A house of horrors, gross biohazard violations, and psychological torture of a grieving family."…read more If you want to experience total administrative abandonment, financial extortion, and profound cruelty while trying to lay a loved one to rest, Sterling & Smith Funeral Directors in Tulare is the exact place to go. UNLESS YOU GIVE THE FAMILY A REFUND AS THEY DESERVE I WILL NOT CONSIDER UPDATING MY REVIEW PERIOD. IF YOU CALL THE FAMILY AND GIVE THEM A REFUND I WILL FIX MY REVIEW BUT UNTIL THEN LET ME TELL THE VERY HARSH UGLY TRUTH HERE... ADVISORY (TW) Possible trigger warring: There is evidence of remains mishandling, dead rodent droppings on the body, a melted glass jar between the body's thighs MELTED into the skin, with dead maggots, evidence they may be experimenting with human remains... and even pressured the family saying "BURN THE BODY ALREADY" etc don't read on if you've got a weak stomach. THE nightmare with this facility involved a litany of unspeakable violations: * Retaliation and Biohazard Exposure: The decedent's brother was forced to wait over a month just to view his brother's body, only to be subjected to retaliatory hostility and interrogation-room intimidation. When they were finally allowed back, they were offered zero Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and handed a mask only upon asking. * Unsecured Public Viewing & Mutilated Remains: The body was wheeled into an unsecured, regular public waiting room accessible to anyone AND EXPOSED TO THE REGULAR WAITING AREA WHERE YOU YOURSELF WOULD SIT TO WAIT. The physical condition of the remains was horrific and defied basic science--the top half was decomposed beyond belief while the bottom half was remarkably preserved, raising terrifying questions about improper preservation, experimental handling, or an active identity swap. * Foreign Debris and Pest Infestation: Most abhorrently, the body was found with a melted jar wedged between its legs, alongside maggots and rodent droppings. * Financial Extortion & Forensic Deception: After local law enforcement neglected their statutory duty to collect DNA, the grieving family was forced to pay out-of-pocket costs. Worse, the facility tech Tania Hill engaged in a malicious bait-and-switch: promising that fingernails had been sent for testing, then ignoring any further communication with the family. Only for the lab to reveal later that they Sterling & Smith / Tania Hill had sent bones instead-- HOW DO YOU MISTAKE BONES FOR FINGERNAILS? THESE PEOPLE ARE SICK- EVIL MONSTERS - leaving the family to be mocked via text message ("lol") and cruelly pressured and they tried to extort the family for 3K extra to fix Tania Hills "fingernail" collection & complete chain-of-custody failures. NOT ACCEPTABLE PERIOD. From blocking valid 50-50 authorization proxies to subjecting a grieving mother to text-message mockery and psychological abuse, this facility operates with zero human decency, zero regulatory compliance, and a complete disregard for the dignity of the dead. Avoid at all costs. Case and regulatory files are active with the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau (Complaint #262700212) and federal oversight. If you have a problem to report them to the CFB immediately. Oh, and after I filled a complaint... not only did the person I filled the complain about to corporate intercept my email... and replied himself to avoid upper command staff to see his unethical behavior but then he got his personal lawyer and tried to bully me in email with a bluff... (when I called him on his bluff he finally stopped emailing and then literally he started calling me around 2-3am blowing my phone up... ) Yeah if you're reading this Scott Shade, you know excatly what you did and continue to do, you're a disgrace and this facility is a debauchery. If they've done all this with a body... What else have they been doing with bodies? I have a hard time believing no body else has had trouble with this place...

Went to a service for my friends dad the tvs weren't working someone ripped the cables out their…read moretech guy wasn't very quick at fixing it I jumped in to help got one of the tvs to work and while the services were going on they were asking me what I would do to maybe upgrade their system during the eulogy mind you smfh they seem like they weren't really worried about it didn't offer any kind of break in the price pretty sad pay for the services and use of the facilities and they aren't what they are supposed to be and zero compensation is offered especially when they knew there was an issue before anyone got there honestly wouldn't be hard to update their av system and I wouldn't mind helping I just didn't appreciate being asked while my friend was being honored :-/

we want to thank Mary Mendonca. she made the process of putting a loved one doing the funeral…read morearrangement together from start to end.she kept the family informed as the process of of putting a loved to rest .so thank you Mary .from The Perez and the Quintana families.from Visalia ca.

If I could rate them 0 I would! Person answering the phone is so rude! I was trying to get prices…read moreand information all her answers are like sending you off to look somewhere else, she gives me the price saying it's going to be at least this much, go ask your family if the price is ok then I'll give you more information, I couldn't believe her answer!!

