BSA
Stein & Sons
OCTOBER 2025
Stein & Sons By Melissa Strand
Yvonne Whalen is the Owner of Stein & Sons, Cremation and Burial Service. Having personally experienced grief and loss many times, she considers it a privilege to provide a service that comes from a place of sincerity, compassion, and support. Her greatest inspiration lies in giving families peace of mind, knowing their loved one has been treated with dignity and care.
Stein & Sons is privately owned and operated by Yvonne. Unlike corporate funeral homes, franchises, or national chains, the business is fully independent. Yvonne offers in-home arrangements and meets families where they are most comfortable. She understands that when someone loses a loved one, the last place they want to be is in a funeral home surrounded by caskets and merchandise they may not need or be able to afford, so she ensures her services are provided in a compassionate and personalized way.
Her career in the funeral industry began 28 years ago. Over the years, she gained valuable experience working for two corporate organizations, where she learned both traditional funeral planning and cremation-only services. Through these roles, she developed expertise in planning events with short timelines and caring for decedents with the highest respect. With the guidance of patient and knowledgeable mentors, Yvonne learned what it truly means to serve families.
Yvonne believes families should have peace of mind knowing their loved one was properly cared for, regardless of the cost. She is committed to making arrangements as easy and accessible as possible, whether at a family’s home, a coffee shop, or even sitting by a stream. Her mission is to provide affordable, compassionate, and professional services.
Yvonne lives in North Sacramento and holds a BS in management, an MBA in management and strategy, and certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt Professional (SSBBP). She also maintains professional licenses as a funeral director, crematory manager, and cemetery manager.
Family is central to Yvonne’s life. She is married and has three boys, including her son and daughter-in-law, as well as two nephews she helped raise as her own. She also adores her dog, Rosie. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, taking road trips, and exploring.
Yvonne serves as a board member of both the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the North Sacramento Rotary Club. She especially enjoys volunteering and giving back locally. Looking ahead, her goal for Stein & Sons is to grow modestly, adding another funeral director and assistant while preserving the small, personal nature of the business that allows her to remain directly involved with families.
Business contact Stein & Sons, cremation and burial service 609 High Street Auburn, CA 95765
(530) 802-1718
Client testimonials:
“Yvonne and her staff are genuinely caring and compassionate humans. It is painful to lose a loved one, but I could not have asked for a better experience than I had with Stein & Sons.” - Donna Himenez
“I am the trustee for a decedent who made pre-arrangements with Stein & Sons. My sincere thanks and appreciation for all she did for Kevel while living, and for her professionalism and kindness in dealing with me after Kevel’s passing.” - Lee Adams III
“Thank you so much, you made it so much easier for the family and friends. We will always remember how my sister and I were treated at this sad time in our lives.” - David Butler