inside the rotunda where the alter is, the archbishops are entombed there, dating back to archbishop alimani and many other associate bishops for the archbishops. >> and he was moved here? >> yes, he was buried in spain and brought back. >> and carnal lavana has found a home there? >> we would love to have him back. >> you know, here we are talking about it with a smile on our faces. there's a new acceptance of death as a part of life.

we can know about it and plan for it. we can be in on it. you know? >> we live in an information culture. the way that people look at planning funeral services has changed. really, what we did, if death happened, you reacted to it. now, the internet is such a great source of information. there are legislative directives that tell funeral homes and cemeteries how to provide information to the public. there are watchdog agencies that make sure they're following those. people get on the computer and they can get on the phone and look at prices and options, they can put together a personal service that they want, and that's a different setup than what we had 30 years ago and before that.

>> and they're making that information available in hi- tech. we have about 30 seconds. what's the address. >> holycrosscemeterys.com. >> and you have a blog? >> we have a blog and a video tour and updated pricing information and upcoming events. all of the questions you need answered. >> and you're starting facebook. >> and the eyes will be clouds on your -- closed on your facebook. >> we're talking about cemeteries. it will be a great morning. stay with us.

all right, guys. we got to be smarter about what we bite on, ok? i want everyone to go outside. we're gonna run red rover on 3. what about you, tony? i'm gonna run around in circles, flap my arms, and make engine noises like this. bbbbbb... [bell rings] boy, voice-over: when it comes to playing, we kids are the pros. different boy: we're eating right, too. third boy: we fuel up... boys: to play 60. romo, voice-over: your school doesn't have a program, be a leader. start one. boy: click today and join the movement. today, we're speak with monika williams. we're doing this with a smile

on our face, monika. >> gone are the days of everyone in black and in mourning. our society has really transitioned into a celebration of life. we acknowledge the grief along with the death. it's important to address that it's important to be present with people as they're moving through that. cemeteries can't get bogged down in that either, especially a religious cemetery. our focus is on hope and the hope of the resurrection. cemeteries are a portal to a new life, a journeying place, a weigh stop, if you like. this is a place where we come to reflect, remember and pray and to tell the story and look forward to being together again. >> there was a time, but, that your contact with the cemetery happened when someone died and

it ended when you left the cemetery. today, there's continued contact with the family. >> we have a tremendous number of events. every first saturday of the month. we have our first saturday mass at the chapel. 300 people. every first saturday come together. >> a lot of people go. >> it's just an amazing time. veteran's day, memorial day. easter celebration. this year, obviously, the 125th anniversary celebration. we'll tell the story and remember in prayer and have refreshments. so the food aspect comes along with it. gathering together as a community and honoring the history. that's the large part of cemeteries is about. they exist to tell the story, and the story and the community and the people who impacted

your family's life and your neighbors and the people who ran the city -- everyone in the community, their stories are there. >> and you said that the cemetery's the city and you're the mayor. yes. >> we have mineral park and mount olivet. we have our coastal cemeteries as well. there are quite a few of us. >> all wonderful places of faith. >> they are. they're sacred places and places of faith and place that is witness to the hope of salvation. >> whatever the event, if anyone's going, everything is at 11:00 a.m. >> that's the true -- truth. we know when to get there.

we don't want to confuse anyone. >> let's talk about the first saturday. oldest and largest. that's what you said about the cemetery. >> oldest and largest cemetery in coalma. 1887. that was the first cemetery in the town. we grew out of salivaly semi-- calvary cemetery. the archbishop looked south and truly, he was a visionary. he arranged to purchase over 300 acres of land. we have space for generations to come. were we're so blessed by what he saw. it's huge and it's a beautiful, beautiful place. >> and the out reach, what about cost and the poor and the unborn and the idea of sacred

ground? >> there are so many parts of the ministry. you touch on an important one. every other year, we work with the archdiocese to host a mass for babies that died before, during or after birth. there's a section with a statue dedicated to rachele mourning and her children, israel. it's a touching mass and healing mass. parents can write a message to their children and we bury them. there's not just the every day burial, our regular ministry, but there's also the other special times of the year when we recognize specific losses and there's out reach to those with financial difficulty. we're a catholic cemetery, we wouldn't deny christian burial to anyone based on financial

status. we're able to work with people if they have difficulty. >> what about the idea of sacred ground. catholics are encouraged to be left in sacred ground. >> there's a wonderful idea this is a sacred place, a place of memory and prayer and a place where people come to pray, that is not to be taken lightly. we want to make sure it's a peaceful place, a beautiful place, a place that honors people's memories. >> and we'll come back and take a break and we didn't forget about joe dimaggio and you'll be upset about wyatt erp. teach an old dog new tricks?

