We are thankful for you!

Thankful message with pumpkins on a blue backgroundSince it’s the time of year to gather to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, we wanted to take the opportunity to express our gratitude to you! At Foothill Funeral & Cremation Services (FFC), we have a lot to be thankful for. 2022 was an outstanding first year of business for us – filled with innovation, growth and community support:

  • We are thankful to the city of Azusa, where owner/operators Manny Godoy and Rocky Bautista and our family lived for many years before recently relocating to Covina.

  • Glendora FuneralWe are thankful to the city of Glendora, where our showroom is located on Grand Avenue. Glendora is a great community for small business. And we are blessed to hang our hats in the Pride of the Foothills.
  • Covina ThanksgivingWe are thankful for Covina, where we have recently relocated our home and have joined with Sacred Heart Chapel, to offer clients a great place to host a funeral ceremony or remembrance.

  • We are thankful for our staff, who help make us look good, working with the community and families in a caring yet efficient manner.Silhouette of climbers who climbed to the top of the mountain thanks to mutual assistance and teamwork. Conceptual scene of a team of alpinists

  • We are thankful for the opportunity to work with families during their time of need. We consider ourselves blessed to use experience to help families.

  • We are thankful for veterans. As we discussed in last week’s post, we offer special veteran’s services because we are so thankful for the sacrifices that service men and women and their loved ones make on behalf of our country.

  • We are thankful for pets. As the only funeral home in Southern California to offer services for people as well as pets, we often get to appreciate the unique relationships people have with their four-legged friends. Our own dog, Lola, is a bereavement pug who works with us in our office and helps people who are experiencing grief. Come by our showroom to meet Lola.

  • We are thankful for digital technology, which enables us to offer online tributes and honor individual client communication preferences, so people can contact us via text, email, on the phone or in person.

    Thai Buddhist Stlye cremation believe to have gone to heavenWe are thankful to be alive at a time when advances in cremation processes offer the potential for bio-cremation, which is an exciting alternative to traditional cremation.

  • We are thankful for new attitudes, which enable people to remember their loved ones in whatever way they feel most comfortable, be it traditional, liturgical religious ceremonies or life celebrations with creative themes and personalized music.

  • Green energy technology, environmentally sustainable renewable energy. Home with and clean energy windmill on Light bulb on green background. 3d isometric vector illustration.We are thankful for eco-friendly options, which offer mourners the chance to say goodbye to loved ones in a way that protects the future of the earth. As parents, that is something we value.

  • We are thankful for the plethora of resources available to help people who are grieving. This type of assistance was not always available. So, we count ourselves privileged to be able to point clients to places that offer help.

  • We are thankful for you! Happy Thanksgiving Day, from all of us at Foothill Funeral & Cremation.happy thanksgiving design, vector illustration eps10 graphic


About Foothill Funeral & Cremation Services

Funeral directing is a unique job. The reason we enjoy it is because we love helping families during their time of need. Drop by our Glendora showroom any time. In Covina, our relationship with Sacred Heart Chapel is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorial services in a grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom.

El Monte, California

We Love our El Monte CustomersDuring our three-years in business as Foothill Funeral & Cremation Services, we have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of people who hail from small towns and large cities across throughout Southern California. But some call us from out of the state, or even out of the country, to ask us to assist with shipping their loved one’s remains or to help them arrange funerals, memorials, cremations and/or burials. Although Foothill Funeral & Cremation is located in the heart of Glendora, California, near the 210 Freeway, we enjoy close ties with several San Gabriel communities. This blog is a tribute one town in particular, the city of El Monte. We salute the people who make the community great. And check back, since we plan to focus on other San Gabriel cities in future posts. Continue reading El Monte, California

Millennials & Funerals

Millennials on Scene

While much has been made about the fact that Baby Boomers are starting to enter their Golden Years, another group is growing at an even faster clip – Millennials. In fact, by 2025, three out of four workers globally will be Millennials. What’s more, as their parents and grandparents age, this age group is the one most likely to choose caskets and urns and plan services. And that is changing the face of the funeral profession.

How Millennials Impact the Funeral Industry

  • They set trends. In California, seven out of ten people choose cremation over more traditional forms of handling the deceased. Millennials pride themselves on being the first to try anything new. At Foothill Funeral & Cremation Service, we remain on the cutting edge of every viable industry trend.
  • They are fully vested in digital platforms. Millennials make decisions based on the information they locate online. The first generation to have access to technology their entire lives, Millennials inherently understand how to cut through the clutter.
  • They are educated. In fact, they are the most educated generation in American history. More than 63% have bachelor’s degrees. And they use their education to inform their decisions. This is one of the reasons that eco-friendly burial options are gaining in popularity. They intrinsically understand the importance of making responsible choices.
  • They question everything. So, while other families might default to former family choices, they tend to investigate everything before deciding. This is good news for business owners like us, because we don’t rest on our laurels. Instead, we make sure we stay on top of industry trends.
  • They stay on trend. Committed to trying new things rather than relying on staid traditions, Millennials research everything. We are glad about this, because we work hard to earn our clients’ business. An example of this is our plans to be the first mortuary in California to offer Bio-Cremation.
  • They collaborate. We do, too. When we work with families to plan life celebrations and funerals, we make sure to honor their thoughts and wishes. That’s why Foothill Funeral & Cremation Services is flexible. We are proud to offer services in virtually every conceivable style instead of cookie-cutter ceremonies.
  • They grieve. Like people from every other generation, Millennials grieve at the loss of someone they love. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we understand loss. And we count it a privilege to help families through the grieving process. So, whatever your generation, give us a call (626) 335-0615.

