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Funeral Homes and Funeral Services in Contra Costa County serving Alamo, Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Briones, Byron, Canyon, Clayton, Clyde, Concord, Cowell, Crockett, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Hilltop Mall, Kensington, Knightsen, Lafayette, Los Medanos, Maltby, Martinez, Moraga, N Richmond, North Richmond, Oakley, Orinda, Pacheco, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Point Richmond, Port Chicago, Port Costa, Rheem Valley, Richmond, Rodeo, San Pablo, San Ramon, Tara Hills, Vine Hill, Walnut Creek, Walnut Heights and West Pittsburg

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How to Find the Best Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County CA

When a loved one dies, grief can overwhelm the survivors. Arrangements for funerals, cremation, interment or memorial services are often too difficult to manage personally and so are best left in the caring hands of reliable funeral homes, funeral planners and mortuaries in Contra Costa County. Let the Prime Buyer's Report help you choose among the best funeral directors and funeral services in Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon and Richmond and throughout all of Contra Costa County.

How to Find the Best Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County CA 

If you are in need of a funeral home, memorial or wake, you need help fast. Funeral services in Contra Costa County include classic memorial services at funeral homes where family and friends can gather to remember and honor their loved one. Arrangements for transportation of the body to the funeral home, and subsequent transportation to a final resting place are easily handled by these professionals. In addition, personnel at top rated funeral homes in Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon and Richmond are generally available 24 hours a day, and have a wealth of information about floral tributes, churches, cemeteries, cremation, crematoriums and any funeral-related issues.

Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County Perform a Variety of Services
There is so much to consider when choosing between funeral homes in Contra Costa County. Depending on how large or small of a service you are seeking, the choices and prices can vary widely. Planning a funeral or memorial service requires coordinating myriad services, filling out paperwork, contacting friends and family, scheduling, gathering of relevant and necessary documents and more, all while in the process of grieving.

To top it off, generally your window of planning is very short—typically less than two weeks. It can be overwhelming. Good funeral homes in Contra Costa County will help you. Do you want a service at the funeral home, or somewhere else? Will there be a burial or cremation? Do you want music, a particular clergy, flowers, catering, speakers, photos of the deceased to display, an obituary printed in the newspaper, limousines or something else? What is legally required?

To avoid having to make difficult decisions during a time of great stress and emotion, many are now pre-planning memorial services. Many funeral homes in Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon and Richmond offer discounts or locked-in prices for making and paying for funeral arrangements ahead of time. Should you choose this, it's a good idea to review your decisions every few years and revise them accordingly.

It is not generally known that you are not legally required to use Contra Costa County funeral homes to plan and conduct funerals. If you choose to use the services of a local funeral home, it pays to shop around. During a face-to-face visit, the funeral home is required by law to give you a general price list itemizing the cost of items and services the home offers. If this list does not show the costs of caskets or urns, the law requires the funeral director to show you the price lists for those items before showing you the items themselves.

Another myth is that embalming is required by law. Some homes require embalming if there is to be a viewing, but if the body is buried or cremated shortly after death, embalming is not necessary or required.

The Funeral Rules
While most funeral directors and/or funeral providers have the best interests of their clients in mind, others may try to inflate prices or foist undesired services on their clients during their time of need. There is a federal law, known as the funeral rule, that helps prevent this. Among other things, the funeral rule states that:

• You have the right to choose the funeral goods and services you want (with some exceptions).

• Funeral providers in Contra Costa County must state this in writing on the general price list.

• If state or local law requires you to buy any particular item, funeral homes must disclose this on the price list, with a reference to the specific law.

• Funeral providers may not refuse or charge fees to handle a casket you bought elsewhere.

• Funeral providers that offers cremations must make alternative containers available.

• Contra Costa County funeral providers may not provide embalming services without permission.

• Funeral providers may not falsely state that embalming is required by law.

• Funeral providers must disclose in writing that embalming is not required by law, except in certain, special cases.

• Funeral homes in Contra Costa County may not charge a fee for unauthorized embalming unless embalming is required by state law.

• Funeral providers must disclose in writing that you usually have the right to choose a disposition, such as direct cremation or immediate burial, that does not require embalming if you do not want this service.

• Funeral homes in Contra Costa County must disclose in writing that some funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing, may make embalming a practical necessity and, if so, a required purchase.

• Funeral providers in Contra Costa County must not tell you that state or local law requires a casket for direct cremations, because none do.

• Funeral homes must disclose in writing your right to buy an unfinished wood box or an alternative container for a direct cremation.

• Funeral homes must make an unfinished wood box or other alternative container available for direct cremations.