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monika is the director of cemeteries for the archdiocese of san francisco. we're talking about the cemeteries and planning. we shall can -- we can never cover everything. if people had questions, they would have to show up and call. now, they can go to the website. >> that's right. you can send an e-mail. we try to answer the e-mails within a day. >> and on the front page alone. there's nothing hidden. you can talk about vices. it's such a wonderful thing. >> it's been a great tool for us. we get to show you the cemetery and tell you our story and give

you the information we're looking for. people can look at it at 2:00 a.m. and look at it without having to ask questions or commit to anything. they can e-mail us and ask for more information to be sent to them. it's a great tool. >> and they can talk to the boss even? >> yes, i answer the regular e- mails. >> and you're the boss. it's a big celebration in june. you have a cook book? >> yes, we do. people have submitted recipes. >> we're planning a number of things with the 125th anniversary and the family service's manager said, you should do a cook book. people bring food after funerals. >> i guess i could smell the boiled ham. what a better way to commemorate that. >> we've been collecting recipes for people. the recipes come along with the

story. a story about their family. that's been great fun. >> and people want to take part? >> yes. >> so people really continue to feel a part of holy cross? >> yes, it's a place of legacy. certainly, in my case, six generations of my family are at holy cross. this is a place that people come back to. even if people have moved across the country, there's a place you can come back. there's a place where your family can be told, where there's a monument to the family's story. that's a great thing about semiterrace, especially as we move far apart in the society today. >> we don't want to move away from things like cremation. the catholic church and cremation, where are we there? >> that's the most often asked

question. it does allow cremation. catholic church, for much of the history had valid opposition to cremation. it was used as a denial of the hope of the resurrection. so, reacting to that, the church was opposed to cremation for those kinds of reasons. those aren't the reasons that people choose it any more. they want to be placed in a family plot sometimes, and that's the best way to do it. they want to be sent back to their family. there are a lot of valid reasons. and the change in the teaching dates back to 1963. most don't know that. most still think they're not sure where the church stands on that. cremation is accepted by the church. there's a rite and ritual developed for masses with the urn present.

masses prior to cremation and the committal service with the urn. the catholic church has a beautiful ritual. >> and great information about that is available, too, on the website. >> yes, lots of information on the website. you can be with the family and have all kinds of options. also, we can talk about to bring in a different line about this. i'm finding in so many areas of the church today, we can be not afraid. the church is open. we're not holding things back any more. do you find that in your situation? >> yes, very much focused on being pastoral. i'm not afraid of the family's questions and not afraid to answer their questions and to have the dialogue. if a person is concerned about

what's the best choice for me, we can talk about that. there are so many more options for people in terms of funeral service planning than their used to be. we have to take a break. in 20 seconds, what's the most important thing that people should know? >> plan to tell your story. plan to be reunited with your family. have the cemetery to be a part of your legacy. >> and let it be the way you want it to be. >> yes. >> we'll come back and coming up it's joe dimaggio and others.

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today, we're speaking with monika williams, she's the director of the cemetery in san francisco. we're talking about planning our time and our services and doing all of those things. we have a few minutes left and it's when we have to talk about maybe, famous people who have chosen to be buried and to be left. aboveground, that's another big thing. we would see the special wonderful aboveground things that people would have. the church actually has mausoleums of their own and you can purchase a grave -- >> we have both. we have a little bit of everything. we have every story that's

important. some are more well known. some belong to people like joe dimaggio. he's the most famous residents. >> and that's such a handsome plot. tell us about it. you said it was well planned. >> his brother, dominic designed it for him. it's a custom design, a rosen and a cross. there are pots of rosemary on the sides. it's a plant of our lady and a plant of remembrance. it's a lovely spot and a place where visitors are drawn, obviously, baseball fans and people who know of him. people come and they leave bats and balls and mitts. they bring their kids and tell their story. people will come from new york and say they can't come without saying hi to joe. >> what about governor brown?

>> well, a lot of great political names in san francisco history. mayor fallin. >> father peter york. >> do you have tours? >> yes, we do. we have a self-guided walking tour. you can get the brochure and walk up a little bit and see the fun names and the great histories. we put on walking tours for different groups. this year, with the 125th anniversary, we'll do more. we'll also put on a victorian day tour. >> what about volunteers? >> yes, we're part of a church, we love volunteers. we have a volunteer alter society and that helps with the events and that's always a place for people who love the history and the special presence.

>> and the website again? >> wyatt earp is not buried there? >> no, he's up the street. his wife was jewish, he's with her. >> what else do you want to tell us. i've been holding your feet to the fire. >> because we have the 125th anniversary, we have 125-dollar coupon this year. if you haven't started your legacy at holy cross and would like to come out and select something, we'll give you a coupon. come see us, it's a great time to reflect on all of the stories there at holy cross. come see us all of the time. it's a great place of prayer and reflection. it's a beautiful place to just take a walk. and it's in the right hands. >> you're doing a wonderful job. you've been there how long? >> eight months in this

position. >> and you followed in katherine's footsteps. >> yes, very dedicated to the work of the ministry. >> what's the most exciting thing ahead? >> tremendous things to start on, one of the things we'll work on is the greening of the cemeteries. that's in the news of the funeral industry. not just green burial options, but how do we save and recycle. we're moving in that direction. >> we've used the time well. we have to go. monika williams, thanks. look it up, there's wonderful information, great things to do. it's a wonderful way to find out about things. thanks for joining us, on mosaic.