SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Sacramento residents pass businesses daily and might think, “I’ll have to stop by there sometime.” It could be a restaurant or a cute boutique. It’s not the same when they pass a funeral home. 

When there isn’t a service, Klumpp Chapel of Flowers at 2691 Riverside Blvd. sits quietly, waiting patiently for the time when you need it.

“It’s been my dream to be a funeral director,” said Jessycah Shoemaker who grew up with a large Sacramento family where funerals were as common as weddings and baby showers. When she was 17, her 11-year-old cousin passed away suddenly. The moment helped seal her decision.

Shoemaker graduated from Valley High School and eventually made her way to Decatur, Georgia, to receive a degree from the Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Services. She’s been working for Klumpp Chapel of Flowers for two years as a funeral services manager.

As one can imagine, grief can be different for each person. “There are five stages of grief,” Shoemaker explains, “denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. When people come to see us, they’re normally at stage two, anger. The reality can be jarring. They are mad a loved one has passed, and now they’re planning services with me.” 

Shoemaker softly approaches the emotional turmoil from her own foundational faith reminding people that their loved ones are still with them. She also found it helps to provide options for the bereft to focus on. And there are many options today.

Statistics from the National Funeral Directors Association showed that in 2024, 61.9% chose cremation compared to 33.2% that chose burial. The statistics also showed that 68% preferred eco-friendly or green options. 

“We are the first green-certified funeral home in Sacramento,” Shoemaker explains. 

“Embalming practices can be green, and we have caskets made of willow and seagrass. There’s no metal allowing everything to break down in the earth faster.”

Urns are green, too. Shoemaker points to a biodegradable sand “scattering urn” with footprints. When it hits water, it dissolves. Many people choose these urns for oceanic services (and if you didn’t know, you must be three miles away from a coastline to scatter). Traditional vase-type urns are still popular, and there are other choices: angelic statue urns, cases with poetic inscriptions, and locally made artisan pieces. Shoemaker points to a book urn on a shelf with the inscription Gone Fishing. Whether people want poetry or a little humor, it’s all about serving the community.

Shoemaker and the staff at Klumpp Chapel of Flowers do everything they can to accommodate requests. For instance, a dog’s ashes are in a nearby room, waiting to be mixed with the ashes of its beloved owner. Mariachi bands have played at the services and family members have helped finish preparing their loved ones for viewing. These efforts help people remain connected as they mourn.

In general, the focus has shifted from mourning to a celebration of life. And the funeral home supports all communities however they wish to celebrate. 

Families from the Buddhist Church at Riverside and X Street frequently visit, and there is a large following from the Hispanic community. Also, there are the varied cultures and traditions of the Land Park community.

George L. Klumpp was a passionate community member himself. Elected mayor of Sacramento in 1947, he belonged to several local organizations. In 1972, new owners A.L. Bernard and Robert W. Oehler carried on his vision and relocated the funeral home to Riverside Boulevard from its 8th and O streets location. Today the Klumpp Chapel of Flowers is managed by the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento. 

Jessycah Shoemaker continues to find ways to connect to Land Park and the wider Sacramento community.

 The Klumpp site also hosts a neighborhood blood drive each quarter. They have a Toys for Tots drive in December. And they host a Christmas service of love and remembrance with refreshments. 

The on-site chapel is cheerful, with polished pews, vaulted ceilings and a large garden window allowing light to stream in. The funeral staff reflects the same warmth and calm making it clear it’s a “calling” to be in this career. 

Stephen Cooper is the lead service director for Calvary Cemetery in Citrus Heights. He shuttles between Klumpp and Calvary often. And he didn’t begin as a funeral professional.

“I was tired of my business and sold it. I didn’t know what to do next, so I prayed about it. The next day, there was a buyer for my business. Then, I stopped by the cemetery to visit my parents’ graves and was offered a job as a funeral director. I found it odd, but I went with it. This is about helping a family walk through one of the most challenging things they’ll do. I landed in the right spot. I love it.”

For the living, Cooper believes it’s always cathartic to “Remember your person, find the laughter and share your stories.”

To learn more, go to klumppsfuneralhome.org.