Highly Rated Firm Offers Services Around Funeral and Cremation in Thousand Oaks, CA 

We offer a variety of customizable service options including traditional funeral, cremation, celebrations of life, and memorial services in Thousand Oaks, CA and the surrounding area. For almost 50 years, we have been a family-owned and operated funeral home that provides personal, professional, and caring services. We cater to the unique needs of those we are called to serve and ensure that all our families are treated with dignity, honor, and respect. As a second-generation family business, we take great pride in paying attention to what is important to the families we serve. We deliver on the promises that we make, and we continually strive to improve. Our staff is committed to providing you and your family with the finest in personal end-of-life care. Please call us at 805-526-6677 and allow us to provide clarity for what is often a very confusing and difficult set of circumstances. 



When you and your family are facing the prospect of a close death or if you have just suffered a loss, you will need to make arrangements for laying the decedent to rest. There are many good ways to go about this. Having the professional support of a highly rated funerary firm when planning funeral and cremation in Thousand Oaks, CA, will make the process far less daunting. Since 2005, Reardon Simi Valley Funeral Home experts have assisted families through these conversations and decisions.

The Differences Between Funeral and Cremation in Thousand Oaks, CA

Understanding the significant differences between deathcare services can help you choose which options will best suit your situation. At Reardon Simi Valley Funeral Home, we spend as much time with our clients to help them grasp the various solutions. Then we can help them customize these events and processes however needed. In addition, we aim to be completely forthcoming in pricing details and work hard to keep our costs fair and accurate for those buying deathcare-related products and instruments. 

A Bit About Funerals: For traditional or non-traditional options, a funeral can be a great starting point. Funerals are typically scheduled soon after death. This is primarily because the deceased's body will be a vital component of the services. The casket may be open or closed for all or part of the funerary events. If open, the body will usually need to be embalmed to forestall the decay process temporarily and support the best possible experience. There is no legal requirement to have the remains cleaned and preserved this way for burial. 

Funerals are thought to be especially helpful to mourners, especially psychologically. Death is often shocking and challenging for our minds to grasp. Because of this, seeing the body (or even the casket holding the body) can help to invite acceptance of the new reality. The closure we so often like to have been not something that usually happens in an instant, but that process can also be supported to begin by attending funerary services for someone close to us. 

The Benefits of Cremations: Cremations are much less costly than traditional funerary services. This correlates to the time and planning your funeral director and their team will need to care for the remains and complete any honoring events. However, cremation alone is not considered an honoring service, even though many steps are taken to protect the privacy and dignity of the deceased throughout the procedure. In addition, cremations are often touted as an environmentally friendly alternative to burying synthetic containers and toxic chemicals. 

A cremation procedure is simply one means of caring for deceased remains. First, the body is placed in a lightweight casket and then in the cremation chamber. After that, intense heat is applied, and very soon, all the contents in the compartment will begin to burn. The burning process is typically complete in under two hours. The remaining fragments and pieces of bones that did not burn away will then be gathered together and processed into tiny specks called "ashes." 

How Funerals and Cremations May Be Combined for One Individual: There are some compelling reasons families may feel conflicted about choosing between some services. In those cases, it can help to know that it is easy enough to have some options combined that might seem contradictory at first glance. One example is when we pair the services for a funeral and cremation in Thousand Oaks, CA, for one person. All funerary-specific events are fully completed before the cremation is performed. 

Little Details Can Mean a Lot

Having a competent team of professionals to guide you through the details that can take your final arrangement services from average to stunning and meaningful is a fantastic source of support for grieving families. For example, your director and their team will help you select funerary containers such as caskets for bodies of every size and urns meant for burial or display. Your dedicated experts will also work out your needs for printed materials such as program outlines, acknowledgment cards, and seeing to the obituary publication. 

The director and staff will also arrange to order and receive floral displays and sympathy gifts on your behalf. These will be brought to appropriate locations where services are held. Flowers can indeed be a poignant and aesthetically pleasing detail throughout final services. If there are keepsakes or mementos you would like to order before your loved one is laid to rest, these tender reminders will be something you can keep close to your heart in the coming days, weeks, and years. Thumbprint jewelry or accessories are just one example of these options.

Contact Us for Immediate or Future Service Needs

Families or individuals facing the need to make arrangements for service options like a funeral and cremation in Thousand Oaks, CA, can find a true partner at Reardon Simi Valley Funeral Home. With comprehensive deathcare solutions, listening and compassionate hearts, and extensive experience, you can trust that our team will forget no detail. Our offices are at 2636 Sycamore Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93065, and we can be reached by calling (805) 526-6677.

Funeral & Cremation Services FAQ

Is it disrespectful to take pictures at a funeral?

It is a common courtesy to put away your camera and phones when you are attending a funeral. The family and friends of the deceased are grieving and do not want to be bothered by people who are trying to get a good picture. It is also disrespectful to take pictures of the body because it is a sacred moment for the family. They should be allowed to say their final goodbye in peace without worrying about people taking pictures. If you must take pictures, ask permission from the family first and be respectful of their wishes. Here are some guidelines for proper funeral etiquette.

When should a memorial service be held?

There is no answer to the question of when a memorial service should be held. In some cases, the decision may be made by the family or friends of the deceased, while in others it may be up to the funeral home or crematorium. A memorial service should be held as soon after the death as possible, while still allowing enough time for loved ones to travel and arrangements to be made. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if the cause of death was particularly traumatic, it may be best to wait a few weeks or even months before holding the service. This can give everyone time to process their grief and come to terms with what has happened. Read for more ideas on honoring the life of a loved one.

Will I feel better after the funeral?

The death of a loved one is always a difficult time. In addition to the sadness and grief, funerals can be overwhelming and exhausting. It can be hard to know how to behave or what to say, and you may find yourself feeling numb or disconnected from the proceedings. It is perfectly normal to feel this way, and it is okay to take some time for yourself after the funeral. You may not feel better immediately, but in time, the pain will lessen, and you will be able to remember your loved one with fondness and love. Give yourself the space and time you need to grieve in whatever way feels right for you. Here are some resources to help you deal with grief.