A funeral is a solemn occasion characterized by tradition and respect. It is a day of dignified celebration of a life lived.

"The process of death is as important a part of the life cycle as birth," said Savannah Luna. "The beginning and end of life require a great deal of care."

A caring member of the Administrative team at Mountain View Funeral Home, Memorial Park and Crematory in Lakewood, Luna is an Air Force veteran who especially understands the veteran families she serves.

"At Mountain View, we are honored to help families through this difficult time in their lives," added Luna, "and we treat each and every person with dignity and respect."

Steeped in more than 100 years of heritage, Mountain View has 160 acres of property, 120 of which have been fully developed. Since the first burial in 1915, more than 100,000 interments have occurred. 

Over the past several years, staff have developed an additional urn garden with over 3,000 inurnment spaces and a 10th mausoleum structure, offering 5,000 casket spaces and over 10,000 niches for cremated remains.

The cemetery also includes five veterans' sections and 53 other separate burial gardens.

A sense of beauty pervades the grounds as there is an array of flora and fauna, including 181 different varieties of trees, 575 rhododendrons, a prize-winning rose garden and many varieties of birds and wildlife.

"I've always found cemeteries to be beautiful," continued Luna, "and working here at Mountain View has provided me with a way to continue to serve."

In working at Mountain View, Luna is part of a change in the funeral profession as more women enter the field.

"In the last decade, the funeral profession, at least in Washington, has diversified," explained Luna. "Funeral directing used to be a male-dominated field, but now the majority of funeral directors at Mountain View are female."

This change reflects a national trend. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, 16 percent of its current membership is female. Moreover, in the 59 accredited mortuary science programs across the country, 61 percent of the students are female.

"It's an honor for Mountain View's male and female directors alike to guide and support the families we serve through what is often the most difficult time of their lives."

Mountain View Funeral Home, Memorial Park and Crematory is located at 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW in Lakewood.

For complete information, visit mountainviewtacoma.com or call 253.330.5449.