This lengthy review is very well deserved for Vaca Hills Chapel Funeral Home. My father passed away suddenly on a Friday in his hometown of San Francisco. We took the weekend to grieve and began the difficult task on Monday of finding a funeral home. My father was a proud Army Veteran and his wish was to be buried at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. Initially, we thought it would be best to choose a local funeral home in the Bay Area that specialized in military burials. We believed we found one in San Bruno, but from our very first interaction, we were disappointed. When we explained why we were there, the funeral director did not offer condolences. When I asked about burying my father at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, she suggested we could bury him at the National Cemetery in San Bruno instead. To my knowledge, that cemetery is closed to new burials -- it clearly states so on their website. Her response was, "You can always go over there and ask them directly." I was taken aback. Why was she unaware of the burial closure? And why were we expected to do the legwork when we were seeking professional guidance during one of the hardest moments of our lives? We left feeling discouraged and unsupported. After more research, I realized it would be costly to keep my father's remains at a local funeral home and then transfer him to a facility closer to Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. On Tuesday, my mother, sister, and I drove to Vacaville to visit three funeral homes. The first one we stopped at was Vaca Hills. We didn't have an appointment -- we showed up unannounced -- and we were warmly greeted by Joseph. Joseph is one of the drivers who assists with transporting loved ones and supporting burial services. The moment he heard why we were there, he offered his sincere condolences. He clearly stated he wasn't a funeral director, but he patiently answered every question he could. He was knowledgeable about the burial process at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery and provided us with their price list. He also took my contact information and assured me that one of their funeral directors, Mercedes, would call me the next day. Our next two stops were at two other Vacaville funeral homes that work together. One was closed, so we went to the other. While the staff was polite and the funeral director -- a former military member -- had a great sense of humor, the entire meeting felt transactional. It felt more like business than care. The location was also in a very busy area, and we couldn't imagine trying to hold a funeral procession there or mourning in the middle of so much activity. The following morning, Mercedes from Vaca Hills called exactly as promised and scheduled an in-person meeting for the next day. From the moment we met her, she mirrored the compassion Joseph had shown us. She immediately offered her condolences and approached everything with empathy and patience. She never once felt pushy. She answered every question thoroughly and offered thoughtful solutions whenever we needed adjustments. When the topic of payment came up, she handled it with professionalism and respect. She did not ask about life insurance policy amounts. In fact, when my mom attempted to share that information, Mercedes gently let her know that it wasn't necessary and that many families prefer to keep that private. Mercedes is also a military veteran and that meant a lot to us. She ensured every step of the process for my father's burial at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery was handled promptly and properly. As soon as we confirmed our preferred date, she had her team secure the appointment. We selected the Platinum Package, which included a 3-hour viewing and funeral service, followed by a 1-hour burial service the next day. Because my father's burial appointment at the cemetery was scheduled for 9:30 AM, it would have required a very early service and felt rushed. Mercedes worked with us and graciously allowed us to extend our Sunday service to 4 hours instead of 3. On Monday morning, we simply met at the funeral home for the 8:50 AM procession to the cemetery. The entire experience with Vaca Hills was smooth, compassionate and dignified. At no point did I ever feel pressured. They were communicative, understanding and accommodating throughout the entire process. From the bottom of our hearts, we want to extend our utmost gratitude, love and appreciation to Mercedes, Joseph, Brigitte, and Angel. You loved on our family in such a remarkable way during one of the most painful seasons of our lives. You helped us give our father -- our Patriarch, our Protector -- the most honorable Homegoing celebration he could have ever received. We will 100% choose Vaca Hills again if we are ever in need of services in the Vacaville, Dixon, or Fairfield area. With deepest gratitude, The Faagau Family read more

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I had 3 calls with Bridget, the owner. I was astonished by her grossly unprofessional, unhinged behavior. I had to repeatedly ask her to slow down, lower her voice, and stop interrupting me, so that I could get clear information regarding my father's funeral plans. She wound herself up so badly that she delusionally accused me of doing things I wasn't, which she was actually doing. Despite my multiple calm, gentle efforts to give her space to take a moment to calm down and return to clarity, it was impossible to speak with her before she hung up on me. As if the trauma that I've been going through of losing my father in the way that I did isn't hard enough.... Obviously, I strongly recommend not using this funeral home if you want the kind of professional services and staff that you and your family deserve. read more

Vaca Hills Chapel - The owner is so incompetent that she doesn't even know where to put "Owner" as her middle name. - Funeral Services & Cemeteries Near Me - Vacaville, California

We had my dad's viewing and memorial service done here February 2026 and Mercedes along with the rest of the staff were very helpful and friendly and all the ways we needed them to be. We only had to focus on the day and every time we had questions they always made sure to have an answer for us on timely manner. They honor veterans which was the case for my dad. Thank you Vaca Hills Chapel for all that you do for us during our grieving time with our family. read more

From beginning to end, Vaca Hills Chapel provided exceptional service for my father! Everything was well organized, and the staff handled every detail with care and professionalism. My family struggled to agree on decisions, and Brigitte was very patient with us during the meeting! She helped keep things on track during a very emotional time. The service itself was beautiful and exactly what my father would have wanted. Pastor Bruce, whom they recommended, was an excellent referral to officiate at the graveside. His words were heartfelt and truly brought comfort to everyone in attendance. I'm deeply grateful for the service we received and highly recommend Vaca Hills Chapel! Also, they're family owned, which my family really liked. read more

Having the chapel at the base of the cemetery was ideal. The staff was very helpful and accommodating to what we wanted. We 1st called on a weekend and got their answering service but they quickly called back and answered all of our questions. Emails were answered timely, they handled the arrangements as discussed and we felt like we were in good hands start to finish. The online obituary was lovely and so was the service pamphlet. Thank you for helping us during a difficult time. read more

How does one review a funeral parlor? I let's complicated. I have mixed feelings. The reason being is that while the manager and assistant was responsive and friendly. I was expecting more information, and more guidance. I've been a business owner and always look at how I would improve this business. 1st the location needs a overhaul. It needs more emphasis on upkeep. Also, we we're not told how to post a obituary on their site. This being my first experience planning a service, I needed more guidance. read more

Joseph and his brother , they both were very helocular in this grieving situation. They were very welcoming , friendly environment .

During a terrible time in the life of our family at the sudden illness and passing of my 92-year-old father we received the finest and most caring care from this fine group of professionals. It helped make this intolerable time a little more tolerable as this team step in to fill the gap on our behalf. Thank you all the staff at Vaca Hills Chapel! read more

Brigette and Jason were both warm, understanding and quick to help us through a very difficult process when my mother passed away. Bridgette quickly assessed what we needed and knew exactly what to do. Brigette also goes the extra mile all through the process, making sure that you are at ease to be able to attend to other details. The fact that they had a crematorium on site was also relieved a lot of stress - that was very important to us. We highly recommend Vaca Hills Chapel to help you through your difficult time. They were simply the best, and we deeply appreciated all they did for us. read more

Beautiful people who are caring I appreciate the care they showed towards my husband while handling his Mothers funeral needs

I had such a wonderful experience with Vaca Hills Chapel despite the circumstances. It's never easy loosing a loved one, but Jason was very compassionate and helpful regarding the cremation of my mother. My family met him onsite to fill out paperwork and choose urns. He was very patient with us and answered all of our questions regarding the process and obtaining death certificates. I would highly recommend their services. read more

Sadly, this is the second time I have had to use Vaca Hills Chapel. One was in 2003 and the last over this Christmas (2017). Both times everything was handled expertly and compassionately. Brigitte offered services and supplies they sell but was in no way pushy about obtaining the items from them. She was available to us during the planning phase and responded promptly every time we contacted her even though it was during the holidays. On the day of the service, Jason and another gentleman (I apologize but forgot his name) attended to everyone and everything expertly and the service went smoothly. Jason even met with my husband the day before to ensure that our musical dvd tribute worked with their system. He also found a rather obscure version of my mom's favorite hymn that I wanted to use as a prelude to the service. The whole staff goes above and beyond but hopefully we will not need their services again for a very long time. read more

Always a personal tragedy experience when you are rating a funeral home service, but I find it very appropriate given their service, professionalism, and pricing. This particular funeral chapel was very responsive to my inquiries, met me to go over details, offered as much as they could in terms of services during these COVID-19 restrictions, and were very clear & transparent about their pricing / charges. On top of that, Jason was very accomodating & kind. Suffice to say, they made an extremely difficult personal time a little bit easier! The facilities were good, clean, and easy to use. Anyone going through a loss should consider this location. I was extremely satisfied. Thanks again! read more

I went here for a memorial and viewing and it was a really nice place. The staff are all nice and respectful. The deceased looked great and I heard that from several people as well. The pews are padded and the stone wall behind where the casket rests was nice. Only two cons: I wish there was tissue in each pew or closer than it was and the water doesn't taste good from either the fountain or the bottled water. I think the bottled water was just chilled tap water and it's not good. read more

