In the 'City of Souls,' the living don't fear the dead

"With only about 1,700 residents, the Peninsula town of Colma considers itself small - but that's only if you count the living. Add the dead, and it becomes the Bay Area's largest "city," home to more than 1.5 million eternal residents buried across 17 historic cemeteries. Known as the "City of Souls," Colma is shaped as much by its dead as its living. Children play among headstones, and locals see ornate mausoleums daily on their way to run errands; the graveyards woven into public life as parks and libraries are in other cities."

"A longtime resident since 1977 and city councilmember, Helen Fisicaro said the view from her home - framed by acres of memorial parks - has never been unsettling. "It's very calming," she said. "We raised our kids here, and they never thought anything different of it. I remember when I had a Girl Scout troop, we took a walk to the Italian Cemetery to see the old section, where you'd find photos of young people on their gravestones - dressed in the clothes they wore in life.""

"Fans still leave baseballs at the tombstone of New York Yankees hall of famer Joe DiMaggio at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, more than 25 years after his death. Meanwhile, visitors leave pebbles and coins at the marker for Wild West legend Wyatt Earp, who died in 1929, in a nod to the Jewish tradition of marking a visit to a grave at the Hills of Eternity Memorial Park."

Colma has about 1,700 living residents and more than 1.5 million buried people across 17 historic cemeteries. The town is nicknamed the "City of Souls" because cemeteries shape everyday life, with headstones and mausoleums visible during routine activities. Longtime residents describe the setting as calming and family-friendly, with school and community activities interacting with memorial parks. The cemeteries attract tourists, especially around Halloween and Catholic observances, and offer guided trolley tours. Notable graves include Joe DiMaggio, Wyatt Earp, and Levi Strauss, drawing visitors who leave tokens at those markers.

Read at The Mercury News