This Funeral home deserves NO STARS!! This Funeral Home was…read moresold to Richard Mendivil the Director/Manager about 8-9 years ago. He made it very clear that he was servicing Porterville prior, so do not expect the service that was once provided. The funeral home was very unprofessional and provided no help through out this process. Anytime we asked a question it was answered with defensiveness and resistance. When I tried reviewing the contract Richard pulled the papers away and became defensive when I asked questions about the various fees. My brother was heavier set and his recommendation was to bury my brother in a CLOTH casket, he said there was NO casket big enough for my brother!! He made it very clear that because of his condition and size that there would be a terrible smell (and there wasn't). When we agreed on a date he was upset that it wasn't sooner! I had to call Sterling & Smith for help because they provided the services for my parents in 2017 and 2019. Per the recommendation from Sterling and Smith, My sister had to shop online find a casket and get it delivered to Peers. She coordinated this on her own! I had to create my own programs. I had to purchase and deliver to the grave side the FLOWERS!!!! When asked if he could take the flowers in the Hearst he said there was no room, and refused. At time of loading my brother, if my other sister hadn't mentioned he was off balance the casket would of tipped . ( we have this on video) At the graveside service he only provided a wood podium and he was supposed to provide a mic and a speaker. One of my siblings had to cover the hole at the cemetery made with turf grass on her own, if not we would have seen ugly plywood in front of the casket. Richard did not help coordinate anything! When the graveside service was over WE had to make the announcement for people to walk by the casket and say their final goodbyes. Richard then proceeded to tell me how to line people up and I asked him if he could do that and he resisted my brother had to step in to help guide the process! We received NO support from Peers, the added stress this caused during this difficult time was terrible for our family! If anyone you know passes away please make the request that they be sent anywhere but Peers. I would not want this added stress to anyone else . Losing a close family member is hard enough but to pay for a service and not receive the support is worse. And now I see on his website my brother had NO formal obituary!! Juan Felipe Avitia

This Funeral home deserves NO STARS!! This Funeral Home was…read moresold to Richard Mendivil the Director/Manager about 8-9 years ago. He made it very clear that he was servicing Porterville prior, so do not expect the service that was once provided. The funeral home was very unprofessional and provided no help through out this process. Anytime we asked a question it was answered with defensiveness and resistance. When I tried reviewing the contract Richard pulled the papers away and became defensive when I asked questions about the various fees. My brother was heavier set and his recommendation was to bury my brother in a CLOTH casket, he said there was NO casket big enough for my brother!! He made it very clear that because of his condition and size that there would be a terrible smell (and there wasn't). When we agreed on a date he was upset that it wasn't sooner! I had to call Sterling & Smith for help because they provided the services for my parents in 2017 and 2019. Per the recommendation from Sterling and Smith, My sister had to shop online find a casket and get it delivered to Peers. She coordinated this on her own! I had to create my own programs. I had to purchase and deliver to the grave side the FLOWERS!!!! When asked if he could take the flowers in the Hearst he said there was no room, and refused. At time of loading my brother, if my other sister hadn't mentioned he was off balance the casket would of tipped . ( we have this on video) At the graveside service he only provided a wood podium and he was supposed to provide a mic and a speaker. One of my siblings had to cover the hole at the cemetery made with turf grass on her own, if not we would have seen ugly plywood in front of the casket. Richard did not help coordinate anything! When the graveside service was over WE had to make the announcement for people to walk by the casket and say their final goodbyes. Richard then proceeded to tell me how to line people up and I asked him if he could do that and he resisted my brother had to step in to help guide the process! We received NO support from Peers, the added stress this caused during this difficult time was terrible for our family! If anyone you know passes away please make the request that they be sent anywhere but Peers. I would not want this added stress to anyone else . Losing a close family member is hard enough but to pay for a service and not receive the support is worse. And now I see on his website my brother had NO formal obituary!! Juan Felipe Avitia

First, I was sad to see the reviews of bad experiences some people had during their time of grief…read more My uncle passed recently and my mother and I met primarily with Christine who was great from the beginning. She was patient and comforting with my mother and assisted me with navigating through the process of laying my uncle to rest. On the evening of the rosary and day of the burial, Nate from Salser & Dillard, was great. He and the other team members were helpful and attentive. Everyone from the ladies at the front desk to the ushers at the rosary were friendly and professional. I would highly recommend Salser & Dillard to anyone in need of a funeral home. I just can't thank them enough!

May 2025 A Compassionate, Respectful, and Seamless Experience During a Difficult Time…read more-Planning my father's funeral was one of the most emotionally difficult moments of my life, but Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel provided compassionate, respectful, and professional support from start to finish. I worked closely with Christina, who guided me through the funeral planning process with grace and empathy. She listened patiently to all my questions, comments, and concerns, and made sure I understood each detail before making any decisions. I appreciated how she respected my privacy and never made me feel rushed or pressured. Every change I requested was communicated clearly, and I felt truly supported throughout the entire process. I was especially grateful for the private time I was given with my father in the days leading up to the service something I will never forget. On the day of the funeral, everything went exactly as planned. Frank was incredibly kind and personable, helping ensure the service flowed smoothly and on schedule. His presence and professionalism brought a sense of calm to what was otherwise a very emotional day. Following the service, we moved directly across the parking lot to the reception venue, where I worked with Jessica as our event coordinator. Jessica was outstanding she helped plan every detail of our potluck reception, offered thoughtful suggestions, and made sure the space was beautifully arranged. Her professionalism and warmth were evident from our planning meeting through the day of the event. I was very pleased with the overall package we selected and the quality of service provided by both the funeral chapel and the event venue. During a time of deep sorrow, Salser & Dillard gave me peace of mind and allowed my family to focus on honoring and remembering my father. I am truly thankful for the care and support I received from the entire team.