About Foothill Funeral & Cremation

Whenever you were born, we would love to help you at your time of need or in the future. Drop by our Glendora showroom any time. In Covina, our relationship with Sacred Heart Chapel is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorial services in a grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. We would be honored to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom.

Foothill Funeral & Cremation Adds Covina Location

While Foothill Funeral & Cremation operates a beautiful showroom in the heart of Glendora, we have recently partnered with Sacred Heart Chapel in Covina and have moved our personal residence from Azusa to the City of Covina. We love having connections with so many cities in the San Gabriel Valley. Although our new city is home to nearly 50,000 people, it still has a small-town feel. We love the sunny climate, breathtaking mountain views, quaint specialty shops, major retail outlets, award-winning restaurants, and bustling downtown.

City of Covina History:

  • Originally contained within the homelands of the indigenous Tongva people.
  • Officially founded in 1882 and incorporated in 1901.
  • Named by a young engineer who came up with the idea by combining the words cove and vine.
  • Citrus groves blanketed the city which morphed into aa major citrus producer. By 1909, in fact, Covina was the third largest orange producer in the world.
  • Eventually, orange groves gave way to residential homes.
  • The May Day celebration in 1921, “The Spirit of Summer,” included a floral parade and Maypole dances.
  • “One mile square and all there,” is the city slogan, chosen from 364 entries.
  • The Covina Chamber of Commerce sponsored entries in 1933 and 1936 in the Tournament of Roses Parade and at the Los Angeles County Fair.
  • The chamber produced brochures and hired a hostess in the late 1940’s to welcome new residents to Covina.
  • By 1948, 7,000 telephones had been installed in the area because business was booming.

We are Here to Help

Whether you live and work in Glendora, Azusa, Covina or elsewhere in the LA basin, Inland Empire or San Gabriel Valley, we are proud to offer memorial and answers to your funeral and memorial-related questions. We will answer any questions you may have, without obligation. Foothill Funeral & Cremation is one of very few funeral homes that are certified by the Green Burial Council. With a beautiful showroom and offices located at 402 West Baseline in Glendora, we proudly serves the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. With years of experience in the mortuary industry, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. We would be honored to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom.

Traditional Funerals

Although we often blog about funky funeral trends, Foothill Funeral & Cremation Services adapts to whatever style our clients prefer. And that includes traditional funerals, memorials and receptions. In fact, highly liturgical services make up a large portion of our mortuary portfolio. What matters are the tastes and preferences of the deceased as well as his or her family and friends. So, don’t feel pressure to find Twitter hashtags and Pinterest boards to decide which flowers to order, or what types of music to download for your loved one’s service. The best decision you can make as you plan a memorial is to honor your loved one’s legacy.

What Marks a Traditional Funeral?

Since most people will plan a funeral service just once or twice over the course of their entire lives, the experience can be daunting. So, it’s natural to feel apprehensive, uncertain or even fearful about related decisions. This blog post is meant to give you permission to relax and plan whatever celebration of life you desire. For ideas about thoroughly modern memorials, click here or here.  If you would prefer to go the traditional route, here are a few guidelines to give you an idea of a handful of typical traditional memorials:


Traditional Jewish Service

Jewish law requires bodies to be buried within a day or as soon as practical after death, with exceptions. Depending on the degree of orthodoxy of the deceased, the rules around cremation may vary. For Orthodox Jews, cremation is not acceptable and the body should be buried, intact, in the ground. The funeral consists of prayers, a eulogy, and the reading of psalms. Rabbis and guests recite traditionally prayers, such as the Memorial Prayer, called “El Maleh Rachamim,” and the Mourner’s Blessing, called “Mourner’s Kaddish.


Traditional Catholic Service

After someone dies, a priest should be contacted to deliver last rites and to be consulted during the funeral planning process. Historically, the Catholic Church did not support cremation. However, recently, Catholics consider cremation acceptable. Catholics hold funerals in Catholic churches, Catholic assisted living or care facilities, or in the chapels at Catholic cemeteries. Our new venue, Sacred Heart, was formerly a Catholic Chapel, but is currently non-denominational, so appropriate for any type of service. Priests lead the Funeral Mass, and may also lead the funeral liturgy (service). But in cases where a priest is unavailable, a deacon or layperson with knowledge of the liturgy and traditions may lead the service.


Traditional Christian Funerals

These vary in style as much as the different denominations they represent. From Catholics to Mormons to Lutherans, Christianity has inspired many religious sects, each with its own emphasis and interpretation of the Bible. Although these religions hold slightly different beliefs, they follow the same principles and share similar funeral rituals. But, in general, pastors or experienced laypeople lead memorials, funerals or celebrations or life. Recently, the Church embraces cremation as readily as embalming and burial. Christian funerals feature music. Mourners sing hymns or contemporary worship songs with piano, organ, or stringed instrument accompaniments.



Hindu Memorials

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, estimated to have nearly one billion followers. Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no founder and no common creed or doctrine. In Hinduism, the body remains at the home until it is cremated, which is usually within 24 hours of death. Mourners scatter ashes at a sacred body of water. People offer flowers, but no one brings food. Hindu funerals always feature an open casket so guests can view the body. The Hindu priest and senior family members conduct the ceremony.


Whether you prefer a traditional or trendy funeral or memorial, we would be happy to help you plan and carry out the service. Foothill Funeral & Cremation is one of very few funeral homes that are certified by the Green Burial Council. With a beautiful showroom and offices located at 402 West Baseline in Glendora, Foothill Funeral & Cremation proudly serves the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. With years of experience in the mortuary industry, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. We would be honored to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom.