Captain Lee is very professional. He was our point person for both of my parent's burial at sea. He was respectful and very kind. It's hard to navigate deaths and he helped to quell the emotions and the family dynamics. He made the planning process easy and he delivered professionally the days of their burial. read more

This has been in the works, and I don't even know how to properly put this into words, but I owe it to Tony to try. We said goodbye to my dad on the water with Captain Tony (Burials at Sea), and somehow, in one of the hardest moments of our lives, he made everything feel.. gentle. Not rushed. Not transactional. Just human. We left on a warm morning and it felt surreal, just... walking down the dock with the last physical remnants of our father in hand. There's something about grief that makes time feel strange, and Cpt Tony seemed to understand that without us ever having to explain it. It started with the first call and text exchange. He gave us space when we needed silence, and quiet guidance when we didn't know what to do next. He never once made us feel like we had to hurry up or move on. He let us sit there... as long as we needed... with my dad, with our memories, with everything we were feeling. At one point, I was just sitting in complete silence, watching the water, and it felt like the world had paused for us. An eerie but soothing moment of peace. That's something I'll never forget, and something I didn't think a service like this could give. I'm eternally grateful for having been recommended to Burials at Sea by another friend of ours who've used their service. They are worth every single penny.. they're beyond reasonable, and there is honestly zero compromise to the service you receive. Cpt Tony isn't just providing a service. He's holding space for people in one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives, and he does it with so much compassion and grace it honestly caught me off guard. I'm not much for showing raw emotion, esp in public.. but this experience reminded me that everyone is human, and that's ok. If you're reading reviews because you're going through something similar, I'm so sorry. Truly. But I can tell you this... your loved one will be in good hands with Tony. And so will you. Thank you, Captain Tony and crew, for helping us give my dad the kind of goodbye he deserved... Thank you. Give your memories and loved ones the sanctity and respect they deserve. Call them. read more

Burials At Sea By Captain Johnnie Lee - Burials at Sea, with Captain Tony - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Long Beach, California

This is a first for our family, so I didn't even know where to begin. After a few phone calls and inquiries, I decided to go with Burials at Sea for many reasons: great reviews, my communication with Captain Tony was always open (paired with his patience and understanding), and they just simply made the whole process very easy. Cost wouldn't have been an issue, but that ended up being a bonus as they were the most cost effective for the purpose. My stepdad's final wish was to be cremated and have his ashes buried at sea. We were assigned on the vessel Something Special which was a really nice ride! It was plenty roomy for our party of 22. Captain George and Jim warmly welcomed us onboard. They had coffee, water and snacks ready for us. We took off soon as Captain George completed going over safety protocols. Jim was tasked to prep my stepdad's ashes and he did a beautiful mix with rose petals. When the time came, he assisted my Mom with lowering the container down to set him at his final resting place. What's really cool also is they give you a certificate to tell you the exact coordinates where he was laid to rest. "In case you feel like a visit..." The weather cooperated. The water was calm. The entire process was perfect and went beyond our expectations. The whole experience truly was Something Special. Highly recommending! Thank you, Captain Tony, Captain George and Jim! read more

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Called and spoke to Captain Johnnie Lee today about providing spreading ashes at sea. He was very nice and informed me that he is now retired. read more

This was a beautiful ceremony beyond my expectations. Captain Johnnie Lee, is a true professional and gentleman. He provided guidance, was accommodating, polite and gave my grandmother her exact wish. His prayer was comforting and he gave us the time we needed to have a nice departure. The petal ceremony was truly meaningful. I will never forget this experience and recommend his services. read more

It was an absolute pleasure having Captain Johnnie Lee help my family and I through this process of spreading my fathers ashes. Obviously this is not something easy but Captain Johnnie was communicative, engaging and guided us through this better than I could have ever hoped for. I would recommend anyone to give him a call if your loved ones ashes are to be scattered at sea. Thank you Captain. read more

My grandmother laid to rest her husband and my aunt previously with Captain Johnnie Lee. She also requested this service. We put her to rest July 28. The service was once again AMAZING! Captain Lee was very respectful, passionate, gentle and soft spoken. He let us all pray and he added his own prayer too. He explained the entire process and share what we could expect out on sea. Grandmas service was everything we need and then some. Thank you Captain Johnnie! read more

