Working

Mike Sciacca, Independent

SHE IS

A new face on an old fixture

A bold move

Brenda Weaver has taken charge of one of Huntington Beach’s landmarks.

A statue of “Old Sarge” is situated near the entrance of Sea Breeze

Pet Cemetery, a tribute to a World War II hero from the U.S. Marine

Corps.

He’s a beacon at the cemetery on Beach Boulevard near Yorktown Avenue.

Old Sarge won a Purple Heart and was 20 when he died. He and the

cemetery have been a fixture in Huntington Beach since 1961, but Weaver is new to the scene.

A transplant from Seattle, Weaver and her husband, Alan, came to

Huntington Beach last November to help out with the family business.

The cemetery was first opened by a group of doctors from the East

Coast, but it was soon sold to an aunt and uncle of Alan Weaver.

“Alan worked for Boeing and I was a bookkeeper in Seattle,” she said.

“We were asked by his aunt if we wanted to help out with the cemetery, so

we made the move. It’s a different lifestyle down here, but it was a good

move.”

Her husband retired from Boeing and she is now part of the cemetery’s

full time operations.

A sad choice

Countless grieving residents have come to visit Sea Breeze.

“We have so many pets here that I don’t know the exact number,” she

said. “A lot of people have researched us and plan ahead for the burial

of their pets. We take care of their needs.”

Weaver keeps the books and oversees daily operations at Sea Breeze.

She says the company offers just about everything when it comes to

burial: lawn burials, crematory, markers and vaults.

Plastic flowers adorn many of the graves.

A time of comfort

Weaver, who has an 11-year-old small mix dog of her own, says Sea

Breeze averages about seven burials per week.

“I enjoy pets, and the best part about this job is just being here to

help people through a difficult time,” she explained. “Pets are a vital

part of the lives of a lot of people.”

They are now a vital part of Weaver’s life.

“It’s a really nice workplace with a wonderful staff,” she added.