Fairhaven is dedicated to celebrating the individual, providing services that are as unique and wide-ranging as the people they celebrate.
With the memorial park and mortuary in Central Orange County and an elegantly appointed mortuary in South Orange County, Fairhaven offers a wide range of pre-need and at-need services provided with care and compassion. Founded in 1911 by Oliver Halsell to provide a peaceful and comforting place for families to honor their loved ones, Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary is Orange County’s most beautiful full-service mortuary, crematory and cemetery.
12/13/2025
Wreaths Across America 2025
Our deepest gratitude goes to everyone who sponsored wreaths and assisted in placing 1,200 wreaths at the graves of veterans buried at Fairhaven.
We are especially thankful to Orange Elks Lodge #1475, the Emblem Club, and the ROTC Marine Cadets from Orange High School.
Remember ✨ Honor ✨ Teach
12/13/2025
Every day, you have the opportunity to make new memories happen, and we often take this for granted. Remember, anchors don’t have to hold you down. Perhaps set a half hour every night to “dwell,” then challenge yourself not to dwell before or after then. But when you begin to dwell on the past more than you feel is healthy, ask yourself: why does this memory matter to me? Does it serve me to restrict certain opportunities because they remind me of this memory?
12/13/2025
Before Santa there was…
St. Nicholas, the Original Gift-Giver!
Today we’re exploring St. Nicholas Day, a tradition of small surprises and big generosity. Celebrated in many European countries, children leave shoes out for St. Nicholas, who fills them with treats, fruit or small surprises.
12/10/2025
A Little Holiday Mischief…
Meet Krampus!
In European Alpine regions, December 5 marks Krampusnacht, when Krampus, a horned, mischievous creature, roams town streets alongside St. Nicholas, “scaring away” mischief and reminding children to behave.
12/10/2025
Step 1: Wake up. Step 2: Be Grateful. Step 3: Repeat. A new day, a new beginning. Never lose hope. Wishing everyone a good day today!
12/09/2025
Join Us for a Special Holiday Remembrance
Wednesday, 12/10 at 7pm - Service in Spanish
Thursday, 12/11 at 7pm - Service in English
12/05/2025
According to a Ukrainian legend, a poor mother had no decorations for her Christmas tree. While everyone was sleeping, a friendly spider spun a web to decorate the tree. On Christmas morning, the family discovered the web turned to gold and silver in the sunlight. To this day, Ukranians decorate their trees with spider webs to bring good luck and good fortune for the upcoming year.
12/03/2025
Expressing gratitude is so important. Let's make sure those that we love know how much we love them.
How to Deepen Our Gratitude Practice.
12/01/2025
Mark Your Calendar!
11/30/2025
Every bucket list must-have ________________!
Bucket list definition: a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.
11/26/2025
How do you want to be remembered? Artisan, craftsman or __________?
11/25/2025
Congratulations Elsa and Berenice!
The Serving with Dignity Award is sponsored by the Dignity Memorial Locations in Orange County.
It was a privilege to present the Serving with Dignity Award to these two amazing women for their contributions to Friends of OASIS Senior Center acknowledging their commitment to the senior care community.
The Serving with Dignity Award honors exceptional senior care professionals and volunteers who serve with compassion and dignity ❤️
Award Recipients Elsa Segato and Berenice Barajas with Pacific View Location Manager, Beth Campos
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Oliver was also responsible for developing one of the first mausoleums in Orange County in 1916. During the last phase of construction on the Historic Mausoleum in the 1930s, he had the foresight to install a crematory there, making it one of the first crematories in Orange County. This mausoleum is the final resting place for many of Orange County’s founding families. During the mid-'50s, the Historic Mausoleum made Hollywood history when Charlton Heston chose it to record parts of his dialogue as Moses in the film The Ten Commandments, reportedly due to the “God-like quality of the acoustics.”
Modern Updates
After Oliver’s death in the mid-'50s, his foundation constructed Waverley Church to
commemorate him, his wife, Della, and his mother, Susan. The church’s architecture mimics that of English churches. Historically, if a building remained incomplete, no taxes would have to be paid on it, so many churches left off the steeple. That explains Waverley Church's distinctive square tower and almost fairytale setting amid the cemetery’s emerald green lawns. Waverley Church is used frequently for weddings as well as committal ceremonies.
📷In 1976, the funeral home and florist shop were built on the cemetery property. The funeral home has a chapel that seats approximately 80 people, and until 1995 it was furnished with sofas and chairs instead of pews for a home-like atmosphere. To offer families more choices for services, Rose Window Chapel in the Historic Mausoleum was updated with curtains and padded seating.
Today, Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary and Fairhaven Memorial Park are members of the Dignity Memorial® network, the largest provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services in North America.