Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services (CFCS ) of is a full service provider of End-Of-Life care for the Catholic Community in the Diocese of Sacramento. We accompany families as they affectionately honor their loved ones in harmony with the Catholic Rites of Christian Burial. We cooperate with Parishes from Vigil to Mass and the Committal, bringing to all the consolation and mercy of Jesus.
The Catholic Funeral Rites in the Order of Christian Funerals are a celebration of faith that enable loved ones and the community to mourn by focusing on the promise of everlasting life and the hope of Resurrection in Christ. There are three distinct rites provided at the time of the funeral. Each rite serves an important purpose in guiding our family and friends through loss, grief and the journey of healing. The three rites include:
Our Funeral Directors are specially trained to assist our families with finalizing all aspects of the funeral. They will make all of the necessary arrangements for taking your loved one into our care, complete all necessary paperwork, implement the funeral service choices made and directing the actual services. CFCS Funeral Directors guide families through this challenging time with care and compassion; at all times guided by faith and cultural traditions.
No. Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, but it is not required by law, however, in the event the family wishes to have a public viewing (Vigil or Visitation) or if the body will be transported from one state to another, then it is required that the body be embalmed.
No, CFCS offers full mortuary and cremation services to all faiths. CFCS is dedicated to supporting all families, parishes, and communities. Our mission is to serve with compassion and care.
Cremation offers a variety of choices, from simple gatherings to a traditional ceremony. Our experienced and dedicated staff can guide you in selecting services to suit your family’s needs.
Yes, at the request of many families, CFCS now offers full mortuary and cremation services that now allows us to be a complete resource for our families and communities, one place, one contact that handles every detail.
The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, and the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium on consecrated grounds. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains on the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.” (no. 417) – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
While there is a preference for traditional burial, as Christ was buried in the tomb, the Church as permitted cremation for over 50 years. Cremation should respect the human body and belief in the Resurrection.
The preference is for cremation to occur following the funeral liturgy so that the body can be present for the vigil and funeral services. However, it is possible to have a memorial service with the cremated remains present.
The Church teaches that cremated remains should be kept together (not scattered or divided) to respect the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and preferably interred in the consecrated grounds of a Catholic Cemetery.
No, CFCS offers full mortuary and cremation services to all faiths. CFCS is dedicated to supporting all families, parishes and communities. Our mission is to serve with compassion and care.
Yes, the Catholic Church eliminated its prohibition against cremation. Although cremation represents a means of disposition preferred by many, it is not the ‘final disposition’ – burial is. Human cremated remains are still the body of the deceased – just in a different form. Thus, cremated remains should be treated with the same respect as the ‘full’ body is treated prior to cremation. Honoring and respecting the deceased by keeping their remains safe, undisturbed, and memorialized in a cemetery is a time-honored tradition.
Our cemeteries are sacred places for the living to memorialize their loved ones, with a variety of burial choices including personalized glass front niches and beautiful cremation burial sites. Our Family Heritage Program allows for cremated remains to be placed in an existing grave or crypt, allowing families the ability to be with loved ones already interred in our cemeteries.
Catholic cemeteries have a long tradition of dedicated service to the Catholic Community including non-Catholic spouses, children, parents and other relatives. Christians with a connection to the Catholic community may also be buried in the Catholic Cemeteries.
It is only natural that those who share the same faith in life will wish to carry on that sense of community in death. When it comes to the issue of death, the sensibilities and needs of Catholics are unique and call for certain practices in the handling and care of the remains of the deceased. Therefore, in the blessed grounds of a Catholic cemetery there are safeguards – mandated by the Church’s Canon Law – which guarantee permanence, reverence and respect for the remains of the deceased.
It has been our experience that generally, a husband and wife buy space for themselves. Many families decide to purchase adjoining plots to form a family group. Family plots are also available and can accommodate larger headstones. Crypts for full-size caskets and niches for cremated remains may be purchased individually or in family groups.
Personal preference and/or family tradition influence choices in this regard. Above-ground entombment in a crypt building is appealing, especially to those people who aren’t comfortable with traditional below-ground burial. Indoor mausoleum crypts are conducive to visitation in inclement weather.
Family estates are custom-designed burial plots that allow families to build lasting tributes for generations to come. Family estates range in all different sizes and options from large family mausoleums to beautiful garden burial sites with large monuments representing the family name, to cremation pedestal gardens. To learn more about creating a Family Estate, please speak to any Family Service Advisor at any of our locations.
Monuments conform to the regulations that govern different areas of the cemetery. These regulations are not arbitrary, but are designed to both enhance the care and overall beauty and character of each section of the cemetery. Memorial benches are available in various sections in the cemetery.
No. The purchaser has an exclusive and permanent right of use through an easement conveyed by Catholic Cemeteries. This right passes to direct blood heirs immediately after the death of the recorded owner, although the spouse has the first right of burial. This applies to all graves, crypts, and niches in the cemetery. The written permission of the heirs-at-law may be required for burial. It is advisable to secure permission in advance and place it on file in the cemetery office to prevent unnecessary stress at the time when permission is essential.
Yes. It is recognized that those who die from the act of suicide deserve understanding and compassion. The deceased may have been suffering from a serious psychological instability, or overwhelming fear and confusion. Therefore, the Church offers funeral and burial rites for those who may have died as a result of suicide. The American edition of the Catholic ritual includes prayers for this specific situation. These prayers evoke forgiveness for the departed and consolation to their family.
Please call Martha Calero at 916-733-0256 to pay over the phone.
You can also send a check to Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Sacramento and mail to P.O. Box 188920, Sacramento, CA 95818
You can also pay at our office locations during business hours. Please be sure to have your contract number handy.
No. A one-time endowment care fee is charged at the time you purchase a grave, crypt, or niche. The money is placed in a special trust fund, the proceeds of which are used to cover future maintenance costs throughout the cemetery.
There are a variety of payment options and terms designed to give you the flexibility to remain within your personal budget. Cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are honored for your convenience. Terms may be arranged with a minimal down payment made at the time of a pre-need purchase, followed by monthly payments with zero interest fees. At the time of death, the burial arrangements must be paid in full. Special terms are available for persons in need.
No. Everyone qualifies for our pre-planning finance program. We do not run credit checks, nor do we charge interest on our finance terms. Our mission is to serve all families and make it easy for families to plan ahead with flexible payment terms and minimal down payment programs. Planning ahead is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones; we want to make it easy.
Yes. By making arrangements in advance, Catholic families can secure peace of mind and avoid emotional overspending. Additionally, CFCS offers flexible interest-free payment plans that assist you in ensuring your wishes are met. Contact us today to speak to an experienced and knowledgeable Family Service Advisor about your options.
Yes, we have many discount programs available for families interested in planning in advanced. To learn more about qualifying for one or more of our many discount programs, please speak to a Family Service Advisor at any CFCS location.