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My family and I were very pleased with the professionalism and caring demeanor of Captain John! The day was beautiful. The waters were calm and the sun was shining...which made the burial at sea for my father very peaceful. He explained how the the scattering would work in great detail and asked if we had any concerns or questions. After we reached the perfect spot, Captain John began the ceremony with a sweet prayer and then made sure he gave us the time we needed to say our goodbyes without rushing us...all while keeping us comfortable from beginning to end! Thank you Captain John for making this a memorable moment for us! read more

Thank you Captain for providing excellent service to complete my fathers final wish. Your professionalism, caring and execution is much appreciated. I could not imagine it going any better and I'm sure my mom feels the same. Continue to provide excellent service and take care, bless you for what you do. I'll keep moving forward and no one will stand in my way of that, thank you again. Kye Dudley read more

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Captain Johnnie Lee is Awesome! We used his services to disperse my Mother's ashes. Captain Johnnie was very kind and welcoming. The boat was also very beautiful and very clean. He took the time to learn about my Mother and said a beautiful memorial prayer before we lowered her ashes into the ocean. My Mother's ashes were mixed in a basket with rose petals and lowered into the sea approximately three miles outside the Long Beach Harbor. We circle around the ashes a few times before heading back to the harbor. Captain Johnnie also took care of the paperwork and provided us with a certificate of disposal at sea that included the time along with the latitude and longitude of where my Mother's ashes were dispersed. Overall the experience was quite beautiful! read more

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Not ever having attended a sea burial before, I didn't know what to expect. If your loved one happens to request one as part of their final wishes, however, I do recommend this experience. We chartered the boat for just our family, which was a party of 13 but we were told we could have up to 49. I don't regret keeping the experience private, as it made it feel like our family had that to share just between us. I do recommend getting to the dock early, as we had to wade through a sea of kids going to Catalina...not any fault of the company, but not something you want to have to deal with on such a solemn occasion. Capt. Mike and his staff were wonderful to us and were very kind and accommodating. Their sensitive and caring treatment of us made our greatest sadness a little easier to bear. read more

Captain Johnnie was compassionate during my mother's ash scattering. When we arrived the marina was very foggy so it wasn't Capt Johnnie's fault for the delay but he was very understanding and communicated with us about the safety concerns. Prices were very reasonable and if we have another ash scattering memorial we will use Capt Johnnie again. Highly recommend his service. read more

Captain Lee was so professional, courteous, compassionate, and thoughtful to our needs. His fees are very affordable and his boat is luxurious and immaculate. We were so fortunate to have found him on Yelp. I highly recommend him. read more

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Such a great and memorable experience. We scattered the ashes of our grandparents, dad and uncle. Captain Lee was very flexible with our schedule and informative with the scattering details. We ended up using a larger vessel due to our party count. Everything turned out beautiful and we were all pleased with the memorial. It was a great tribute to our loved ones. read more

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Class act. We had to scatter our beloved mother's ashes and of course, there's nothing easy about this. When I called to make arrangements, he gave me very specific information about how to find his dock/boat, parking information, and information that we had to ensure was accurate on the death certificate. Captain Johnnie also asked if we wanted him to say a prayer for us. He took a deposit via credit card over the phone. The booking process was extremely easy. Thanks to his instructions, it was extremely easy to find him. We started promptly at the time we had booked. He had life jackets for all of us, including for the two children. He was very courteous throughout. He was very gentle and respectful while handling my mother's ashes, and was very compassionate when I started crying as he put them into the basket. He puts the ashes in a basket along with a bunch of rose petals, which was a nice touch. He also offered us water (necessary on such a hot day), and there's also a bathroom on board. The whole process went very smoothly, for which I am extremely thankful because this is never something anyone WANTS to do. One tip: don't arrive too early. We did and we wound up waiting when it was quite hot outside - not the Captain's fault since he had to get everything ready - just something to consider. read more

We scattered the ashes of both our grandparents recently. The experience was absolutely surreal! The Mariner's Prayer, the dolphins swimming alongside us the ENTIRE time, the beautiful baskets prepped with rose petals; we couldn't have asked for anything more. Captain Johnnie did a tremendous job boarding, prepping, and facilitating. Everything on the vessel was sanitized. Our grandparents enjoyed music therapy through hospice; and the saxophone artist joined us on board to play a tribute. Captain Johnnie Lee was so gracious to have her on board playing through the dispersal. The vessel was so majestic, the water not choppy. He even shared the coordinates of the dispersal along with a certificate; further authenticating it all. We will be sure to use those coordinates to visit again! All in All, compassionate, respectful and just majestic! Bless your Heart Captain Johnnie, for helping us treasure this moment forever! read more

