California, San Mateo County, Colma, Italian Cemetery Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
The daily burial log begins in 1934 and continues to the present.

Record Description
This collection is comprised of index cards and the daily burial log book of the Italian Cemetery in Colma.

Record Content


The following information is generally found in these records:


 * Name of Deceased
 * Where Buried
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Date of Death
 * Date of Burial
 * Relationship to Owner of Grave

How to Use the Record
To begin your search you will need to know the person’s name and the approximate burial or death date. Once you have located your ancestor’s burial record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Burial records are often brief so it can be easy to confuse individuals. Compare what information is given with what you already know about your ancestor to make sure it is the correct person.

Next, look at the pieces of information given in the burial record for new information. Add any new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the death date or year to calculate the birth date.
 * Use the birth date to search for birth records.
 * Use the birth date along with relative’s names to find the family in census records.
 * Use the locality and relative’s names to locate church and land records.
 * The name of the undertaker or mortuary could lead you to funeral records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the deceased who may have been buried in the same cemetery or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.

If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the surnames.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby cemeteries.

Record History
Cemeteries began keeping records as soon as they are opened. The purchase of a burial plot is a land transaction and is recorded with a deed.

Why This Record Was Created
Cemetery records are kept as a permanent record of who was buried and usually who purchased the burial plot.

Record Reliability
The information in these records is usually reliable, but depends upon the reliability of the informant.

Related Wiki Articles
San Mateo County, California

California Cemeteries

Related Websites
Find a Grave

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71.
 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023.

Sources of information for This Collection
California. San Mateo County, Colma, Italian Cemetery Records. Italian Cemetery. Colma, California.