Grand Re-Opening of Woodlawn Funeral Home of Olympia at Forest Lawn Memorial

Woodlawn Funeral Home of Olympia Announces Grand Opening of Newly Constructed Funeral Home at Historic Forest Cemetery
A new chapter in Olympia funeral service begins this June as the newly constructed funeral home at historic Forest Cemetery officially opens to the public under a new name: Woodlawn Funeral Home of Olympia.
Located within historic Forest Cemetery, one of Olympia’s oldest burial grounds dating back to 1857, the funeral home has served local families since the early 1970s. Since 1985, the property has been owned and operated by the Burgman family, continuing a long-standing commitment to locally owned funeral care in Thurston County.
The former funeral home building, after decades of service, had deteriorated beyond practical renovation and was completely replaced with a new modern facility designed to better serve today’s families. The building increased from 2,500 square feet to 4,000 square feet while preserving one of its most recognizable historic features: the original stained-glass windows, which were carefully salvaged and installed into the new structure.
The project was led by Joseph Burgman, together with Megan Drewett-Sanders, with construction completed by Dan Tracy and architectural design by Scott Anderson.
Forest Cemetery itself remains one of Olympia’s most historically significant burial grounds, containing many early pioneer interments including members of Olympia’s founding families such as the Bigelow family, as well as historic burial areas representing early immigrant communities.
The reopening also carries broader significance for Thurston County funeral service:
Woodlawn Funeral Home of Olympia is now the only funeral home physically located within the city of Olympia, and together with Woodlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery in Lacey, represents the only locally owned funeral homes in Thurston County. All other funeral homes in the county are corporate owned.
“Our goal has always been simple — local ownership, personal accountability, and long-term service to families who live here,” said Joseph Burgman. “This new building allows us to continue that commitment while honoring the history of Forest Cemetery.”