
BY AMELIA MATTHEWS
BUENA PARK, CA- Buena Park Chapel has the distinction of being the first mortuary in SoCal tailor made for the unique needs of the local Indian-American community. It is also the only Indian-American owned mortuary in SoCal. Amarjit S. Dhillon, who heads the Buena Park Gurdwara just three blocks away,
BUENA PARK, CA- Buena Park Chapel has the distinction of being the first mortuary in SoCal tailor made for the unique needs of the local Indian-American community. It is also the only Indian-American owned mortuary in SoCal. Amarjit S. Dhillon, who heads the Buena Park Gurdwara just three blocks away,

bought over the Renaker-Klockgether Mortuary in June. In business for almost eight decades, now under new management , the mortuary will see a number of changes which will be beneficial for the local Indian-American community.
Dhillon looks at this not only as business but as he says more as a means to serve the community during the last sacred rites of putting a loved one to rest. Not having a mortuary that meets their needs has been a longstanding problem for members of the community belonging to different faiths like Sikhs, Hindus, Jains among others. Explaining Dhillon says,`` Mainstream American owned mortuaries, where our community members have been forced to go, as there is no option, do not understand our traditions and culture. Performing the last rites at a mortuary which is conversant with these traditions is of great help to family members.’’ Dhillon also underscored that they are working to provide a `family atmosphere’ for family members to help console them during this time of grief and make them feel as comfortable as possible.
As president of the Buena Park Gurdwara for the last 25 years, Dhillon points out that post cremation at the mortuary, family members can make their way to the Gurdwara ,not too far away, for the Antim Ardaas and langar.
As to the services provided, Dhillon says they are as unique as the individual. Right from horse drawn carriages to scattering the ashes from a plane or a sea burial they offer it all. Arrangements for release of doves or balloons, musicians, singers, military honors, limos and funeral escorts are available for the asking.
Services specially tailored for the Indian-American community include paperwork for urns with ashes to be transported to India, help with death certificates, transporting the body from the hospital/home to the mortuary for the last rites, special mortician and embalming facilities. As is well known, funerals are an expensive business that can run into thousands of dollars. For this reason many are buying burial grounds in advance and pre-planning their funerals. A slew of mortuaries also offer payment plans. Keeping in mind the huge expense involved, Dhillon says as a service to the community, the Buena Park Chapel will take only minimal charges from those who have limited finances or who have no family here. They offer very competitive rates to others. The cheapest no frills funeral will cost between $800 to $1000 for a cardboard box (no casket) cremation with no viewing facility. A viewing casket cremation starts from $3500 up depending on a number of factors. ``Whatever the family wishes to spend we are willing to comply with their demands to provide them with the best service,’’ Dhillon explains. Though new to the mortuary business, Dhillon has a sharp business acumen having run his own wholesale plumbing and electrical supply enterprise. With a Ph D in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University under his belt, he moved to California in 1963 and to SoCal in 1971. In 2000 he sold his business as he explains due to health issues. With time on hand, he became more active in community service specially helping immigrants from India get release from detention centers and interpreting for them in courts among other things. At present he is the consulting director for ten of the 14 gurdwaras in SoCal. Dhillon hopes that service will trump business at the Buena Park Chapel. The mortuary is located at 7651 Commonwealth Ave, Buena Park, CA – 90621. Phone: 714-521-1010
Dhillon looks at this not only as business but as he says more as a means to serve the community during the last sacred rites of putting a loved one to rest. Not having a mortuary that meets their needs has been a longstanding problem for members of the community belonging to different faiths like Sikhs, Hindus, Jains among others. Explaining Dhillon says,`` Mainstream American owned mortuaries, where our community members have been forced to go, as there is no option, do not understand our traditions and culture. Performing the last rites at a mortuary which is conversant with these traditions is of great help to family members.’’ Dhillon also underscored that they are working to provide a `family atmosphere’ for family members to help console them during this time of grief and make them feel as comfortable as possible.
As president of the Buena Park Gurdwara for the last 25 years, Dhillon points out that post cremation at the mortuary, family members can make their way to the Gurdwara ,not too far away, for the Antim Ardaas and langar.
As to the services provided, Dhillon says they are as unique as the individual. Right from horse drawn carriages to scattering the ashes from a plane or a sea burial they offer it all. Arrangements for release of doves or balloons, musicians, singers, military honors, limos and funeral escorts are available for the asking.
Services specially tailored for the Indian-American community include paperwork for urns with ashes to be transported to India, help with death certificates, transporting the body from the hospital/home to the mortuary for the last rites, special mortician and embalming facilities. As is well known, funerals are an expensive business that can run into thousands of dollars. For this reason many are buying burial grounds in advance and pre-planning their funerals. A slew of mortuaries also offer payment plans. Keeping in mind the huge expense involved, Dhillon says as a service to the community, the Buena Park Chapel will take only minimal charges from those who have limited finances or who have no family here. They offer very competitive rates to others. The cheapest no frills funeral will cost between $800 to $1000 for a cardboard box (no casket) cremation with no viewing facility. A viewing casket cremation starts from $3500 up depending on a number of factors. ``Whatever the family wishes to spend we are willing to comply with their demands to provide them with the best service,’’ Dhillon explains. Though new to the mortuary business, Dhillon has a sharp business acumen having run his own wholesale plumbing and electrical supply enterprise. With a Ph D in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University under his belt, he moved to California in 1963 and to SoCal in 1971. In 2000 he sold his business as he explains due to health issues. With time on hand, he became more active in community service specially helping immigrants from India get release from detention centers and interpreting for them in courts among other things. At present he is the consulting director for ten of the 14 gurdwaras in SoCal. Dhillon hopes that service will trump business at the Buena Park Chapel. The mortuary is located at 7651 Commonwealth Ave, Buena Park, CA – 90621. Phone: 714-521-1010