I attended a service and burial here for my friend's mother. Everything was very nicely done, well organized and ran smoothly. Every employee I encountered was respectful and customer service driven. My friend said that Brigitte made everything easier for her and her family. Less than a month later, I had my own unexpected loss. Luckily I now knew which funeral home to turn to and they exceeded my expectations with their kindness, tact, and efficiency. It seems to me also that they are affordable comparatively and they do not push to up-sell their services. I highly recommend them. read more

Thank you for the compassion and diligence you showed in december for my mother's funeral arrangements. You made an extremely difficult time as easy on us as it could possibly be, and our family appreciated it beyond words. You worked with our group of people who needed to come in and dress my mothers body for her religious burial, and were very kind. Thank you. read more

It is a very sad occasion when you must come to this facility. I want to thank the staff for doing such an excellent job of handling my friend's father's funeral. The event was peaceful and elegant. The space was just right for a small gathering. The lighting inside is good, and the pews are comfortable. Nice touches on the announcements for people to take and the sign in book. Well done! My only suggestion to update the place is replace the "Gentleman" sign with a Unisex bathroom sign. It's confusing for woman because we think we're supposed to go down the hall to find the "Women's" restroom when there is no such label. There is already one unisex bathroom label but it would feel more uniform if both bathrooms were such so that everyone knew the bathrooms were both open to all. The other thing to be aware of is, on the pavement leaving the funeral home on the right side of the building, it is SUPER slippery with mud and moss. Please look into cleaning it. I almost slipped and fell twice. Other than that, it is a perfect venue for bringing loved ones together during a very difficult time. Thank you! read more

Brigitte and her staff are very warm, accommodating, compassionate, and professional. Vaca Hills was highly recommended by my friends and now I understand why. Thank you so much. read more

After the recent passing of a family member in a distant city we had some challenges related to the arrangements. Brigitte and her staff graciously fulfilled our every need and went far beyond, even to the point of working on Christmas eve for us. Her (and their) efficiency in looking after every detail, all with compassion, and kindness were such a blessing during a very difficult time. Thank you Brigitte and staff. read more

We had the wake for my SO's grandmother here. The staff was accommodating and provided many little details that we had forgotten. They allowed us plenty of space for the traditional Filipino refreshments and they were helpful but stayed out of the way. I highly suggest this place if ever you have to celebrate the life of your loved one. read more

My mom was on hospice care. We knew she was close to death. I called several funeral homes inquiring about cremation services. I was seeking basic information. One funeral home representative decided to give me the details of the process of cremation and storage. It was morbid and insensitive. After a good cry, I called Vaca Hills Chapel. I spoke with Bridget. She was sensitive, compassionate and comforting. Vaca Hills was also the most reasonable in price. Even if they were the most expensive, I would have chosen them because of their compassion. After my mom died, they cared for her until her cremation. They were kind, thoughtful and compassionate, never trying to sell us more than we needed. read more

I called and researched several funeral homes in the area (Napa, Fairfield, and Vacaville) one of which was Vaca Hills Chapel. I contacted Brigitte and e-mailed her with several questions all of which she clearly and promptly responded to with no hard sell. She was very nice, helpful, and informative.Vaca Hills Chapel was very competitive on their pricing compared to other funeral homes. We opted for the traditional package, which was more cost effective. This included prayer cards, guest register book, one death certificate, and burial permit, which other funeral homes charged separately. I decided to go with Vaca Hills Chapel. When my Dad passed, our hospice nurse asked for the funeral home business card to contact them. When she saw it was Vaca Hills Chapel, she mentioned her family had used the same funeral home for someone in their family that had passed. This made me extra confident I had made the right choice. About two weeks or so after initially contacting Brigitte, my Father's health took a turn for the worse. I met with Brigitte and she was very nice, helpful, informative, and the process quick and easy. She took her time with me and gave me additional information. Sadly, 3 days later my Dad passed away. Brigitte took care of everything efficiently. She thought of things before I even thought of it. I cannot express how thankful I am for Brigitte for her sensitivity during this very sad and difficult time. My Dad's viewing, funeral service, and burial were all in Fairfield, which was not an issue with Vaca Hills Chapel being in Vacaville. Jason and Gary were wonderful, sensitive, and prompt. They took care of everything for setting up, the florist deliveries, guests, etc. They were both so kind to my Mother and family. We did not need to worry about a thing through it all. Brigitte, Jason and Gary were wonderful to say the least. I am extremely grateful for their professionalism, kindness, sensitivity, and efficiency in handling everything for us. I highly recommend Vaca Hills Chapel. . read more

I called the chapel to get a quote on funeral services for myself (in the future). I was told that I would get a call back and some information in the mail. After a week with no communication, I called back, got an apology, and was told I would be called back the next day. It's now at least three days later and no call or information. Does this sound like this is a business one wants to use in the future? read more