Green Street Mortuary

First off, it’s a little odd for me to be reviewing a mortuary but the things I’m about to share need to be said. We had my grandfather-in-law’s service here, and the way we were all treated was unacceptable. We literally felt like we were being pushed in and out — forget the mourning. Glad I caught the name of the one that annoyed me the most: BONNIE. I’m not Chinese (husband is), but this isn’t my first Chinese funeral, so you can’t say it’s cultural or whatever the excuse is for their attitude. All the other ones were very calm and empathetic, but not here. It was almost like Bonnie was yelling at us as she instructed us to do our bows and etc. The family had her do the talking, but my brother-​in-​law wanted to share a few words. When he got up there, she had the nerve to ask if his speech was going to be short. Who does that? Then at the end, she rushed us out, told us to use the bathroom, and hurry up and get in your car. I don’t care what the schedule is. I don’t care that maybe we do need to hurry, but you do not treat people like that… most especially at a sensitive event like a funeral. It’s one thing for us relatives to rush each other but not some third party vendor. You are incredibly insensitive, Bonnie. You and your female colleague that I wasn’t able to catch the name. You are both in the wrong business. And I’m not coming from a vulnerable place. Any bystander would say the same thing. Period.

We went here for a celebration of life service for a relative and so instead of driving to the city, we took BART and Lyft. No problem as we got there in no time. We thought the service was going to be more than an hour as the relative knew alot of people but the mortuary staff moved it along and it only lasted an hour. Either they had another service behind it or they had a rigid schedule as after the service, the procession was going to parade in Chinatown and then to the relative’s home and then end up in a cemetery in Colma. I haven’t been to a service in years at this place, but it looks like they have remodeled the inside, as you can have a slideshow during the service. Pews were comfortable enough.

My grandparents both had their services here within 6 months of each other. Both times, Linda assisted in the proper funeral rituals and processes. Her calm manner makes her very pleasant to work with. And her bilingual skills are helpful with the generational divide in mother-​tongue competency.
I hate funerals. They’re never easy. But at least Green Street doesn’t make it any more painful than it has to be.

Never look forward to coming here.
During my childhood years, most Chinatown funerals were held at Cathay Mortuary on Powell Street near Jackson Street. My grandparent’s funerals were there and I am happy to say my parents are alive and relatively well. Green Street mostly catered to the old time neighborhood Italians until the mid 1980’s when Cathay closed. With the changing North Beach demographics, most funerals are for old time Chinatown families now.
My friends’ parent recently passed away and the ceremony was held here on a recent Sunday.
The staff were well organized and helpful in guiding the grieving family, their friends, and guests in following the valued cultural traditions; two of their staff even gave the bilingual eulogy.
At this particular occasion, I was able to reconnect with many friends who I’ve lost touch with. We joked that we reunite only for weddings and funerals which is a bit sad but is reality. Just hoping that it isn’t soon for now.

They did an excellent job. Our director, Polly, went above and beyond! I would highly recommend their services. They made what is a difficult situation very easy on the family and accommodated our every request.

I’ve always thought of this place as a «clip joint». I have not paid for a funeral there– but I’ve attended 4 or 5. I think their «edge» is being thought of as «the place» to get a send-​off if you are Chinese. It’s kind of like «The Empress of China» restaurant. Everyone wanted to get married there — but the food and service is second rate… in my humble opinion.
I always enjoyed picking up handfuls of their little Green Street Mortuary matches as momentos… and the bathrooms are consistently clean.
The services there were nothing more than «cheesy». It is the «Las Vegas Wedding Chapel» of funerals. I was always more amused than impressed at the sight of the staff which dress in their uniforms of mourning to make them appear goulish. My take is that the place is in such demand because of it’s location and prestige that they do not have to offer much in the way of service and sensitivity. They are more bored than focused at these events.
I do like the Green Street Mortuary marching band… I wish they’d cut an album. One of my acquaintances would play trumpet for them once in a while. He mused fondly of going off in a short riff once in a while to liven things up. Who doesn’t love a parade?
Whatever… there are some fine bars close by — why not go there instead?

My parents and our other family members came here eight years ago when one of my aunts passed away after battling with lung/​liver cancer. We all gathered here to see her one last time and to say good bye.
— Portable Furnace for Joss Paper (+1)
— Friendly staff members (+1)
— Parking lot in rear (+0.5)
— Valet parking services offered (+0.5)
Need more information about this place?
You can find it on the link attached below:
Planning, Pricing, Package and Payment Options: You are better off calling in or visiting them to obtain complete information.

