A Nonprofit, Non-Sectarian Consumer Education Association Founded in 1975, Dedicated to Dignified, Affordable, Preplanned Funeral and Memorial Arrangements.
A member of Funeral and Memorial Societies of America (FAMSA-FCA).

FUNERAL COSTS often involve one of the largest expenditures a family is called upon to make. Costs can reach many thousands of dollars. When joining the Funeral Consumers Alliance of San Joaquin County & the Mother Lode (FCA of SJ & ML) you will help spare your survivors unneeded anguish at the time of your death. By pre-planning you can alleviate the stress faced by your relatives and friends, who are often unprepared for costly choices that must be made in the midst of grief.

PRE-PLANNING is not the same as pre-paying. Pre-planning lets you decide what you want done at the time of your death. The FCA association is not an insurance nor a pre-paid burial plan. It is not a mortuary nor a business. It is a volunteer organization that bridges with a contracted mortuary to make available simple funeral and memorial services at reasonable prices

MORTUARY SERVICE is provided via a contracted mortuary.   The Association contracts with a state-licensed mortician to provide simple services for members at a modest price. The contracted mortuary picks up the bodies of the deceased wherever they die (a transfer fee may apply if the body is outside the contracted area), obtains the necessary permits and certificates, and provides the services agreed upon. If death occurs while in an area served by another memorial society, you will be able to elect service from that organization. The mortuary is paid when it provides its service (unless pre-paid arrangements with the mortuary have been made.)

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES include consumer information about after-death services, funeral costs, choices available and the value of pre-planning. The Association also represents consumer interest with the legislature and regulating authorities directly and in cooperation with other Memorial Societies.

Counties We Serve
San Joaquin, Calaveras, Amador, Alpine, and Tuolumne counties

​However, the services of FCASJC&ML are available to anyone seeking information about options and regulations for death-related services.

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WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY:

• Serving all individuals without discrimination
  
• Educating the public about end-of-life planning, decision making, and related issues
• Assisting individuals and families in making end-of-life decisions by presenting them with a variety of choices to meet their needs
• Providing information about area resources to assist families with end-of-life planning
• Promoting advance planning as a way to preserve or restore dignity and independence at the end of life
• Providing information about area bereavement resources
• Researching and evaluating innovative solutions for end-of-life needs
• Training professionals and others about end-of-life issues
• Networking with other organizations and agencies that share our mission and goals

FCA of SJ & ML BOARD of DIRECTORS     
President – Mary Bullard     
Vice President – Roy Childs     
Treasurer – Cindy Riddles   
Membership Secretary – Mary Bullard  
Board Secretary – Clair Trujillo     
Board Members: Harry Welte, Marj Fries and Fred Dillemuth   
 
Ex Officio Volunteers: We love the folks who do so much for us behind the scenes!      
Newsletter Coordinator - Kathy Schick     
Newsletter Printer – Martha Tipton

FCA of SJ & ML BYLAWS may be viewed by clicking here. (Coming soon!)