Look for Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County County That Do More Than the Bare Minimum
The Prime Buyer's Report lists these funeral homes in Contra Costa County: A Special Touch Funeral Service, Neptune Society, Hull's Walnut Creek Chapel, Oak Park Hills Chapel, Deercreek Funeral Services, Trident Society, Oakmont Memorial Park, Moore's Mission Funeral Home, Sinai Memorial Chapel, Traditioncare Funeral Services. Other funeral homes and funeral providers that might still serve the Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon and Richmond areas include: Concord Funeral Chapel at Ouimet Bros, Connolly & Taylor. Didn't find what you wanted with the TOP 10 Funeral Homes and Funeral Services in Contra Costa County? Then click here to see additional companies in this category.

A funeral home should do more than just hand you a list of funeral services and wait for you to choose and cut the check. For the best experience when dealing with Contra Costa County funeral homes, seek out those that are accredited, licensed and have received favorable reviews from previous clients or industry organizations. Check these things in our article, "Key Consumer Resources for Funeral Homes and Services in Contra Costa County County."

 

 

Choosing the Right Funeral Home in Walnut Creek for you 

Know What You're Looking for from Contra Costa County Funeral Homes
Hopefully, when you find yourself needing the services of a funeral home, you will have some idea of what you are looking for. Do you want the funeral home to handle paperwork and other arrangements? Do you want an expensive casket or something more affordable? Do you want burial or cremations? Some funeral homes specialize in different aspects of funeral services. Some offer alternative choices such as scattering the remains in unique places or ways. Some offer "green" funerals in which the remains are not embalmed and are buried in caskets that biodegrade quickly. Much of this can be researched on the Internet and other sources.

Use the list of questions below to help narrow your search.

• How long have the funeral directors been in the funeral home / undertaking business?

• What are the funeral homes' fees, broken down by individual services?

• Can the funeral homes provide forms for a newspaper obituary?

• Can the funeral homes provide a viewing without embalming?

• Do the funeral homes provide funeral services such as flowers, clergy, music, catering, etc.?

• What are your options at the funeral homes regarding cremation, burial and final disposition?

• If the body is donated to science, will the funeral homes still provide funeral services?

• Who does the embalming at the mortuary?

• How long after death is embalming necessary and can the funeral homes guarantee they'll be available?

• Is an obituary in the newspaper required?

• What are your options regarding time of service at each of the funeral homes and mortuaries?

• Do the funeral directors have suggestions for personalizing the funeral services?

• Can the funeral homes help with social security or veteran's death benefits?

• Will the funeral homes allow you to payments to pay for the funeral services?

 
It's very important that you work with a funeral home that you feel you can trust and makes you feel comfortable. Consider your first impression, beginning with the first phone call. Did you get a person, or an answering service?  Was your initial impression that you were dealing with competent professionals?  Did you feel respected and accommodated?   If you were offered a consultation, did you feel at-ease with the funeral director/provider?  Were you able to speak freely with him or her?

Probably one or two names will rise to the top of your list after you have considered these things.

First Impression of Funeral Homes
Good funeral providers will listen carefully to what you're saying and will ask relevant questions. If the employees at the funeral homes seem to only want to get you in the door, or try to make you sign an agreement without hearing something about your needs, choose someone else. You are not obligated to hire the first funeral providers you talk to.

When you've selected what seems to be the most suitable funeral homes for you, make sure you understand the terms of your agreement. Check for any consumer complaints from the Better Business Bureau orState Department of Consumer Affairs.

 

 

Tips for Dealing with Funeral Homes in Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon and Richmond 

Try to Have a General Sense of What You Want or Require.
Despite the stress of grief and limited time, if possible, it's a good idea to have some idea of what sort of service you are seeking, what you wish done with the remains, e.g. burial, cremation, where you might like to hold the service, how many people might be attending and anything else that may affect the price or timing of the service.

Write it Down.
Before meeting with a funeral director, write down the considerations from the exercise above. By writing everything down you don't have to try to remember everything in the heat of the moment. Also, you can add to the list as other things come up.

Get Several Separate Quotes From Several Funeral Homes.
There are distinct differences in the services and prices available at different funeral homes. It's best to speak to several, if possible, to help get a base line for prices and options. Take the list you made specifying your needs so that each can provide a quote using the same parameters and you can compare apples to apples.

Choose a Certified, Licensed and Recognized Funeral Home.
Make sure the funeral home you are considering has proper licensing, not only for the home itself, but those individuals who work there, including the funeral director (there is a license for this) and the person doing the embalming, if you choose that service. Also, look for funeral homes that go the extra mile, those that have earned accreditations, membership or kudos from industry groups or consumer watchdog groups. Ask for referrals.

Choose an Experienced Funeral Home and Funeral Director.
Make sure the funeral home you choose has the experience and knowledge to handle your needs. This doesn't necessarily mean hiring the one that's been in business the longest, but it does mean finding a funeral home that has experience in all aspects of funerals, including cremation, burial, paperwork, ceremony arrangements and more.