I’ll have to first point out that it’s really odd for me to write a review about a mortuary. On the other hand, if everybody thought that way, we would not have reviews. This review is for a funeral arranged for my grandma that passed away recently.
No one really wants to deal with death and it’s not something I knew how to handle. When we first called the mortuary, it was after hours and they had a night manager on duty. Their phone number is staffed 24 hours a day by an answering service that picks up if no one is present. The manager was not very competent in answering our questions and we didn’t know better about requesting prices over the phone so we would know what to expect. They are required by the FTC to provide this over the phone when requested. We set up a meeting the next day to discuss our options.
We met with a funeral counselor and he gave us a run down of what to expect. He seemed to be very good at the selling part and not really the traditions. He immediately began writing up the contract, starting with what we wanted. Luckily I was smart enough to get the pricing ahead of time from their website so we wouldn’t get taken. He only briefly explained the customs for a Chinese funeral and the proper procedures were lacking. He instead referred us to a co-​worker and she gave us a much better explanation of the customs. They also provide joss sticks, candles, and a portable furnace for burning paper. This is included in the cost of their basic services.
Let me point out that this place is EXPENSIVE. You’re paying for the location, location, location. He did explain that the a la carte price is more expensive but that was after we made him draft up the contract. We wanted to purchase a casket from Costco. If you insist on purchasing a cheaper casket elsewhere, DO NOT go here to plan the funeral. The reason behind that is because they already cleverly calculated their package prices and they are more expensive than any other mortuary in San Francisco. The sad reality is that it was cheaper for us to pick a package and casket from them as opposed to a la carte pricing and a Costco casket. Their package pricing specifically states now that you are required to purchase a casket from them in order to get the savings. Otherwise you will end up with a more expensive bill. I guess they put that disclaimer in after Erick L threatened to report them for misleading prices.
The day of the funeral went very smoothly. All of the employees that day were professional and knew the proper customs, including dressing the pall bearers, turning away when closing the casket, and instructing family and friends on paying the proper respects. They were also extremely punctual and made sure we left for the cemetery in a timely manner. The chapel was very large and contained a flat screen TV, dvd player, and a podium for speakers.
For payment options they take cash, credit card, and checks. There is no service fee for using credit cards. I noticed that there is no mention of this on their website or contract. We had to ask.

I called to speak with a counselor about a very sensitive situation that involved arrangements for a veteran that had no funds but was entitled to a proper burial in a VA cemetery. I was told what I was requesting probably could be done but «it would be a lot of work for the mortuary» and that they didn’t really want to help out in this way. Really? Wow! I guess that shows how they value veteran servicemen and women. Sad.

At my uncle’s burial, one of the chauffeurs failed at lining up the mourners. In Cantonese fashion he repeatedly shouted «it is easier to train a dog»
Hoy Sun Cemetery, 01-​06-​2013

My review is from the standpoint of an observer. I haven’t planned anything here but I’ve shown up for 2 funerals, for my grandmother and grandfather. They definitely know their stuff when it comes to preparing a traditional Chinese funeral. They provide valet parking but the guy who was coordinating it on one of the days was kind of douchey. Not a good way to start off an unpleasant event. Other than that, everything else went smoothly. They did a great job coordinating everything, being culturally sensitive, and the mortician did a great job with the makeup. It just looked like the body was sleeping peacefully in the coffin.

My grandmother past away in the summer of 2011. She had purchased a packaged from the Green Street about 10 years before her death hoping that all of the activities of her passing would be primarily taken care of. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
When we went to determine what was paid for and not, the planner in charge of the policy told us all the activities including a procession, escort, funeral proceeding and cremation. Since we were a small family we decided to forgo the procession, escort, etc. and have a simple ceremony. They had indicated that it will likely be a credit given the reduced services. However, that is not the case.
Six months later, my aunt was notified that she has been taken to the creditors due to an unpaid bill. After months of trying to get an itemized bill of the expenses they are still not able to send it to us. They however consistently determine that there is still a bill due. Without giving us a detailed breakdown of the expenses and the credits, how did they determine the price. It is VERY VERY SKETCHY company.
I will likely contact the Better Business Bureau regarding this case but really buyer beware. If your choice in choosing this place was to make sure that it is a smooth and well taken care of situation. As Unilocal indicates: «Methinks not».

