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Chaplain Joe or Reverend Erica at your service! SoCalClergy Funerals & Weddings

#1 choice for all your clergy needs serving Riverside National Cemetery, Miramar National Cemetery & private cemeteries & wedding venues.
Opening at 9:00 AM tomorrow
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Updates

Did the National Cemetery call you and tell you that Clergy isn’t included in your Veteran service. Your minister not available. Most priests and ministers won’t come to the cemetery for a funeral. Have a last minute need. You won’t be disappointed. Chaplain Joe or Reverend Erica will come to Nat...

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Book the best clergy and bagpiper team at your Riverside National Cemetery committal service. Availability coming up

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Veteran Funeral Service Fund

Dec 1, 2021 – Dec 25, 2021

This year for my 54th Birthday 🙏 on December 24th. I am asking for Donations to my "Veteran Funeral Service Fund" for Veteran families that can’t afford funeral clergy service costs, so I may continue to serve those who have served our nation. Godspeed ☆ 🇺🇲 ☆ & Merry Christmas. Freedom is Not...

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Reverend Erica supporting the veterans and their spouses at Riverside National Cemetery.


Testimonials

4 months ago
Our family is so very grateful to Chaplain Joe and Reverend Erika for the beautifully orchestrated and executed interment service for my father and mother at Riverside National Cemetery. Their experience and devotion to honoring our loved ones, the men and women who served our country through military service, was so inspired and genuine. They were so supportive and expert in bringing together all of the elements necessary for the respectful and dignified service due our departed. Heartfelt thanks to Chaplain Joe and Reverend Erika for making this difficult time the wonderful and beautiful experience it was for family and friends. You made the daunting and overwhelming day of service in honoring our parent’s interment, the best day ever imaginable. May peace be with you always.
- Steve G
3 months ago
Cannot say enough about Rev. Erica and Chaplain Joe for helping our family celebrate my father in law and mother in law’s exceptional lives serving our country. From the first phone call - they connected us with great contacts from floral to bagpipes, and information that helped us understand how a military honors service could be even more meaningful and so special. It put our minds at ease, knowing all was covered, and we could focus on our family at this very difficult time. Rev. Erica delivered the eulogy with compassion and grace - just beautiful. She took such nice photos of each part of the service, and placed a flag at the gravesite, just today, as the stone was laid. We appreciate her so very much. ❤️
- Kathleen K
5 months ago
Because of happenings since September I’m just posting my review now. However my thoughts on my husbands service haven’t changed only gotten stronger. Reverand Erica presided over his celebration of life. Except for actually picking up the phone and making the phone calls to secure the date, she guided me every step of the way through to actual day. My celebration of life included bagpipes, Taps with trumpet, rifle volly and the most befitting eulogy I could have imagined. Please make your life easier during this very emotional time. You’ll not regret it.
- Nanette T

Former RNC Employee-Chaplain Services

Regarding funerals:

Dear friends & families,

May I extend to you my sincerest condolences for the loss of your loved one & I look forward to being of service to you & your family. I’d like to introduce myself, as a Chaplain, I've been officiating Military Memorial Services at Riverside National Cemetery, Miramar National Cemetery, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery & many local Southern California Cemeteries since 2006. Plus, I worked for the VA at the local National Cemetery for 8 years. And, on a side note, I have also been officiating weddings since 2006. I'm available to conduct Memorial Services for those who are in need of a Chaplain, providing a service that is personalized to reflect the personality & lifestyle of the deceased. I serve all military branches and all religious beliefs, plus civilians and their families. High profile services are also a specialty I am requested for. Officiating Memorial Services is my primary function, but the spiritual support of the bereaved is my utmost concern. I also offer house blessings & cleansings, & Celebration of Life services. I can be your Emcee at your event or a Keynote Speaker. I’ve had the pleasure to work with many Southern California Mortuaries, and I would be honored to serve the families in your care. I am available to assist families in the preparation of Memorials and with the protocol of the Riverside National Cemetery and the Honor Guard Detail. When I worked for the National, one of my jobs was to oversee the volunteers there so I know all of them. So, you are in good hands. Riverside National Cemetery is the largest & busiest National Cemetery in the United States & services are on a strict timeline. I have structured my services to include the basic elements of a Memorial Service within the time allotted & I do my best to honor your loved one. I extend you my sincerest condolences and pray the lord comforts you with his peace.

