New Options Funeral Service

Scott and his family have handled both my mother and father after they passed. Every detail is covered, every question patiently dealt with and potential problems are headed off before they become a problem. Communication is critical to this process, particularly if you know nothing about it. Scott and his team were available to answer questions and find solutions with a great deal of caring and due dignity accorded to the process. I really could not have asked for better service. Before I found New Options I had to deal with one of the large, corporate funeral/​undertaking services. Let me just say that was a grim, unpleasant experience that would have cost the family three times the amount that New Options charged for far superior services. I recommend New Options without any reservations. Scott and family are just the people you want to help you through this difficult experience.

FIRST CLASS SERVICE. Thank you Scott for handling the arrangements for our Grandfather’s service at Riverside National Cemetery. Everything was meticulously organized and executed. We were treated with the utmost respect and dignity by you and your staff. We felt like you treated us as «family» and were sincerely empathetic about the passing of Gramps. We couldn’t of asked for a more excellent way to say «Les is no more» Thanks again!

ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! My family and I are so grateful to Scott and his team. They were polite and courteous. Scott contacted me regularly to give me updates and educate me and inform me of the process. My grandfather had purchased burial insurance through a facility in another county. That facility was going to charge us over $ 6000 for a package that included services and facilities we did not need and could not use. New Options arranged to have the burial policy assigned to them. The end result was perfect service at a savings of over $ 2000, which was refunded to my family! How honest and forthright is that!
New Options guided us through the process of arranging a service at Riverside National Cemetery. Scott deftly shepherded us through the service, graciously and beautifully playing a digital recording of the Navy Hymn at the completion of the military honors.
Everyone in our family commented afterward as to how pleased they were with his handling of the day.
I have read the other reviews, and wonder if there was a lack of understanding of the services provided by New Options. They are not a traditional funeral home, they do not provide a facility for viewing or ceremonies. What they do is guide you through the use of the facilities available to you through your church or house of worship, or other facilities to which you have access, and they do this with grace and dignity.
We will definitely turn to Scott and the New Options team should we ever be in need of help again.

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
My brother passed away in March 2015 and we were referred to New Options by our church pastor who had previously worked with the father, «Gus».
Unfortunately, the «family» business has greatly DETERIORATED under the leadership of the son «Scott» and his wife «Linda».
After spending time with Scott, in-​person, and giving him lengthy details for the death certificate. We received a «draft» with numerous ERRORS. We had to have several revisions to the process.
We also had to REPEATEDLY follow-​up on the cremation status of my brother. A PAINFUL process to begin with, made worse by no sense of personal accountability or care by this company. They do not return calls as promised and are not prompt in responding to expressed concerns.
Lastly, we paid New Options to provide us with the death certificates. Two months later — no death certificates. New Options blamed it on Los Angeles County’s backlog. However, when I finally called the Office of Vital Records, I was told the Certificates could have been provided no later than 14 days after they received the monies from New Options — they were NOT behind as we had been told. They further explained that New Options NEVER sent in the request or the money we paid them!
When we called New Options, they did not apologize or offer any explanation. They simply offered to refund us our money. My sister-​in-​law went in person to Downtown Los Angeles and received them from the Vital Records Office within 15 minutes. UNNECESSARY and PAINFUL delay!
I REGRET using this company. I feel we did my brother a great DISSERVICE and would NEVER recommend this company in good conscience. And, after reading Em H’s experience, I can totally believe that it is completely accurate.
My next step is to file a complaint with the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau in California … here’s a link for reference:
Remember, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE My mother was living with me in Texas when she passed and we had a beautiful service here. We needed to find a funeral home in Placentia, CA where we were from. The McAulay name was a well-​known mortuary that did my father’s service years ago. I call Mr. McAulay and told him that we needed him to pick up the body, arrange a visitation for family and friends, and then take my mother to Riverside National Cemetery for burial. I thought Placentia Presbyterian Church would be available but my mother hadn’t lived there in 10 years and they were not forthcoming. Mr. McAulay said he had a small place for a visitation. This was over Thanksgiving weekend, but we confirmed that the visitation would be Monday 3−5pm. And I sent out the announcement via email with the 2150 Brookhaven address. On Monday I checked in with him about flowers, etc. and I found out that the visitation would be at a different address — 1100 S Raymond Ave, Fullerton, CA 92 831. He asked how many people and I said about 15 – 20 or so. He then told me that there were only places for 6 – 8 people to sit. What? So I called a friend and asked them to bring some folding chairs and sent out an email with the change of address. So we dressed and drove to 1100 S Raymond Ave. GPS took us to a run-​down dirty industrial park with a small old travel trailer parked on one side and overflowing 4′ large trash cans in the parking lot and in front of offices. I drove around looking for «New Options Funeral Services» — nothing. Saw a man standing outside an office. It was Mr. McAulay. No name on the door #C. I walked in and was shocked — IT WAS AN OFFICE IN AN INDUSTRIAL PARK. My mother’s casket was sitting against the wall of the inner office. The smell of formaldehyde was so strong — Mr. McAulay said the body causes the smell. Isn’t that your profession to mask these things? In the office with the casket was an OFFICE REFRIGERATOR where I presume the morticians kept lunches. It was dirty, needed paint, and the furniture looked as if it was from a 1977 garage sale. When we tried to have a Celebration of Life service the people couldn’t all see each other because of the office configuration. I was so furious that he had hidden where the visitation would take place by hiding the ‘Unit C” in the address from me, which would have been a hint. If I had known the condition I would have canceled the service. I don’t care if it’s one person or my family of 15 — NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR LOVED ONE IN A DIRTY RUN-​DOWN INDUSTRIAL PARK OFFICE! My friends were great and moved the refrigerator, put up photos, but I was so sad that this was how New Options was «taking care» of the grieving family. Some of Mom’s friends being older didn’t get the «new address» email and went to the 2150 Brookhaven, Placentia, CA 92 870 address of the company. IT WAS SOMEONE’S HOUSE. I’m furious at this man who paid no attention to our family’s needs and disrespected our dear Mother.