I lost my daughter January 21, 2026. I chose this company because a hospice nurse recommended. This…read morewas a my experience. They picked her up at 7am. The two gentlemen were amazing. They called me at 7:30am for payment. The lady told me she'll be ready in three days. I called back and a gentleman answered, I asked him when can we say goodbyes. He said it'll be $300 more and in two days time. He said he'll have someone reach out to me for the date and time. I waited all that day and the next day and no phone call so I started calling after 2pm 3x that day and no one answered. I called repeatedly for the next two days drove to their," office ". Long story shot, three weeks and few answers phone calls with them saying waiting on state licensing. They cremated her before we got to say goodbye. I went to pick her up on February 13, 2026. Yes they gave me a refund and an urn but still to this very day I feel like I failed my daughter. I wish I had never took the recommendation from that Nurse. I do not recommend this company. The receptionist is so so rude.

Angels Cremation has the worst customer service! There is very little follow-up with next of kin…read moreonce they receive payment. Their process is slow and they do not seem to care about communication. They do not offer any assistance beyond another excuse why my husband is still at the coroner's office almost 3 weeks after his passing always placing the delay on the fault of the coroners office or doctors office. Now they state that the cremation, preparation of ashes and death certificate MAY be done next week! Maybe!!!! My life is on hold waiting for them to do the job they have been paid to do.

My father passed away overseas recently due to the pandemic and we've been eyeing this company as…read moreurn choices are limited in the Philippines. Placed my order via online chat on the 30th of June and received it 15 days later. Now, that's not much of a problem for us as they shipped it 3 days after I placed my order. Also, shipment of my dad's ashes took longer so we didn't have problem waiting. I'd say that we are very satisfied with the smooth transaction and the quality of the urn! It is as pretty as the image posted on their website and we really loved that we can have something customized in memory of my beloved father. Just a bit disappointed that the parts weren't attached even for temporary purposes and the light base didn't feel as sturdy for the $50 dollar price. The engraving also felt a bit raw as we could still see wood underneath--would've appreciated it if it was covered in gold or silver paint. The missing star is for that and the customer service as I have felt that they were less emphatic for the nature of the business they're in. Also, I had to follow up for the payment receipt and shipment details to get an update. Overall, we're thankful to have a company which gives importance in commemorating the departed in a wonderful way.

Please do not order from this company…read more Their lack of compassion, accountability, and customer service during one of the most difficult times in my family's life was extremely disappointing. I ordered a custom urn for my infant granddaughter and paid for second-day shipping so it would arrive in time for us to receive her ashes. This was incredibly important to my daughter and our family, and I gladly paid the additional cost to ensure everything was ready when needed. Unfortunately, when the urn arrived, it was broken. Because of the time-sensitive nature of the situation, waiting for a replacement was not an option. I had to immediately find another urn locally so my granddaughter's ashes would have a proper resting place. I emailed the company photos of the damaged urn and requested a refund. Not only was there no apology for the inconvenience and emotional distress this caused, but there was also no consideration given to the circumstances. I was told the damage was a transportation issue and that they could only offer a replacement because custom urns are non-refundable. At no point did they take responsibility for what I believe was inadequate packaging. More importantly, they showed no empathy for a grieving family dealing with the loss of an infant. By the time they offered a replacement, I no longer needed one because I had already been forced to purchase another urn locally. I understand that shipping accidents happen. What I cannot understand is the complete lack of compassion, accountability, and willingness to make things right. If customer service and being treated with respect during a difficult time matter to you, I recommend taking your business elsewhere.

Rico's Memorial Stones restored my parent's graveside marker, and it looks brand new and at a…read morereasonable price. I live in Southern California, and during the holidays, I returned to Fresno and stopped at my parent's graveside to leave flowers and prayers. Their graveside marker appeared worn and deteriorated. I surfed the web and found Rico's. Denise, the office manager, was very patient and understanding and provided exemplary communication throughout the process. The technicians Jimmy and Jose performed an excellent restoration, as evident in the attached before and after photos. Your loved ones may be gone, however, never forgotten thanks to the kind and caring people at Rico Memorial Stones.

* Paid in full for a headstone bench in September 2023. *…read moreFinal artwork approval was given on August 27, 2024, despite prior delays. * Given an estimated completion date of December 2024, but no updates were provided. * Every response from the company has only come after we initiated contact. * No response at all to recent inquiries requesting an update or resolution. * This delay has caused significant emotional distress as we have been unable to honor our parents' graveside for over a year.