My wife also is Clergy, in fact, she is the only female Minister who identifies as a Reverend in Southern California serving Riverside National Cemetery & LA National Cemetery. She also covers Miramar National Cemetery & Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery when I am already booked there. You can hire me or my wife Reverend Erica. (see letter below). We are both first come, first serve. Thanks for reading and God Bless.

Chaplain Joe Andersen, USN Ret
(951) 757-5875 (phone/text)
JosephAndersen@verizon.net (email)
newest website: www.SoCalClergy.com
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Dear Families & Friends,

Let me introduce myself. I am Chaplain Joe's wife of 28 years & counting. At several of my husband commands, I was also the Navy Ombudsman (liaison between the commands & the families). I also served at Activities Coordinator who planned events for the spouses & children at those commands. Having been a military spouse myself all those years, I thrive at being the best choice for your clergy needs. I am a Minister, but I prefer to identify as a Reverend. I am here to serve your family at your Veteran or Spouse committal service at Riverside National Cemetery or LA National. I also know all the staff at Riverside National Cemetery as my husband worked there for many years after retiring from the Navy in 2010. I know their procedures as well. I also can cover Miramar National or Fort Rosecrans National when my husband can't. I can also do your loved one's service at a private Cemetery. I will give your Military loved one a proper "God & Country" service that I know they deserve and/or create the perfect spouse service. And I am the only female clergy in the area. If you are seeking an Officiant for a wedding, you won't be disappointed hiring myself or my husband Chaplain Joe. Please check our amazing reviews/testimonials to see why we are your best fit for your Clergy needs and you can see our newest website with so much info on it at www.SoCalClergy.com -  I look forward in hearing from you.

Reverend Erica Andersen
(951) 757-5875 to schedule a service with me, my cell is: (951) 757-5232
EricaAndersen@frontier.com 
newest website: www.SoCalClergy.com
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**THE IMPORTANCE OF A EULOGY**

A Eulogy is an expression of praise given in memory of someone who has died, which is usually delivered at a funeral or memorial service. It's an opportunity to record, celebrate & bring that person to life for just one more time, and it is a tremendous gift to the grieving family. The most effective Eulogies share memories of the deceased giving you insight & information about somebody’s life, that maybe you weren’t aware of.  

***Please submit to me your loved ones Eulogy in the form of an email (or attach a Microsoft Word document, I also can use a PDF). I will need a short Eulogy (2-3 paragraphs) of your loved one emailed to me at JosephAndersen@verizon.net at least 24 hours before the day of the service at: Please write this in 3rd person because this IS something I SHARE during the service. And, your loved one isn’t my family. Please don’t use “I”, say Mom or Dad was…. Please include where they were born, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, etc. Tell me where they went to school, when they joined the military, where went they met their spouse, what jobs they held after the military. Where they moved to and when the children were born. Maybe a favorite movie, food, hobby, sports teams, funny thing that always happened or something that they always said. Everyone would love to hear something that makes them laugh not cry. And, sadly when your loved one went to heaven to be with (other family who have passed).
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Check out a chapel urn ⚱️ service here... https://vimeo.com/547194512/b752b1bb69
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Regarding Weddings:

Hello & congratulations on your upcoming wedding! *My name is Chaplain Joe Andersen. I have been officiating weddings throughout Southern California for more than 15 years. If you are searching for the perfect officiant for your wedding, I would be honored to meet with you & help you put together the perfect ceremony for your special day!    

 About Chaplain Joe *As a non-denominational Christian minister, I have had the honor of marrying loving couples throughout the Southern California area for more than 15 years. Although Christian in faith, I understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds and different faiths. Because of this, I officiate weddings in all styles, religious or non-religious. Whatever your faith we can work together to find you the perfect ceremony. I served 20 years in the United States Navy, then continue to serve Southern California doing weddings and funerals after I retired. 

My wife and I settled in Lake Elsinore in 2003 and we absolutely love it here! In our free time we like to try new restaurants in the IE and take rides on our Harley Davidson motorcycle with our fur children “Sir Benjamin Waffles & Madame Presley Pancakes” in the sidecar. You can often find the 4 of us riding around the local area exploring. My wife is also a Minister and can provide services as well.

