About Us

 About East County Mortuary

     Setting new standards in personalized attention for a diverse community, East County Mortuary & Cremation El Cajon Service stands apart with “white glove” service, thoughtful amenities and competitively priced programs, all approached with dignity, compassion and affordability.

     East County Mortuary & Cremation El Cajon, CA Service’s expertise includes Burial, Cremation, Funeral and Memorial Ceremonies, Veteran’s Services, Personalized Memorialization and Customized Caskets. Also offered is a unique Memorial Web Page which makes full use of the internet and social media to pay tribute to a departed loved one with shared images, collected messages and virtual candle lighting. Meeting each family’s personal sense of style, expectation and budget, all services reflect the highest levels of professionalism as well as compassion.

     The luxurious 7,500 square foot facility includes a beautiful chapel, comfortably seating over 150 guests, as well as a multipurpose kitchenette, dedicated meeting rooms and tasteful visitation suites. Gracious, sophisticated and comforting, the décor boasts classic European furnishings, custom drapery, refined artwork, and high-quality flooring, carpeting and paneling. Elegant sconces create a softly lit, soothing ambiance.

“Personally losing a loved one is the driving force behind my commitment to care for grieving families during such a critical time,” says Robert Zakar, local businessman and founder of East County Mortuary & Cremation El Cajon, CA Service. “My own father’s funeral continuously inspires me to make the funeral experience as accommodating and comfortable as possible, especially for our local community."

     In November 2011, Robert Zakar and his family took over the old Paris Frederick East County building in El Cajon, California and undertook an ambitious renovations project. Since then, the Zakar family has locally acquired their own crematory. East County Mortuary owns 1 of 5 crematories in San Diego County and the ONLY family owned crematory in Southern San Diego County. Being a family owned crematory ensures that anyone who comes into our care will never leave our care even when the cremation process is being performed. 

     Robert has also gathered a professional team that includes: Jonathan Jaboro, General Manager; Rita Shaya, Office Manager; Kristy Oliver, who serves as Funeral Director & Licensed Embalmer; Jerry Balistreri & Uyen Thai Do, who serve as Funeral Directors; Noah Ashton, Nelssy Alonso, Mariana Tec, Mara Oyervides, and Dacia Reynosa who serve as Funeral Arrangers; and Sammy Deras, Funeral Attendant. He has also cultivated a network of dedicated affiliates who share his passion for taking care of families during the loss of their loved one.

What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:
  1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  2. Burial services and best cremation El Cajon options
  3. Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.
Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counseling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.
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