Ask Questions.
Knowing what to expect is always the best way to feel comfortable. Sometimes people are unsure and afraid to ask the hard questions-questions about price, guarantees and so on. This is a difficult time, but you need to protect yourself by asking whenever you are unsure about any part of the process.

Know Your Rights.
Although it can be difficult to know whether or not a funeral home has acted in bad faith,  there are resources available if you feel a funeral home or funeral director has acted unethically. Reference the California Department of Consumer Affairs Web site to learn more. (See our article, "Key Consumer Resources for Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County" to learn more.

 

 

Consumer Resources for Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County 

Associations & Licensing For Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County

BBB Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.com/)
California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov/)
AARP (http://www.aarp.org/)
Funeral Consumers Alliance (http://www.funerals.org/)
Diamond Certified (http://www.diamondcertified.org/)
Cremation Association of North America (http://www.cremationassociation.org/)
International Cemetery and Funeral Association (http://www.icfa.org/)
International Order of the Golden Rule (http://www.ogr.org/)
National Funeral Directors Association (www.nfda.org/resources)
National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (http://www.nfdma.com/)
Federal Trade Commission Facts for Consumers (www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/funeral.shtm)

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for funeral homes in Contra Costa County within the following zip codes:

94506, 94507, 94509, 94511, 94513, 94514, 94516, 94517, 94518, 94519, 94520, 94521, 94522, 94523, 94524, 94525, 94526, 94527, 94528, 94530, 94531, 94547, 94548, 94549, 94553, 94556, 94561, 94563, 94564, 94565, 94569, 94570, 94572, 94575, 94582, 94583, 94595, 94596, 94597, 94598, 94801, 94802, 94803, 94804, 94805, 94806, 94807, 94808, 94820 and 94850

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for funeral homes in Contra Costa County within the following cities:

Alamo, Antioch, Bay Point, Bethel Island, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Briones, Byron, Canyon, Clayton, Clyde, Concord, Cowell, Crockett, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Hilltop Mall, Kensington, Knightsen, Lafayette, Los Medanos, Maltby, Martinez, Moraga, N Richmond, North Richmond, Oakley, Orinda, Pacheco, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Point Richmond, Port Chicago, Port Costa, Rheem Valley, Richmond, Rodeo, San Pablo, San Ramon, Tara Hills, Vine Hill, Walnut Creek, Walnut Heights and West Pittsburg

 

  

Funeral Planners Walnut Creek Area
County	City-Area	City	Funeral Homes / Funeral Services Found
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Alamo CA	0
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Clyde CA	* see Concord CA
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Concord CA	4
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Cowell CA	* see Concord CA
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Lafayette CA	3
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Moraga CA	0
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Orinda CA	0
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Pleasant Hill CA	2
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Rheem Valley CA	0
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Saranap CA	* see Walnut Creek CA
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Walnut Creek CA	7
Contra Costa	Walnut Creek	Walnut Heights CA	* see Walnut Creek CA

  

 

 

Funeral Planners San Ramon Area
County	City-Area	City	Funeral Homes / Funeral Services Found
Contra Costa	San Ramon	Blackhawk CA	* see Danville CA
Contra Costa	San Ramon	Clayton CA	0
Contra Costa	San Ramon	Danville CA	1
Contra Costa	San Ramon	Diablo CA	0
Contra Costa	San Ramon	San Ramon CA	2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funeral Planners Pittsburg Area
County	City-Area	City	Funeral Homes / Funeral Services Found
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Antioch CA	4
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Bay Point CA	0
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Bethel Island CA	0
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Brentwood CA	3
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Byron CA	0
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Discovery Bay CA	1
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Knightsen CA	0
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Los Medanos CA	* see Pittsburg CA
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Oakley CA	0
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Pittsburg CA	2
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	Port Chicago CA	* see Pittsburg CA
Contra Costa	Pittsburg	West Pittsburg CA	* see Pittsburg CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funeral Planners Richmond Area
County	City-Area	City	Funeral Homes / Funeral Services Found
Contra Costa	Richmond	Briones CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Crockett CA	1
Contra Costa	Richmond	El Cerrito CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	El Sobrante CA	1
Contra Costa	Richmond	Hercules CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Hilltop Mall CA	* see Richmond CA
Contra Costa	Richmond	Kensington CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Maltby CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Martinez CA	1
Contra Costa	Richmond	North Richmond CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Pinole CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Point Richmond CA	* see Richmond CA
Contra Costa	Richmond	Port Costa CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Richmond CA	5
Contra Costa	Richmond	Rodeo CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	San Pablo CA	1
Contra Costa	Richmond	Selby CA	0
Contra Costa	Richmond	Tara Hills CA	* see San Pablo CA
Contra Costa	Richmond	Vine Hill CA	* see Martinez CA