What makes me different from all of the other officiants? *I have learned over the years that the ceremony really does set the tone for the rest of the day.  My goal is to create a ceremony that is a total reflection of you both - your personalities, values, and beliefs. I always conduct a personal interview with the couples I work with to make sure I have the background I need to create a very unique and memorable ceremony.  While this seems like something every officiant would do, you would be surprised to find that it's not always the case.  Some officiants will simply offer you a selection of pre-written templates and ask you to choose the one you like best.  Then they simply swap in your names. I am a Veteran and also want to offer the best Military ceremonies one can offer. I like to offer my couples many different opportunities like the share of wine, sharing of sand which is especially nice if you are combining families with children who all participate together, gender reveals, and many other extras that no other officiant offers. Plus if you are a fan of "Elvis", I can do your wedding dressed like him.

Do you officiate same sex ceremonies?*Yes, I do! My personal belief is that love is just as strong and meaningful whether between opposite-sex couples or same-sex couples, and everyone should be afforded the same rights and privileges of marriage. And I am happy that the State of California agrees! 

Can we choose a non-religious ceremony? *Yes! Your wedding ceremony should be centered around your love for each other & your own personal set of beliefs. We can tailor a ceremony for you that is beautiful and meaningful, whether religious or non. 

We come from different religious backgrounds. Do you have experience with interfaith wedding ceremonies? *I have been asked this very question many times in the past, and the answer is yes! I will work with you both to create a ceremony that encompasses both of your beliefs and blends the entire ceremony together as one beautiful reflection of you both. 

Can we read the ceremony first? *Of course! Some couples prefer to go into the ceremony not having seen the entire ceremony, while others like to read through it entirely to be sure it is exactly the way they pictured it. The choice is yours!  

Should we bring you the marriage license before the wedding date?  *While it is best to complete the marriage license before the ceremony, you may want to get with your photographer to decide if you want formal pictures of me signing your marriage license on the day of the wedding. If so, it has been my experience that it is better to take care of this before the ceremony, as you are going to be very busy after I pronounce you husband and wife! 

Officiant Service/What you’ll get. 
A formal details meeting with you both to learn more about you and discuss your ideas for the ceremony. This meeting is typically about 1 hour & can be done face-to-face or via Zoom/Video Messenger/FaceTime for out-of-town couples. 
–Close cooperation with your vendors (photographers, DJ, wedding coordinator, etc.) I will coordinate at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony so that they all know exactly what is going to happen during the ceremony, and when. 
Professionally officiate your wedding– What about the rehearsal?  It is my belief that being at your rehearsal is just as beneficial to me as it is to you, and so I always try to be at every rehearsal. 

Discounts I do offer discounts for the following:  *Active Duty Military & Active Reserve AND Weddings taking place Monday through Thursday (holidays excluded)  

Officiant fees range from $400-$800* depending on the circumstances. Additional travel fees will apply for weddings taking place more than 25 miles from zip code 92530. * holiday rates apply for certain major holidays.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve your families during this very special time in your lives. As you can see in my ratings, I have helped many couples come together in holy matrimony. I can serve in San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Orange County.

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HELPFUL LINKS AND INFORMATION

Riverside National Cemetery,  22495 Van Buren Blvd. Riverside, CA 92518(951) 653-8417   https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/riverside.asp    

Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122(858) 658-7360 https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/miramar.asp    

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., San Diego, CA 92106-(858) 658-7360 https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftrosecrans.asp    

BEST Recommended BAGPIPER-Darrell Calvillo DarrellCalvillo@gmail.com     www.DarrellCalvillo.com     
(626) 826-0381 calls/text     

Recommended FLORIST/FLOWERS-Van Buren Florist
www.VanBurenFlorist.com-Owner Alissa (951) 789-6275 (M-F) or email: VanBurenFlorist@gmail.com (anytime)
(Must call/do not order online & mention Chaplain Joe for FREE delivery & set up at the shelter on all flowers) 
     
Daily Burial Schedule to confirm your service.

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  • (951) 757-5875

Business Hours

Mon:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun:9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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