Unfortunately I’ve experienced this place more than once, having planned my uncle’s and my dad’s funeral here.
They ARE a lot more expensive than many other mortuaries. But they have the market cornered in the Chinatown area.
They definitely are unethical and are out to get as much money as possible out of people who are vulnerable.
After meeting with Patrick Lee, one of the coordinators, for my dad’s arrangements, I made sure to get a price list of the services and packages they offered. We chose a package that had the whole deal.
On the price sheet it said «$XXXX.XX (not including casket).
I did my research before hand and you legally do not have to by a casket from the mortuary AND they can not charge you extra for using an outside casket.
Patrick showed us their casket selection and gave me a price sheet on them. VERY expensive.
I went home and did some more online searching for the same casket we saw at the mortuary. I found it for 2,000 less than what they were charging. During the final meeting with the mortuary I told Patrick that the casket will be delivered 3 days before the funeral. He told me that I have to buy the casket from them to get the «Package Price».
We went back an forth and eventually he got the General Manager Bill Steiner. This man argued with me for 15 min over the phone as my grieving mother and Patrick where sitting next to me. He said that it said it on the price like that I had to buy the casket there which it didn’t. It stated «Not including casket»
After threatening to report them to the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau he agreed to give me the package price.
To sum up, they DID do a great job with my dad’s funeral service and Patrick WAS very good at explaining the traditions to us and he definitely took responsibility of the service. Everything ran really smoothly. HOWEVER, the company as a whole is money hungry and unethical.
FYI Batesville is a casket manufacturer that is actually based in Hayward. Unfortunately, they do not sell to the public. I found
who I called and purchased a Batesville casket from and they picked it up from the warehouse in Hayward and shipped it to Green Street.
WORD OF ADVISE: When planning a funeral or monument, do your research and don’t let your guard down. The funeral industry is out to take advantage of your misfortunes.

Almost 12 years ago my dad passed away and we went to Green Street Mortuary. I was 14 then and honestly do not remember much except that the people who ran the place were older more traditional people.
A week ago, my paternal grandpa passed away at the age of 94. My Aunt and grandma did not hesitate to do business with Green Street. At first all I could think about were the feelings of every emotion 12 years ago. But as soon as my mom, my husband and I walked through the double wide doors, we were immediately greeted by Derrick Wong. He helped our family from start to finish and made us all feel very comfortable. We did not hesitate to go with the most expensive package and glad we did because the service was beautiful. Also, Derrick went the extra mile to pull some strings and squeezed us in for the weekend.
I hope to never visit a place like this again not because of bad service, but because I hate funerals.
R.I.P. Daddy
R.I.P. Grandpa
Love you both and miss you both so dearly…

I suggest that your family go elsewhere.
Pros
Only Chinatown mortuary
Parking — Even though there are many Unilocalers who do not respect the dead and whine about parking, Green Street has valet parking.
Cons
Way over priced. For example, embalming at Green Street is more than twice as expensive as other mortuaries. Green Street charged more than twice more than other mortuaries to pick up the body. Coffins are more expensive. There are additionally, many hidden costs. We pre-​paid for the funeral, but the funeral home adds many new hidden costs.
Customer Service — below average. We wanted a traditional Chinese funeral for my father. The Funeral Director was Chinese, but a bok gwei, who knew nothing about Chinese traditions, ran our funeral, rather incompetently. For example, the Green Street person ran off in the middle of the funeral, so I (member of grieving family) had to run to front and tell mourners to sign the guest book and help dress the pall bearers. We paid a ton of money (cost of a compact car), but received poor customer service. Additionally, when the coffin is lowered, the grieving family is supposed to turn their back, but the bok gwei did not know that.
Death Certificates — Green Street took six weeks to obtain the death certificates. We just buried another family member and the smart mortuary took six calendar days. We had to call Green Street about the death certificates. I guess they conveniently forgot. Once you pay, they couldn’t care less.

Fuck you dipshits.
Fuck you dipshits for being disrespectful to us.
Fuck you dipshits for forgetting the offerings we already PAID for.
Fuck you dipshits for being late.
Fuck you dipshits for telling us we need to BE ON TIME, when you fuckers arrive an hour and a half later.
Fuck you dipshits for only being money-​hungry.
Fuck you dipshits for over-​charging us for everything.
Fuck you dipshits for not giving us our receipts.
Fuck you dipshits for even being in business.
Fuck you dipshits for being the one still alive, while my grandma is dead.
Fuck you dipshits. Go burn in hell.

