Better Place Forests - Yosemite Gateway — Local services in Sonora

August 20 2023 when I left BPF Yosemite Gateway I couldn’t shake the feeling that I left something behind, searching my mind for what it could be I realized I was leaving my mother behind. The grief struck like a bolt of lightning through my heart and I had to pull the car over. It was that moment I realized why people go visit loved ones in their resting place. Always knowing they really are not there physically, but understanding then I need a place to be with her with out the noise of life.

I told her I would return in Fall and did so the other day. After emailing to be sure the gates would be open, I was so pleased to see the staff had placed a bench in front of our family’s tree and I was greeted with warm smiles by the same lovely ladies whom helped us lay my mom to rest in August. After my visit I went for a nice walk through the Forrest trails. I even stopped to pick apples from the ole orchard trees. I can’t think of a more beautiful and welcoming atmosphere. This memorial Forrest is in the Yosemite National Forrest and beautiful soles are at rest throughout the peaceful 184 acres. I wasn’t sure what I was buying into so many years ago when this memorial concept was being created but I must say the service was so much more than I could have possibly expected. I whole heartedly recommend The Better Place Forrest to any family!! They have forrest’s now in Santa Cruze and in Mendocino too. Thanks for reading my...

After my younger sister passed, our family was too overcome with sudden grief to attempt navigating the funeral industry. Having lost my father and grandfather in the past year, we found the experience with funeral homes draining, unsympathetic, and borderline predatory. We wanted my sister’s internment to reflect the generosity of spirit she carried through life and definitely found it in Better Place Forests. The sales process was a quick point-and-click experience that we were able to comprehend simply and in our own time without the need of a sales person, and when we did ultimately interact with the customer service side of things, Better Place Forests provided empathy and incredible patience. I never once felt rushed to make a decision, nor was there ever even a single attempt to upsell me on anything. It was the exact alternative we had hoped for. Every step of the process was centered on my sister and her memory.

Knowing my sister is truly peacefully at rest provides me comfort beyond measure. Visiting the forest was an experience completely unique to visiting a cemetery; much less somber, more vivacious and active. I wish I could give...

Discovering Better Place Forests at Yosemite Gateway was a sliver of light and peace when my husband, Bill, passed away last year. In our earlier end-of-life planning we had purchased a place in a crypt. However, when the time came I knew it wasn't the place for us.

I struggled until I found information on Better Place Forests and from the first contact with them I knew a tree near Yosemite was the answer for us. Forests were a large part of our years together and it was clear a tree was the perfect location to place our ashes.

Every conversation I have had with Better Place Forests has been so wonderful and I can't say enough about how kind and thoughtful Ashley and Sarah were--helping me find the perfect tree for us and guiding us through placing Bill's ashes. I am so thankful my family and I will have a beautiful tree and forest to visit and remember the happiness we experienced in nature...