Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service has been serving Ramona, Julian, and the surrounding communities since 1968, in the long tradition of personal service. We offer affordable cremation and burial arrangements, pre-planning, cemetery markers, and we proudly serve our veterans. The death of a loved one can be a very overwhelming experience with all the details that need attention in planning final arrangements. The focus of our staff is in taking care of you.
Bonham Bros. Mortuary of Ramona opened its doors in 1968 and was located on Main St in Ramona. It was a sister facility for Bonham Bros. Mortuaries of San Diego. The Bonham Bros. Band was well known, frequently spotted playing in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. Bonham Bros. Mortuary of Ramona was eventually sold to a corporation and moved to its present location on 12th Street in 1975. A flagpole and monument mark the date of the move. The core of the current location is an original adobe home built in the late 1940’s and was occupied by the longtime Ramona family, the Peppers, among others. The spectacular rock fireplace, built with rocks indicative of the area, greets families as they enter the lobby and was built by local Ramonian, the late Pat Sciarretta. Metate stone ledges, used for grinding acorns, jut from the fireplace telling of the area’s Native American culture. In the late 1970’s a chapel was added with high ceilings and knotty pine.
In January of 2002 the Stewart family purchased the mortuary and it became Bonham Bros. & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service. The mortuary serves Ramona and all San Diego County communities. It is still one of the few family owned mortuaries in San Diego County. Juliana, and family, know that the backcountry is a “way of life” for those that live here. Ramona, the geographic center of San Diego County, continues to cling to the essence of small town America.
Juliana Bowman Stewart, sole proprietor of the mortuary, is both a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and continues to be a Ramona resident. Jennie Bowman, Juliana’s sister, is the lead arrangement counselor (and licensed funeral director), offering her expertise in event planning to the families. She is also a Ramona resident. We appreciate the small town essence of Ramona and continue to provide that level of service that so many of us miss from long ago….where word of mouth, return customers, a handshake, and a smile still hold great importance. It is essential to have someone that focuses and pays attention to your needs. When the services are over we want you to feel confident that the tribute paid to your loved one was what you felt fit your needs. We are here for you long after the service is over but your needs and feelings are not. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to service you and appreciate that you have placed your trust in us.
Juliana and Jennie
