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Sneider & Sullivan & O’Connell’s Funeral Home

Distinguished Funeral Director Services To The San Francisco Bay Area Since 1907

George Sneider, Founder

George Sneider, Founder

Edward Sullivan

Edward J. Sullivan

The Sneider and Sullivan Mortuary, the oldest funeral home on the San Mateo Peninsula, is one of the finest and most complete funeral directors. The funeral home had its beginnings in the days following the earthquake in San Francisco. The late George W. Sneider founded his mortuary business here in 1907.

As a young man, George Sneider emigrated from Illinois to become a partner in an undertaking business in Tacoma, Washington. Soon after he sold his interests he settled in San Mateo, where he started a small funeral director business located at 15 Ellsworth Avenue. Patiently and progressively his business grew into one of the most successful funeral homes on the Pacific Coast.
 
Another young couple, Edward J. and Mae Sullivan originally came to San Francisco in 1927 during the depths of the depression, but soon returned to Lincoln, Nebraska. Eventually they were drawn back to the leisurely life of the San Mateo Peninsula and returned in 1937. Edward J. Sullivan soon joined the George Sneider firm, acquired a partnership in 1945 and later purchased the firm from Mrs. Sneider in 1952.
 

After the passing of Edward J. Sullivan, his wife Mae Sullivan continued providing faithful service to the community. Mrs. Sullivan, along with her sons Richard T. Sullivan and Terrence J. Sullivan, opened the new Sneider and Sullivan Funeral Home in 1964 at its current location at 977 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo . Now under the ownership of Crosby - N. Gray & Co., the funeral home remains one of the most respected family-owned funeral homes in the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

O’Connell’s Chapel

Established in 1935, Patterson and O’Connell Mortuary became a primary provider of funeral services for the peninsula community. Highly respected throughout the funeral industry, Daniel J. O’Connell began his early undertaking career in San Francisco, working with Julius S. Godeau Funeral Home in the late 1920’s. Daniel O’Connell came to the peninsula and joined William F. Crosby, owner of W. F. Crosby Mortuary located at the corner of California Drive and Peninsula Avenue in Burlingame.

Looking to venture into business locally, Daniel O’Connell formed a partnership with Mr. Patterson, an investor friend, and established the original Patterson and O’Connell Mortuary located at 2nd Avenue, across the street from Mills Hospital in San Mateo. As business continued to prosper, building of a new funeral home began in 1954. The new Patterson and O’Connell Mortuary, located at 1311 S. El Camino in San Mateo, opened on January 1st, 1955.

Clifford L. Goodwine, a young mortician from Southern California, arrived in San Mateo in 1967 and was immediately hired by Daniel O'Connell to oversee his mortuary business. Shortly after Daniel’s passing in 1982, Clifford became owner and re-named the business O’Connell’s Chapel.

In the year 2000, Mr. Goodwine sold O’Connell’s Chapel to its current owner, John F. Crosby, whose career in funeral service began 30 years ago at his family’s funeral home Crosby-N. Gray and Co., in Burlingame. The Crosby family has served the peninsula community for four generations.

In July of 2006, Sneider & Sullivan Funeral Home merged businesses with O’Connell’s Chapel and through this joint venture combined the talent and experienced staff of two successful funeral homes under one convenient location at 977 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo. We are proud to have maintained the tradition of a family-owned and operated funeral home.

We Invite Comparison

Almost every day we meet with families who are not prepared to make a good decision about the choice of a funeral director. Important considerations about choosing a funeral home should include:

  • Quality of the funeral home’s facilities
  • Reputation in the community
  • Friendliness
  • Knowledge and experience of the staff
  • Willingness to accommodate your needs
  • Sensitivity to each culture and faith
  • Wide and flexible ranges of funeral and cremation service options
  • Merchandise at fair prices.

Elderly couple walking togetherAn important factor to consider when choosing a funeral director is the funeral home’s reputation within the community. Sneider & Sullivan & O’Connell’s is and has been a locally owned, independent funeral home actively serving the San Mateo community for over 100 years.

As a privately-owned funeral home with long-term community involvement, we are better able to assist you with your choices in comparison to conglomerate or corporate-owned funeral providers. Many corporate or “chain” funeral and cremation service providers offer limited types of services and inflated prices. Our funeral directors offer personalized care and attention that you can depend on.

We invite you to visit the Sneider & Sullivan & O’Connell’s funeral home in San Mateo, where you will be warmly welcomed, your wishes will be listened to, and questions answered with the kindness and helpfulness that are hallmarks of our service.