We had a burial with the nice captain for my brother. My mother is not big on boats, but this burial at sea was very important to her, so we made the trip. The captain was very nice and polite. He made my mother feel at ease during the transport and said kind words during the service. He is truly a class act. At the end of the service, you receive a beautiful certificate with the coordinates to visit in the future. I'm glad we picked this service. COVID-19 NOTE : The captain informed us he sanitized the both and life jackets prior to our arrival. read more

The experience with Captain Lee was very professional and caring. He was so kind and thoughtful throughout the entire process and ceremony of my brother October 13,2018. The weather the night before was lightening and thunder. Captain Lee call me to let me know he was keeping an eye on the weather and there was any change in weather he would call. The next day Captain Lee called and gave me the choice of going out that day or doing the next day due to the weather. He assured me that it would be safe to go out. Just that it would be wet and choppy waters. Turns out the weather had calm down and the ceremony was peaceful and beautiful. Captain Lee gave easy to follow direction to his boat. Thank you Captain Lee! read more

Burials At Sea By Captain Johnnie Lee - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Scattered the ashes of both of my parents today. Captain Johnnie did an excellent job boarding us, prepping us, and providing sanitizer and life vests. The ceremony of lowering the basket of ashes and flower petals ---and the captain reciting the Mariners prayer was respectful and moving. Professional , courteous service. Highly recommended for anyone wishing to say a final farewell to a loved one at sea. read more

Burials At Sea By Captain Johnnie Lee - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Long Beach, California

Captain Johnnie Lee is a very compassionate soul providing a beautiful burial-at-sea for those who would request such a service. It was an amazing and heart-touching experience for our family and I greatly appreciate his respectfulness in such a sensitive moment. The service takes about 1.5 hours with 25 minutes one-way to the burial location (50 min round-trip). Your group then spend 40 minutes to honor your loved one. Timing largely depends on sea/weather conditions, so be open-minded and know my numbers are purely rough estimations. Johnnie Lee is a very experienced man; he instructs you on safety protocols (life jacket, boarding the boat, etc.) and advises you for your safety (sea-sickness, etc). If your group is new/inexperienced to burials/eulogies, he has several heart-touching passages prepared; Otherwise, he is very accommodating if you've prepared your own. We brought some food and pictures for our own eulogies, and additional flowers for the burial at sea. He was very kind and didn't seem to have any problems with our items; thankfully, he advised us against eating on the boat because it can cause sea-sickness. This is unsurprising since the waves can get turbulent beyond the port. He will also assist you with the burial, providing the basket, rose petals, and detailed instruction. At the end, he will provide you a certificate with the latitude and longitude of where the ashes were spread; a nice way of knowing how to revisit the exact spot. Parking is easy; you can park at the Outlets at the Pike or across the street at Pike Place garage, both are paid parking lots. If you eat/shop around here, you can get parking validation for a reduced rate. The pier for his boat is located behind Gladstone's. You can contact him by phone to book an appointment. When I contacted him, he said he could drive 2 boats of varying sizes which can then support the appropriate group-size. We had the smaller vessel since we had 6 people. He seems to have 2 time-slots per day, so I highly recommend calling a little bit in advance to ensure you have the time-slot that works for your group. Price-wise, I thought it was very reasonable. You do require some legal documents; specifically, a burial permit. This permit can be obtained from the Los Angeles DPH Vital Records Office. In order to get this permit, you will need to provide them a death certificate (and shipping information of your deceased's ashes if coming from out-of-state), a minor application fee, and information of the anticipated burial location (which would be the County of Long Beach). As usual, city laws can change, so be sure to check their website for updated information on this process. It may sound like a lot of work to get there, but it's all worth it for an amazing experience. My mom and her sisters all cherished the moment and I was extremely heart-felt that my Uncle's wishes were completed. read more

Burials At Sea By Captain Johnnie Lee - The basket used in the ceremony. It will contain ashes and rose petals. - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Super nice guy. Very respectful and knowledgeable about the process and rules on sea burials. Prices were also more reasonable than most we contacted. Thank you for making a difficult and sad situation much less stressful. read more

We used these services when spreading my mom's ashes. It was a lovely and solemn way to say goodbye for our family. Captain John was kind and thoughtful throughout. read more

Captain Johnnie Lee was excellent with the service. Kind patient and accommodating. He provided a perfect ceremony for us spreading our dads ashes. read more

