The cemetery was established in 1957 by Cornelius H. Doherty, Sr. (1896-1969). Cornelius H. Doherty, Jr., served as President from 1967 until 2010, and his son, Michael H. Doherty, served as President from 2010 until 2020. All three were/are practicing attorneys and have been instrumental in establishing Virginia laws regulating cemeteries.
The family's dream was to have a funeral home on the property, and the 6-acre parcel on Braddock Road where it now stands had been set aside for that purpose.
I've been to 3 different funerals here, and they were all severely lacking
MG
Margie Gamble
Sep 20, 2026
3.0
This afternoon I went to put flowers on my parents’ grave and discovered that their marker was almost completely covered by grass and grass clippings. After looking around I noticed other markers in that section were in the same condition . After getting down and physically removing enough grass and clippings to fill a full size grocery bag I decided to report this to the office. I took a photo of the marker to show the office. A representative in the office proceeded to explain it as an overgrown weed that was difficult to control. Then he added that maybe the groundskeeper was pulled away to work a burial. I informed him that all of the markers in this section had the same issues even though the section nearby was nicely manicured. I explained to him that my father was buried there in 1999 and I have visited the graveside several times a year and have never seen it like this . This representative never once apologized for the condition of my parents’ marker
BB
Butch
Sep 20, 2026
1.0
I went to visit the cemetery this afternoon and discovered two sandwich boards advertising two upcoming events. The first was a 5K run and the second was a movie night (Disney movie) to be held on the grounds. I find this highly disturbing. I went to the office to share my concern. A staff member explained these events as community outreach and shared they recently held a car show. He went on to explained that the cemetery was originally designed as a park. Fairfax County has a great park system with over 350 parks. I don’t want to have a cemetery holding community outreach events I want to visit a cemetery that is peaceful and not have hot rods or runners going by while I visit. I see no need to host movie night at a cemetery.
AD
Adventures With Neen And Dahlia
Sep 18, 2026
5.0
We are incredibly grateful to Carmelita for all of her help and compassion during such a difficult and emotional time for our family. She was so kind, patient, and understanding while helping us make the funeral arrangements for our father. She took the time to answer every question we had, no matter how many times we needed to ask, and went above and beyond to help us find the perfect place for him.
Her kindness and genuine care made such a difficult process a little easier for our family, and we truly appreciate everything she did for us. She made us feel heard, supported, and cared for every step of the way.
We also want to mention how beautiful, clean, and incredibly well-kept the entire place is. You can tell that a lot of care and attention goes into maintaining the grounds and creating a peaceful environment for families.
Thank you, Carmelita, for treating our family with so much kindness and for helping us give our father a beautiful and peaceful final resting place. We will always be grateful for your compassion and support. ❤️
IN
Isabel Nieto
Sep 18, 2026
5.0
My father passed away in June, and I was faced with the overwhelming responsibility of making all the decisions for his burial. Fairfax Memorial offered reasonable pricing, an incredible staff, and beautifully kept grounds.
Carmelita at the cemetery was truly my anchor during that time. She guided me through every step, answered every question and even brought up important details and questions I would not have known to discuss with my funeral director while we were planning. Whenever I meet with or speak to Carmelita, she feels like she's part of my family.
Even when an unexpected issue arose shortly before the burial, the staff worked together and resolved it just in time to give my father the burial and celebration of life we had hoped and planned for.
The front-desk staff at the funeral home were always helpful with my questions and treated us with genuine care. Mr. Michael has one of the kindest and comforting voices whenever you call the funeral home.
The park has become a beautiful and peaceful place where my family gathers and shares memories of my dad. I'm grateful that I chose this place. If you come, ask for Carmelita.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fairfax Memorial Park
How long does the actual cremation take?
It depends on the weight of the individual. For an average size adult, cremation takes from 3 to 4 hours at normal operating temperature between 1,650 degrees F to 2,000 degrees F.
What happens after the cremation is complete?
All bone fragments, which are very brittle, as well as inorganic metal items are swept into the front of the cremation chamber and into a stainless steel cooling pan. All non-consumed items, such as metal from clothing, artificial joints, and dental implants, are separated from the cremated remains. This separation is accomplished through visual inspection as well as using a strong magnet for smaller and minute metallic objects. Items such as dental gold and silver are non-recoverable and are commingled in with the cremated remains. Remaining bone fragments are then processed in a machine to a consistent size and placed into a temporary or permanent urn, selected by the family.
In what kind of container are the cremated remains returned?
The cremated remains are placed in a basic container at no charge to you. Or they may be placed in the urn of your choice from our large selection of urns available for purchase.
What can be done with the cremated remains?
There are many options. Remains can be buried in a cemetery lot or cremation garden, inurned in a columbarium, kept at home, or scattered on private property. Our staff will be happy to discuss these options with you and make any arrangements.
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