Can I make arrangements before a death occurs?

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Yes.  Making arrangements prior to a death helps alleviate some stress and relieves the burden from your family, allowing them to cherish the memories rather than plan the details.

Please call us in Vista at 760-726-2555 or in San Marcos at 760-744-4522 to begin the planning process.

What should I do when a death occurs?

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Please call us immediately at either 760-726-2555 or 760-744-4522. Our Funeral Directors are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week to guide you through the entire process. If pre-arrangements are on file, we will follow the wishes of the deceased. If not, we will assist you of every step of the way.

If the death occurs outside the San Diego area, we will help you with all the arrangements, including bringing your loved one home from another county, state or country.

If the death occurs locally but the deceased has chosen burial in another county, state or country, we will handle those arrangements for you as well.

What is embalming?

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Embalming is a temporary preservative.  It sanitizes and preserves the body, slows the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body that may have been disfigured by trauma or illness. Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.

Except in special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a service with viewing.

Can I have a funeral and viewing if I choose cremation?

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Yes.  Cremation, like burial, is only a final disposition.  Memorial services, traditional services, and graveside services are all available with cremation. 

All services are a celebration of the person’s life and pay tribute to the deceased as well as providing comfort and closure to loved ones attending the service. The choices are yours, as always.

What are my choices after cremation for the ashes?

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The State of California gives families certain options for cremated remains disposition.

Ø           Cremated remains can be kept at home and can be separated and shared among loved ones if you so choose. 

Ø           They can be interred at a cemetery in ground, in a columbarium or niche or in a cemetery scattering garden; all of which gives surviving family and friends a place to go and memorialize.

Ø           Cremated remains can be interred in a house of worship or religious shrine if your church or place of worship has its own columbarium or other facility for cremated remains.

Ø           Cremated remains can be scattered at sea at least 500 yards off the shore.

Ø           Cremated remains can be scattered on private property or state property with written permission from the property owner or governing agency.

Ø           Cremated remains can be carried on board an airplane or shipped to another location, with a proper permit. 

Restrictions include:

Ø           Ashes cannot be placed or scattered on public land or at historic places or landmarks without written permission by the governing agency.

Ø           Cremated remains cannot be transported without a permit.

Ø           Cremated remains cannot be disposed of in refuse or sewer systems.

What types of services are available?

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The term "funeral" describes a service with the body present.

The term "memorial service" is a service without the body present.  You may or may not choose to have an urn present if cremation was the disposition.

A "viewing" or "visitation" gives family and friends the opportunity to gather together to share memories and offer support. The body may be present, giving family and friends an opportunity to say goodbye.

Whether you choose cremation or burial, our staff can personalize your choices for the service. You may choose a service, with or without visitation, in our chapel or at your church or at the graveside. 

Personalization can make the service more meaningful to all who attend. One of the main benefits of personalizing a service is to allow family members to participate in planning the ceremony and to individualize the service to reflect the life lived.
 

Many families like to set up a “memory table” or “memory board” for the service. A memory table can consist of favorite items of the deceased. The memory board is often a collection of pictures of the deceased through different stages of his or her life. It may also include pictures of their children, grandchildren and friends.

A service doesn’t have to be religious in nature, nor does a clergy person have to be involved in the service. A service can consist of friends and family talking and sharing stories about the deceased.  The location can also help to make a service less formal; services may be held in our chapel or at a favorite location.  It may include music, poems, eulogies, accomplishments, hobbies, and/or photos that characterized the unique qualities of the deceased.

Personalization of the funeral can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose.

At Allen Brothers Mortuary we feel the choices are yours and it will be our privilege to carry them out.  Our goal is to help you understand those choices so your decisions are made with the best possible information available. (See Our Services for our various packages, all of which may be customized or personalized to meet your needs.)

How do I decide if the casket should be open?

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The decision on having an open casket is entirely your choice.  Since this will be the last time family and friends see their loved one, the viewing can provide a lasting memory.  Most times, a loved one will look more peaceful than they did in the hospital or during a lengthy illness. 

Whatever your choice is, our staff will work diligently to make your final goodbye a positive experience.

Can you provide a minister if we don’t have one?

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Yes. We have many ministers who are available to work with the families we serve. We work with all denominations to insure that each family's needs are met with respect and dignity. We will also arrange a meeting between the clergy and family members before the service to help personalize the service to the family’s wishes.

For a listing of churches in the San Marcos and Vista areas, please visit our Allen Brothers Mortuary Resource Links page.

Can we have music?

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Yes.  There are several options for music, including organists, soloists, bag pipers, and recorded music.  We can arrange for the music that meets the needs of your family.  We also have sound systems in each chapel if you prefer to provide your own music on CD or cassette.

How many days after a death before we have to schedule services?

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In general, the deceased must be buried, embalmed, refrigerated or cremated within 24 hours of death.

Normally, a funeral service is held a few days after the death. Many factors can come into play when deciding the actual day of the service.