Burials At Sea By Captain Johnnie Lee - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Long Beach, California

I recently lost my dog who was truly a member of my immediate and extended family. He loved the beach so much I just knew a burial at sea was the best way to honor him. Captain Johnnie was outstanding!!! He treated the service for my baby with the same dignity and respect granted to a human burial. The comfort, care, and professionalism Captain Johnnie provided us was wonderful. It was one of the hardest days of my life and I am truly grateful that I entrusted Captain Johnnie with my baby's homegoing service. Thank you, Captain Johnnie, for being so thoughtful and compassionate. Sometimes people do not fully understand/respect the grief a person feels when they lose a beloved pet. Thank you, Captain Johnnie. I felt understood and respected by you throughout the entire process, from the initial phone call to the burial service and I truly appreciate it. read more

Captain John was easily the most empathetic, genuine, and considerate person we spoke to in our search for someone to scatter ashes at sea. We got in touch with him through Yelp messaging, you can also go through his website or leave a voicemail but we found Yelp the most effective. From what I gather Captain John's services have become quite popular and rightfully so. As busy as he likely is, he takes the time to do things the right way. He never rushed us through anything and kept the same serene energy throughout our entire time with him. He was respectful and methodical with every action, taking special care to treat the ashes with the love that he knew the family gathered at the ceremony shared for the deceased. After experiencing the beauty of a scattering at sea with Captain John, I've begun to encourage my friends to have the difficult conversation with their parents to understand their wishes but also evaluate whether or not a scattering at sea is right for them. I did a fair bit of research and looked into other providers of similar services and am so glad I choose Captain Johnnie Lee. I have no doubt that other providers would've gotten the job done but not with the quality, care, and compassion Captain John provided. read more

Reached out yo Capt Johnnie and he was kind, respectful and professional. Incredibly nice boat a beautiful day. Lovely prayer and touching release of my mothers ashes. Thank you Captain for providing such a spectacular send off. Laurie & Cindy Ward read more

Captain Lee was amazing. His services showed so much respect for the ashes of our loved ones. We used his services to scatter my Mothers and Mother remains. Our families were very impressed for Captain Lee professionalism and care. I would definitely refer anyone of my family and friends to use this great service. The price was also very reasonable. Thank you very much Captain Lee. read more

We recently did an ash dispersal at sea for our mom. It was such a beautiful experience. Captain Lee is so compassionate and respectful and does a wonderful job of explaining every part of the process. Putting the ashes in a basket with rose petals was so lovely. We were lucky that the sea was pretty calm that day too so we could stay and watch the rose petals for a bit. When we did my dad's ashes in 2002 with another provider, they just dumped them over the side from a plastic bag. I highly recommend using Captain Lee for a loving, compassionate experience. read more

This was the first time my family has had to do something like this, and we feel so blessed to have found Captain Lee. He explained the process, was very patient with us, and made the experience as special as possible. My other family who watched by video was impressed that our service was even better than others performed by a Hindu priest in India. He does require the appropriate paperwork to keep everything legal. His prices are very reasonable, and he didn't try to sell us extra services. read more

I never imagined having to do this in my life, but for what it's worth, I couldn't have imagined it done any other way than with Johnnie. Johnnie was the most perfect companion/Captain to have for an event such as this. His calm demeanor didn't allow you to feel anything other than comfort and peace, surrounded in LOVE. Thank you Johnnie for quite a loving, memorable experience.... It was beautifully done. Those moments will be etched into my heart for a lifetime. read more

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My sisters and brother and I use Capt. Johnnie's service this weekend. I can't thank him enough for the wonderful, caring and sensitive service he provides. We met him at his boat and he welcomed us aboard. He explained everything very clearly and off we went. His boat is very comfortable, clean and in excellent condition. We all felt very comfortable and safe. The process of putting our mother's ashes in the basket with rose petals was a wonderful approach. Our mother loved flowers so this was a great way to say good-bye. Capt. Johnnie placed the roses in the bottom and then the ashes. We each got to place rose petals on the ashes. He handled this so respectfully. Once we reached the spot he explained the process of lowering the basket and dispersing the roses and ashes. It all went smoothly and was very respectful. All 4 of use felt that this was a wonder experience and that our mother would be very pleased. He provided a beautiful certificate that included the Lat/Long coordinates in case we ever wanted to return. Capt. Johnnie - thank you so much for providing this service and doing it with such class and compassion. We also felt that the service was great value for the price. I highly recommend Capt. Johnnie for your at-sea burial service. read more

