History of Sharon

Since it was founded in 1948 – the same year as the State of Israel – Sharon Memorial Park has become an integral part of the fabric of the Jewish community of Greater Boston.  Among the premier Jewish cemeteries in the U.S., Sharon Memorial Park is known nationally as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the Northeast.  Located on 340 idyllic acres in Sharon, Massachusetts, the setting for Sharon Memorial Park was carefully selected for its natural beauty and it is so full of nature and life that it is not unusual to frequently see visitors who come just to walk the grounds and enjoy the surroundings.

Sharon Memorial Park follows Jewish burial traditions and was modeled after Forest Lawn in Los Angeles which was the first memorial park cemetery in the country. When entering Sharon, one immediately notices that there are no upright monuments. All of the memorials are made of bronze and are flush to the ground, which gives Sharon the welcoming feel of a park rather than a cemetery.

A chief architect and visionary of Sharon Memorial Park was Eric Marmorek who traveled extensively to research other parks and cemeteries. He instituted many of the most innovative ideas while always maintaining the highest standards.

In addition to being among the first modern Jewish cemeteries, Sharon Memorial Park has long been recognized as a leader in areas like pre-need planning and perpetual care trust funds. There is a staffed administration/welcome center with a chapel, public restrooms, sections named after historic and Biblical locations, and sections for interfaith families.

Click here to view a video from 1948 showing the construction of the park Sharon Memorial Park construction