National Funeral Home & National Memorial Park

A modern Falls Church funeral home

The funeral home and crematory at National Funeral Home help families plan all aspects of funeral and cremations arrangements in a comfortable, convenient setting. The Lee Highway funeral home was recently remodeled and includes new furniture and carpeting, as well as modern audio/visual equipment. The chapel accommodates approximately 300 guests and has contemporary seating in lieu of pews, allowing you to customize the space.

A celebration of life

Our funeral services are designed to reflect the unique lives of the individuals being honored. The dedicated funeral directors at National Funeral Home can find inspiration almost anywhere—a favorite song, hobby, even an iconic style—and turn that inspiration into a funeral service filled with thoughtful and meaningful details. Maybe it's a pie buffet with Grandma's secret recipes (we can coordinate with the catering service of your choice). Or perhaps it's a game night with Grandpa's favorite board games. From magic to model building, a pony processional to takeaway putters, there’s no limit to the special things we can incorporate into a tribute.

On-site crematory

Not everyone knows that there are many cremation options. If you are interested in cremation, the funeral home team can explain the process and the different memorial and burial options. From a direct cremation without a service or a witness to a full funeral service before or after the cremation and more, we help you understand this increasingly common choice.

For families who choose the time-honored tradition of cremation, our full-service funeral home has a private crematory with a witness room. This gives National Funeral Home complete control of a cremation from start to finish and means your loved one never leaves our care. If desired, cremated remains may be buried at National Memorial Park.

Here when you need us

National Funeral Home is just 1 mile from from I-495 and 2.5 miles from the West Falls Church Metro station on the Orange Line. For those traveling by air, Ronald Reagan National Airport is just 30 minutes away.

Whether your plan includes a traditional burial, cremation or transfer to somewhere else in the world, it’s our honor to help you arrange a celebration that reflects your or your loved one's personality and passions. If you need immediate assistance with funeral arrangements or are interested in planning ahead, we're here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

National Memorial Park cemetery

Founded on a former dairy farm in 1933, National Memorial Park is 168 acres of respite from the hustle and bustle of the Greater Washington, D.C., area. Numerous mature trees provide shade on hot summer days. Lovely annual blooming flowers, fountains and duck ponds contribute to the pastoral air.

Burial options

The manicured gardens at National Memorial Park provide private and peaceful places for family and friends to remember loved ones. A walk down one of our winding paths showcases a range of options for ground burial as well as a mausoleum, columbarium, cremation niches and benches, and private and semiprivate estates.

As a multifaith memorial park, our cemetery includes gardens devoted to different religions and cultures, such as the Buddhist Memorial Garden, Islamic Garden and King David Memorial Gardens (our Jewish section). Our team strives to understand the needs of each religion and culture.

The Living Cross

One of the more iconic features at National Memorial Park is the Living Cross. Laid out along a north axis, the 1,000-foot-long garden includes the Fountain of Faith, designed by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles. It also has several executive estates, a mausoleum, white marble sculptures of Christ’s Last Supper and the Pietà, and a genizah located in the King David Memorial Gardens.

Our cemetery property features several monuments, some of which are from well-known artists. We also have pieces honoring those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001, as well as the 4 chaplains who gave their lives during the sinking of the SS Dorchester during World War II. In addition, several sculptures are devoted to the Christian and Buddhist religions.

Four Chaplains Memorial sculpture

The Four Chaplains Memorial, located at the entrance to National Memorial Park, is a modernist art piece representing a flying white bird. The sculpture, created by abstract expressionist Constantino Nivol, honors the 4 United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save civilian and military personnel when the Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943.

Methodist minister Reverend George L. Fox, Reform Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Roman Catholic priest Father John P. Washington and Reformed Church in America minister Reverend Clark V. Poling gave up their own life jackets as they assisted others to the safety of lifeboats. These brave men linked arms, recited prayers and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.

Noah’s Ark Pet Cemetery

Pets are cherished family members, and many people choose to memorialize their sweet friends at Noah's Ark Pet Cemetery. Adjacent to National Memorial Cemetery, with rolling lawns, flowering shrubs and neatly kept graves for dogs, cats, horses and other animals, the pet cemetery has given the people of Falls Church and surrounding areas peace of mind when it comes to their beloved companion animals since the 1980s. 

The work of sculptor Carl Milles

National Memorial Park is home to 2 works by Swedish sculptor Carl Milles: the Fountain of Faith and the Sun Singer.

Fountain of Faith

Completed in 1952, just 3 years before the artist's death, the Fountain of Faith captures the warmth, tenderness, joy and strength of supreme love in all human relationships. The sculpted bronze figures depict men, women and children in the afterlife as they rise above the limits of this world, showcasing the beauty and hope of reunion in the afterlife to give the viewer infinite peace.

The fountain took 12 years to complete and was dedicated at an event that drew more than 24,000 people, including the press. Time magazine called the fountain “heaven on earth.” Newsweek deemed it “similar to a Renaissance masterpiece.” The Washington Post said it was “a delight to the eye.”

The Sun Singer

Milles also created 3 15-foot statues that he called The Sun Singer. One is in Stockholm, 1 is in Monticello, Illinois, and 1 is here at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia. The statue depicts the Greek sun god Apollo. On his helmet is the winged horse Pegasus, and relief figures of the 9 Muses surround the base. Under his right foot is a tortoise, an allusion to the first lyre made of tortoise shell by Hermes and given to Apollo.

Annual events

National Funeral Home and National Memorial Park extend an open invitation for you and your loved ones to join us for community events throughout the year.

Ching Ming Festival

The Ching Ming Festival (or Qingming Festival) occurs during the 1st week of April. This traditional Chinese festival is an opportunity to remember and honor one's ancestors. Family members pray to their ancestors, sweep their tombs and make offerings of food, tea, wine and other items. Guests are treated to a lion dance, traditional food and, on some occasions, we are all treated to a roasted pig courtesy of a local temple.

High Holy Days

More than 300 guests attend our popular High Holy Days event. Three local rabbis conduct the 1-hour service, which also includes refreshments, choral singers, prayer books, calendars and gift bags containing honey and a shiva candle. Bus transportation is available from the parking lot to the genizah in the King David Memorial Gardens where the service is held.