Since 1995
Certified in Thanatology (CT)
A funeral for a Korean parent,
explained step by step
Maria Cho has guided Korean American families through funerals for 30 years, in Korean and in English.
A funeral rarely gives notice.
What do you need to know first?
What it costs, what to do first, and what changes when you plan ahead. Your parents may expect Korean customs, while the paperwork and the vocabulary are American.
Prices in the open, and every step explained in both languages.
2025 California funeral costs
Funeral costs come in three parts. Every line item is published.
- Funeral home
Funeral Home Costs
$5,100 – $31,900
Paid to the funeral home. The casket is where the range is widest.
See line items - Cemetery
Cemetery Costs
$17,800 – $50,115
Paid to the cemetery, separately from the funeral home.
See line items - Everything else
Additional Costs
$3,600 – $9,200
Costs outside the funeral home and cemetery. These depend on what the family chooses.
See line items
Thirty years in the field, and thanatology
Family counselor for a Catholic mortuary and cemetery, Korean Garden Development Coordinator at Westminster Memorial Park, and family counselor at Green Hills Memorial Park.
Serving Korean families
Since 1995
Southern California
Certified in Thanatology
ADEC CT
2025 – 2027
Certificate in Thanatology
Marian University
May 2025
What families say
I am so happy to work with Maria Cho in planning my mother's funeral. She was there for us during a very difficult moment in our lives. I would encourage everyone to start planning now.
Knowing a little makes it less overwhelming
Starting with the questions families ask most.
Planning Ahead
Your Parent Is on Medi-Cal: How to Set Aside Funeral Money
Medi-Cal asset limits returned in 2026. Here is which funeral preparations do not count toward the limit.
Read · 4 minAfter a Death
After the Funeral: A Checklist
Death certificates, Social Security, banks, insurance, and reporting the death in Korea. What to handle in the first three months, in order.
Read · 5 minPlanning Ahead
What Is Funeral Pre-Planning?
Deciding your funeral in advance and setting money aside for it. What gets decided, where the money is held, and what to ask before signing.
Read · 4 min
Frequently asked questions
Q1.How much does a funeral cost in California?
For a traditional burial in 2025: funeral home $5,100 – $31,900, cemetery $17,800 – $50,115, and additional costs $3,600 – $9,200. The casket and the cemetery make the biggest difference.
Q2.Is the consultation really free?
Yes. A 30-minute consultation about pre-planning, cremation, cemeteries and costs is free, in English or Korean.
Q3.Do we have to pay up front to pre-plan?
No. You can make the plan without paying anything, or you can prepay as well.
Q4.My parent is on Medi-Cal. Can we still set money aside for the funeral?
Funeral costs prepared in the right form are not counted toward the Medi-Cal asset limit: an irrevocable burial plan, burial plots, and designated burial funds up to $1,500 per person.
Q5.My parent just passed away. What do I do first?
Have the death pronounced, tell the family, and ask a funeral home to bring your loved one into their care. If you are not sure where to start, call.
Free 30-minute consultation
Pre-planning, cremation, cemeteries and costs. Ask anything, in English or Korean.