All faiths and cultures welcome

We are committed to accommodating families of all belief systems and cultures at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. We are dedicated to creating the personalized memorial services you and your family deserve. We have had the pleasure of serving families from a diverse range of backgrounds, and we believe a final service should properly reflect the uniqueness of a life. In addition, we strive to help families create one-of-a-kind memorial services that successfully capture the essence of their loved ones.

Unique offerings and amenities

Our non-denominational funeral home chapel comfortably seats more than 200 guests, and it can be arranged to accommodate traditional or contemporary services. Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home also includes a fellowship room that accommodates catered receptions and more.

Veterans, military and community service

The funeral directors and team members at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home are engaged members of the Austin community, hosting planning seminars and holiday memorial events that are open to the public.

We also participate in the Dignity Memorial® Homeless Veterans Burial Program (HVBP). Founded on the belief that every veteran deserves a dignified and honorable burial, the HVBP is a cooperative effort with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, local medical examiners, coroners, veterans advocates and veterans organizations. Through the HVBP, homeless and indigent veterans who have no family to claim them are identified and provided proper military burials.

Additionally, we participate in the We Honor Veterans Program, a collaborative effort of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the Dignity Memorial Public Servants Program that offers dignified and honorable tributes, at no cost, for career and volunteer law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency services personnel who die in the line of duty.

Quality service you can count on

We are proud to provide professional, courteous service as you and your family navigate difficult times. Our experienced team members are dedicated to exceeding your expectations and ensuring each funeral, cremation and memorial service is both personal and memorable. We are always here when you need us. Call us anytime.

History

The Cook-Walden legacy of service began in the late 1800s when Samuel E. Rosengren opened a downtown funeral home in the 400 block of Congress Street in Austin, serving the needs of a growing city from that location until 1920.

A staple of Austin

Charles B. Cook purchased Rosengren's business and opened an opulent 3-story building located between the capitol and the governor's mansion, which quickly became the largest and most prestigious provider of funeral and ambulance services in the community. Charles continued the tradition of providing the finest in care and service in Austin for more than 50 years.

The cemetery on our property in Oak Hill was established as a standalone memorial park in 1953, while our funeral home was built on site in approximately 1984. In 1992, Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery became part of the Cook-Walden family.

Service today and tomorrow

Working together, the funeral home and cemetery currently serve about 265 families from Travis and Hays counties and the surrounding area each year. We take pride in helping each family create a one-of-a-kind memorial service that honors a unique life.

Since our establishment, the funeral home’s interior has been refreshed to include modern decor and amenities that continue to appeal to the families we serve. In addition, the facility’s exterior was recently enhanced with fresh paint, giving it an updated look to match the interior.

In 1992, Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park joined the Dignity Memorial network, the largest network of funeral, cremation and burial service providers in North America.

As we grow and evolve, we remain committed to providing the same personal and professional service that the people of Austin have come to expect.

Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park

The cemetery at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park covers approximately 35 acres, providing a park-like setting that serves as a quiet, peaceful place to remember and honor your loved one.

Burial and interment options

Our well-kept cemetery offers standard in-ground burial options, memorial and cremation benches, 2 community mausoleums, private family estates and other permanent memorialization options. The mausoleums have bright, beautiful areas for small- to medium-size gatherings. In the future, our cemetery will include 10 built-to-suit lots, along with a 3rd community mausoleum and a section for upright monuments.

Special gardens

The Nature Garden at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park, which includes mature trees, water fountains and pristine landscaping, is reserved for cremated remains and provides a beautiful place for reflection. We also have a veterans garden devoted to the men and women who have served in the United States armed forces, as well as 2 gardens for babies and infants.

Notable burials

Ronny Louis Woodmansee, the 1st person from Austin to die in the Vietnam War, is interred at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park, as well as T.O. Lang, the longest-serving sheriff in Travis County, who held the position from January 1, 1953, to December 31, 1972. Also interred in our cemetery is Jimmy Clay, a top amateur golfer in Austin who is memorialized at Jimmy Clay Golf Course. Photos convey a lot, but we welcome you to see the cemetery for yourself. Visit anytime or call to set up a guided tour. We are happy to show you around.