Some things we do for you include contacting the doctor for necessary paperwork and obtaining the permit for the disposition, arrangements with clergy, church, musicians, and cemetery; all of these steps take time.  Other things such as travel time for out-of-town relatives, avoiding specific dates, holidays and weekends also should be considered. It is important to allow enough time to accommodate everything that needs to be done so that you do not feel rushed and have the time you need. 

With cremation, you generally have more time in scheduling the service. The actual process of cremation will generally occur within 2 to 4 days after the proper permits are obtained from the San Diego County Health Department. However, a permit is not required to have public viewing of the deceased or to have the body present at the funeral service.  The permit is only needed prior to the actual cremation.

How do I get certified copies of the death certificate?

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Certified copies of the death certificate are issued by the County Health Department where the death occurred.  When you come in to make arrangements, we will help you determine the quantity you may need and order them for you.  Our Allen Brothers Mortuary, Inc. Forms and More page has a checklist you can print out in advance that will help you determine how many copies you might need. 

The state does charge a fee for each certified copy ordered.  If you find you need more at a later time, you can order them directly from the county of death.

How do I find out about Social Security benefits?

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Allen Brothers Mortuary will make the initial notification to Social Security for you; however, you must contact them to apply for any benefits you may be entitled to receive. You may apply at any Social Security office or by telephone. Their toll-free number is 1-800-772-1213.  The operator can schedule an appointment for you at a local office or arrange for the local Social Security office to take your claim by telephone.

You may also visit the Social Security Administration website at http://www.ssa.gov. Our Allen Brothers Mortuary Resource Links page has more information on who is eligible for survivor benefits.

What Veterans benefits are available?

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Veterans’ benefits vary depending on many factors. All Veterans can be buried in a National Cemetery along with the spouse of the veteran. The two closest national cemeteries are Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego and Riverside National Cemetery near March Air Force base in Riverside.

The Veterans Administration will also provide a headstone for the veteran at no cost to the family other than the setting fee charged by a public or private cemetery.  There is no additional setting fee cost in a national cemetery.

Other benefits may also apply depending on the status of the veteran or military retiree. You may contact the Veterans Affairs Office to determine what benefits may be available to you. The national, toll-free number for the Veterans Affairs Office is (800) 827-1000. For additional information, please visit our Allen Brothers Mortuary Resource Links page.

Can you help arrange a military honors funeral?

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Yes. Currently, any eligible veteran leaving under conditions other than dishonorable is entitled to certain military honors, such as folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps. Other honors that may be available, depending on the deceased’s military status, could include a rifle squad and pallbearers. For more military related information, please visit our Allen Brothers Mortuary Resource Links page.

What is the difference between a liner and a vault?

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The basic difference between a liner and a vault is the bottom.  A liner fits over the casket and does not have a bottom. The sole purpose is to keep the ground above the casket from settling too much. A vault completely encases the casket and helps keep dirt and other outside elements away from the casket in addition to keeping the ground above the casket from settling too much.

How much does a funeral cost?

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Funeral costs include various items and services. They include the facilities and services of a mortuary staff who handles all of the legal documents and makes many detailed arrangements on your behalf. Your Funeral Director assists you in coordinating your service location, minister, florist, cemetery, and newspapers. The death certificate, permit, and any other items necessary for your specific arrangements are all taken care of by your Funeral Director and staff.  Seeing to all these necessary details and making your service go smoothly takes time and a professional staff, all of which are included in the total cost.  Merchandise and cash advance items (outside fees) can also add to your funeral cost. Please check Our Services page for more detailed information.

Are there any grief support services?

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Yes.  Please visit our Allen Brothers Mortuary Resource Links page for links to some local services.

Do mortuaries have to be licensed?

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Yes.  The Federal Trade Commission regulates all funeral home activities nationwide. The “Funeral Rule” requires the industry to provide information and disclosures that help consumers when shopping and purchasing funeral goods and services.  Briefly, the Funeral Rule states:

• You have the right to choose the funeral goods and services you want (with some exceptions).
• The funeral provider must state this right in writing on the general price list.
• If state or local law requires you to buy any particular item, the funeral provider must disclose it on the price list, with a reference to the specific law.
• The funeral provider may not refuse, or charge a fee, to handle a casket you bought elsewhere.
• A funeral provider that offers cremations must make alternative containers available.

Allen Brothers Mortuary, Inc., Vista and San Marcos Chapels are licensed through the Cemetery & Funeral Bureau, which regulates and licenses funeral homes, funeral directors and embalmers for the State of California.  For your convenience, you can view The Consumer Guide to Funeral and Cemetery Purchases on-line; you will also receive a written copy when making your arrangements.

In addition, Allen Brothers Mortuary, Inc. is a proud member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and the California Funeral Directors Association (CFDA).  Both of these professional organizations require their members to adhere to a strict code of professional conduct and ethics.