I found this place to be rude and tactless.
After the passing of my nephew we went to this place because… well, because we weren’t in any shape to look around for another mortuary. Almost at the start, the «counselor» said he wanted to go over the prices because they are more pricey that many other mortuaries — like we couldn’t possibly afford it.
We needed to make plans and fly relatives in for the service but he wouldn’t even give us an approximate schedule to work by. He kept saying it depended on the backlog at the cemetery — d@mn are we talking days, weeks, or year, just give me an idea!
On the day of the service, as soon as I arrived, one of their people walked up to me and made clear it to us that we did not buy the sign-​in book. She said we could not have the book; we could only have the pages with the signatures. WTF, we were never even asked if we wanted to buy it. We bought the «package» but apparently the thousands of dollars that we spent didn’t include the book that is probably worth $ 10, tops! At the end of the service they came up to me and told me to give back the book and reminded me that we did not buy it — I didn’t have it, one of their guys had already taken it back — apparently they were worried that I would steal it.
Finally, and I wouldn’t have believed it if it didn’t happen to me, they actually interrupted the service to find the owner of a silver Honda! Yes! A guy came into the chapel and stopped us mid service and was looking for the owner of a silver Honda.
Next time? I’ll wait till one of their family members had passed, then I’ll drop off a silver Honda at the front door. Wait… they probably wouldn’t use this joint anyway.

Never went to a funeral here… but I really disliked the logistics of this funeral home. It’s located right off of busy Columbus… it has signs for its own darned parking lot… yet the people running the show seem to want to park all the damn cars triple parked on Green St. So that we had to inch by… and then they were insistent on BACKING UP on the street (now narrowed to alley status). I guess all the cars provide a good privacy screen for the patrons across the street eating and drinking. Unfortunately it still didn’t block out the view of the hearse parked 90 degrees to the front entrance. I’m sure the owners and directors are fantastically sensitive to the deceased family’s needs. But please. keep in mind that YOU DO OPERATE ON A PUBLIC STREET and you need to be just as sensitive to the public. And that you are causing a public nuisance when you triple park. Just because you have green «FUNERAL» stickers doesn’t mean you can park like that. Argh! Really annoying when they block you in and when you bring it to their attention they act completely hoity toity and refuse to move the cars that are blocking you in. We ended up having to continually feed the meter and wait for the funeral to finish so we can move the car.
Like the other reviewer said, maybe they should be more in tune to the impact they have on other people instead of themselves. Other reviewers give them fantastic reviews so I have no doubt that they offer fantastic funeral services; but they were rude to us when we interacted with them requesting them to move the cars blocking us in.

A good friend’s father passed away a week ago, I hate funerals… but who doesn’t right? I was in the hospital during the time when he passed and it was a very emotional experience. The whole family was there and the people at St Mary’s was just wonderful. I should actually Unilocal them. As you get older… it’s just part of life. We can only be there to support our friends.
I gotta give it to them. They are on the ball when it comes to tradition, religious beliefs, and being empathetic when it comes to death. I don’t like reviewing such morbid establishments like this but I gotta give them props. They are fully staffed, on time, and respectful. The maximum number of service they can do in a day is 7. I asked if they were ever overbooked. They say never. I was a (picture) paul bearer so I had some time to talk to our driver in depth about the business. I know… I know… it’s a time for mourning.
It was a rough week to endure so much pain but Green St Mortuary made it a lot easier. Now I hear that Manda Bear is now retiring from Unilocal… it’s a really bad week.

Many years ago, Green St. Mortuary has been the primary mortuary for the Italians residing in North Beach and the Chinese have their own on Powell St. (Cathay Mortuary). Cathay Mortuary is no longer there, which is now a park that is owned by the City and County of San Francisco. To this date, the Italians no longer dominate the North Beach Area. Many come and go from the North Beach area. In result with all the changes, Green St. Mortuary is now the primary mortuary for the Chinese.
Matt recently lost a friend, who is younger than Matt. Matt has been to Green St. Mortuary many times and pay respect to not only friends, but also Matt’s immediate family-​member (No, it does not include Captain Amercia). The wake-​ceremony was very nice and calm with families and friends shedding tears while mourning the death of their own love-​ones.
Matt came back the following day for the actual funeral. The ceremony begins by the tradtional Chinese bow and praying to the deceased, followed by a parade marching down the streets of Chinatown with the assisted escort from SFPD in motorcycles that leads us to our cemetary in Colma. The leading hearst carried the coffin, while the second car, which was a Mustang Convertible, a family member was holding a wreath with the picture of the deceased. Many of Chinatown Shoppers dropped their pink-​shopping bags and looked at who died.