Honestly, walking into a funeral home is never on anyone's "fun weekend plans" list. But if you’ve lived around the LBC long enough, you’ve probably driven past McKenzie Funeral Home Long Beach CA on Anaheim Street a thousand times. Maybe you noticed the gray stone exterior or that slightly quirky vibe that doesn't quite scream "corporate funeral conglomerate."
There is a reason for that.
McKenzie Mortuary Services isn't just another branch of some massive national chain. It’s owned by Ken McKenzie, a guy who actually got into the business because of a personal tragedy. When he was 12, his father died by suicide. That’s heavy. It’s the kind of thing that either breaks a kid or gives them a very specific, very intense kind of empathy. Ken chose the latter. He saw how the industry worked and, frankly, he wasn't a fan of the high prices.
Why McKenzie Funeral Home Long Beach CA Isn't Your Typical Mortuary
Most people think all funeral homes are the same—black suits, hushed whispers, and a bill that looks like a phone number. McKenzie sort of flipped the script back in 1994. He started out in Signal Hill and basically cut the going rates for funerals in half. He wanted to make sure families weren't getting buried in debt while trying to bury their loved ones.
It’s personal for him.
He’s the same guy who created the "Men of Mortuaries" calendar to raise money for breast cancer survivors (KAMM Cares). Yeah, a calendar of morticians. It’s a bit unusual, sure, but it tells you a lot about the culture there. They don't take themselves too seriously, but they take the work very seriously.
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The Real Cost of Saying Goodbye
Let's talk money, because that’s usually where the stress starts. People often search for McKenzie Funeral Home Long Beach CA specifically because they’ve heard it’s "affordable." But what does that actually mean in 2026?
- Direct Cremation: You’re looking at around $1,195 to $1,695 depending on the specifics. It’s the "no-frills" option, but they don't treat it like a transaction.
- Traditional Burial: This usually starts around $3,895 to $3,995 for the professional services, which is significantly lower than the $8,000+ you’ll find at some of the bigger historic estates in the area.
- The "At-Sea" Option: Since we are in Long Beach, they offer a full body burial at sea or a memorial service on a Coast Guard-certified yacht. It’s very "SoCal" and honestly a pretty beautiful way to go.
Prices in the funeral industry fluctuate like crazy, so these are the ballpark figures based on their most recent general price lists. They’re pretty transparent about it, which is rare. You won't find those "hidden" fees for things like refrigeration or transport jumping out at you in the final hour.
The COVID Legacy and Handling the "Unthinkable"
During the height of the pandemic, things got dark for every mortician in Los Angeles County. Ken McKenzie was one of the few who went on the record about the reality of it. He had to order three refrigerated trailers just to keep up.
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But here’s the thing: back in the 90s during the AIDS epidemic, when a lot of funeral homes were literally turning away families out of fear or stigma, McKenzie was the one saying "Yes." That history matters. It’s why the local LGBTQ+ community and long-term Long Beach residents tend to stick with them. They have a reputation for not judging how someone lived or how they died.
Small Details, Big Impact
It’s the weird stuff you don't think about until you're in the room.
The makeup.
The hair.
Troy Garcia, Ken’s partner, is a cosmetologist who handles a lot of the "restorative" work. Families often mention that their loved ones actually look like themselves—not like a wax figure. If you've ever been to a viewing where the person looked "off," you know how much that matters for closure.
What to Do If You’re Actually Planning Right Now
If you're reading this because you just lost someone, take a breath. You don't have to decide everything in the next ten minutes.
- Call them directly. Their main line at (562) 961-9301 is usually answered by a human, not a call center in another state.
- Ask for the GPL. That stands for General Price List. By law, they have to give it to you. Use it to compare, but honestly, McKenzie is usually the baseline for "fair" in Long Beach.
- No-Office Option. They started doing a lot of the paperwork online or over the phone recently. If you can’t stomach the idea of sitting in a funeral home office right now, you don't have to. You can handle the cremation or burial arrangements from your couch.
The Verdict on McKenzie Mortuary
Is it the fanciest place in the world? No. If you want a 500-acre park with marble statues, you go to Forest Lawn. But if you want a place that feels like a local business, where the owner might actually be the one picking up the phone, McKenzie Funeral Home Long Beach CA is the spot.
They also recently expanded, taking over the historic Armstrong Family Mortuary in LA, so they’re growing, but the "mom-and-pop" feel hasn't totally evaporated yet.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are pre-planning—which, let's be real, is a huge gift to your kids so they don't have to guess what you wanted—start by downloading their planning guide.
- Check the "KAMM Cares" charity. If you want to see the "human" side of the business, look into their community work. It tells you more than a Yelp review ever could.
- Visit the Anaheim St. location. It’s near the corner of Anaheim and Termino. Just walk in and ask for a tour. A good funeral home will never be weird about you wanting to see the facilities before you need them.
- Verify your insurance. If you have a policy, make sure it’s assignable. McKenzie's staff can usually run the numbers for you to see if your policy covers the full cost of their "Traditional Package."
Getting this stuff sorted now means one less thing to worry about later. It's not a fun conversation, but it's a necessary one.