Burials At Sea By Captain Johnnie Lee - Rose petals with ashes in the basket. - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Long Beach, California

I used Captain Jonnie's services to scatter my fathers ashes at sea. Firstly, I had called a few other similar services in the my nearby area but there was something about this man's voice that sounded so genuine and comforting. I'm so happy I decided to go with him because he made this experience so wonderful. His overall kind and gentle demeanor made everything great, and the overall service he provided was exceptional. This was my first time doing something like this and I would recommend him to anyone that wishes to scatter loved ones' ashes at sea. His prayer was touching and he was always so attentive to us and made sure we were all doing okay. It just felt like he was doing this from the heart and I can tell he is an empathetic and kind man. read more

My family attended a burial at sea yesterday with Captain Johnnie Lee. He was very respectful with not only our family, but the remains of our loved one. He provided a beautiful, dignified, memorable service. Thank you very much, Captain Lee. God Bless! read more

Burials At Sea By Captain Johnnie Lee - 'Great Faith' - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Long Beach, California

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The ceremony was very beautiful. Captain John Lee was caring, respectful and warm. The boat was immaculate. We could not have asked for a better way of saying a final goodbye to my grandma. read more

We had a burial at sea for my mom that we arranged with Captain Johnnie Lee. We didn't know much about what to expect, but he made the process very easy and comfortable. He was easy to contact and schedule a date. He has such a calming demeanor and everything about his preparation was very thoughtful. He volunteered to say a prayer that we really liked. He seemed to sense when we needed some extra time after the "burial" and offered to circle the flowers. Captain Lee seems like a really nice person and we'd recommend him to anyone who is looking to do a burial at sea. read more

We were introduced to Captain Johnnie via our funeral home. His boat was easy to locate, behind all the restaurants at Dock 5 in Long Beach. His dress and boat were immaculate. All life vests were sanitized and any rules were clearly explained. He was compassionate and respectful as we went out in the water, spread the ashes mixed with rose petals, circled around a few times and then headed back. He provides a certificate showing the coordinates of the "burial" in case you ever wanted to visit the spot again. read more

I would like to thank you for the service you performed for the Gutierrez family on 07/21/23. I assisted the family by searching for someone to perform the burial at sea, and when I saw your website I knew you were the person they were looking for. They told me it was a very beautiful service, and I truly appreciate the care and respect shown to them while saying their final goodbye to their loved one. read more

We had the most wonderful experience today. Captain Johnnie was very respectful and thorough. He explained the entire process to us and was very patient. He was very thoughtful in making sure our group was doing well. He said the most beautiful prayer for my grandmother and allowed us to to have a moment as we said our final goodbyes. Thank you, Captain Johnnie for the lovely experience and for being courteous with us throughout the whole process. read more

We reached out to Captain Johnny Lee because we needed to scatter our father's ashes from Long Beach. Captain Johnny Lee answered all of our questions as we are all new to this. He explained the process and the price. The cost to rent the beautiful "Great Faith" was very affordable and the services provided by the captain was excellent. Captain gave us plenty of time alone with our family for our last good bye and prayers. Captain transferred all the ashes very carefully from the urn to the basket which he had a bed of rose petals. Then we were asked to put more rose petals above the ashes. We then set off from the marina to about 2 miles off the coast for scattering. It took about 10-15 minutes each way. Once we got to the destination, Captain lowered the basket carefully and I pulled the cord which flipped the basket and the ashes scattered. The rose petal idea is fabulous. It looks absolutely beautiful. The captain then asked if we would like a moment and asked if we would like him to circle the boat around the rose petals which we did. Everything went really well. Captain Johnny Lee is a Marine so he was very punctual. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND the services offered by Captain Johnny Lee if you plan to to ash scattering at Long Beach. read more

A more pristine, respectful, warm, and accommodating captain could not have greeted me as I approached Captain Johnnie's beautiful yacht, the morning of 5.19.22, ready to provide a very special and meaningful event. Captain Johnnie was finely tuned to our needs and emotional states and seemed to read our desires for how our morning would proceed. This was my fourth event, scattering the remains of family passed on, so I have a pretty good idea of what and who might be in control of the success or disappointment of this important event. From our greeting to our departure, we could neither have been more pleased nor better treated, directed or respected. This service Captain Johnnie provides is top notch all the way. Thank you, Captain. read more