Desert Rose Heather Cremation & Burial — Consumer Profile
Desert Rose Heather Cremation & Burial is a corporate-owned cremation and burial provider in Tucson, Arizona, operating under the Dignity Memorial network of Service Corporation International (SCI), the largest publicly traded funeral services company in North America.
The facility holds a 4.8/5 rating across 238 Google reviews, reflecting consistently positive family experiences. Direct cremation starts at $1,155 (with a container provided by the family) and averages $1,524; immediate burial averages $2,068, placing the provider in the mid-range tier for Tucson. Pre-planning can be arranged entirely online through the Dignity Memorial website.
Locations
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1040 N Columbus Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85711 |
| Phone | (520) 322-6131 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Facility Type | Funeral home / cremation provider |
This is the single listed location for this provider. The website references on-site venues for visitation and memorial services, catering services, and burial and cremation property access. Weekend and evening service hours are available at additional cost (see Pricing section).
Services
Desert Rose Heather offers a focused range of cremation and burial services, supplemented by Dignity Memorial's national network resources.
- Cremation: Direct cremation, cremation with witness option, cremation with various container selections
- Burial: Immediate burial with purchaser-supplied or facility-provided casket; graveside services
- Memorial & Celebration of Life: On-site venue services for visitation, funeral, and memorial gatherings; catered receptions; celebrant services; themed and personalized memorial stationery
- Veterans Planning: Listed as a service category on the provider's website
- Religious & Cultural Traditions: Noted as a service area on the provider's website
- Pre-Planning: Online appointment scheduling and online purchase available through the Dignity Memorial platform; free planning guide offered
- Grief Support: Access to a Dignity Memorial grief library
- Memorial Keepsakes: Cremation jewelry, memory glass, memorial diamonds, personalized prints, remembrance blankets, and spaceflight options (see Pricing)
- Transportation: Local transfer, airport transfer, hearse, limousine, and forwarding/receiving of remains
No on-site crematory or owned cemetery is explicitly confirmed in the available data, though the website references "burial & cremation property."
Pricing
GPL effective date: June 13, 2024. All prices below are pre-tax and exclude cash advance items (cemetery fees, death certificates, obituary notices, etc.) unless noted.
Core Professional & Preparation Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Services of Funeral Director and Staff (required) | $1,295 |
| Embalming | $945 |
| Dressing, casketing, and cosmetizing | $225 |
| Bathing and handling of unembalmed deceased | $350 |
| Hairdresser | $50 |
| Special care for autopsied cases | $120 |
| Refrigeration (initial) | $95 |
| Additional day of refrigeration | $20 |
| Extended refrigeration (up to 30 days) | $495 |
Facilities & Staff
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Venue & Staff for Visitation (up to 4 hours) | $195 |
| Standard Venue & Staff for Funeral/Memorial (medium) | $395 |
| Off-Site Venue & Staff for Funeral | $495 |
| Signature Exclusive (entire facility rental) | $3,995 |
| Equipment & Staff for Graveside Service | $395 |
| Staff Services for Urn Committal | $175 |
| Private Family Moment (with minimal preparation) | $350 |
| Additional charge — Evening Service | $150 |
| Additional charge — Weekend | $595 |
| Additional charge — Holiday | $1,295 |
Transportation
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Transfer of remains from place of death | $335 |
| Transfer to/from crematory | $105 |
| Transfer to/from airport | $195 |
| Transfer to/from autopsy and return | $195 |
| Hearse | $245 |
| Service vehicle | $245 |
| Limousine | $495 |
Cremation Packages
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Direct cremation — container provided by family | $1,155 |
| Direct cremation — cardboard cremation container | $1,330 |
| Direct cremation — Trayview cardboard container | $1,550 |
| Direct cremation — Stratus (medium-density fiberboard) | $1,605 |
| Direct cremation — Pacific Pine casket | $2,350 |
| Direct cremation — casket from facility (+ casket cost) | $1,155 + casket |
| Average direct cremation (reported) | $1,524 |
Immediate Burial Packages
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| Immediate burial — container provided by family | $1,670 |
| Immediate burial — minimum casket from facility | $2,865 |
| Immediate burial — casket from facility (+ casket cost) | $1,670 + casket |
| Average traditional burial (reported) | $2,068 |
Forwarding & Receiving Remains
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Forwarding remains (includes basic fee + preparation room) | $1,960 |
| Receiving remains (includes basic fee + transportation) | $1,135 |
Merchandise
| Category | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Caskets | $1,195 – $10,495 |
| Outer burial containers | $1,095 – $5,795 |
| Rental casket | $1,000 |
| Urns | $95 – $1,295 |
| Flag cases | $64.95 – $274.95 |
| Cremation jewelry (pendant + ring bundles) | $295 – $765 |
| Memorial diamond | $3,499 |
Notable Add-On Services
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Cremation witnessing fee | $395 |
| Cremation expediting fee | $395 |
| Celebrant service | $495 |
| Catered reception | $495 |
| Scattering at sea with cenotaph | $3,495 |
| Earth Rise Spaceflight (partial orbit) | $2,495 |
| Earth Orbit Spaceflight | $4,995 |
| Luna Spaceflight / Voyager Spaceflight | $12,500 each |
| Everlasting Memorial (internet archive) | $395 |
| Estate fraud protection | $295 |
| Registration and documentation | $125 |
Weekend surcharges ($595) and holiday surcharges ($1,295) are meaningful cost factors for families whose arrangements fall outside standard weekday hours. Families considering cremation witnessing should note that this service carries a separate $395 fee in addition to the base cremation package.
Reviews
Desert Rose Heather holds a 4.8/5 rating based on 238 Google reviews, which is a strong score for a funeral services provider.
Positive Themes
1. Compassionate, respectful staff conduct. Multiple reviewers highlight the sensitivity shown during pickup and initial arrangements. Ruth Garcia wrote: "When they picked him up it was so respectful — they let my mother have her last moments and he was covered beautifully." Vicki Doolittle noted the experience was "respectful, sensitive, and professional."
2. Thorough communication and absence of sales pressure. Christopher Webster specifically called out director Clare by name: "Our director Clare kept us informed as we moved forward in the process. All our needs were met and there was no pressure to upgrade services." This theme of low-pressure guidance recurs across multiple reviews.
3. Responsiveness during a difficult search. Ruth Garcia, who had contacted multiple providers before reaching Desert Rose Heather, noted: "We called so many places — every place expensive, giving us things we didn't need. Most places didn't even call us back. Then Desert Rose Heather called us back." Jose Ozuna similarly praised staff for managing "every detail perfectly, providing our family with much-needed peace and comfort."
Notable Negative Review
One reviewer, Renee, left a 1-star account alleging that a driver removed a ring from her partner's grandmother's body, and that the item was unaccounted for after follow-up: "Took nearly 3 weeks just to get an 'I'm sorry'. It's traumatic enough to lose a loved one but we have had nothing but problems while dealing with this company." This is a single documented complaint in the available data, but families with concerns about personal property should address belongings protocols explicitly with staff at the time of arrangement.
Ownership
Desert Rose Heather Cremation & Burial operates under the Dignity Memorial brand, which is owned by Service Corporation International (SCI), traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SCI. SCI is the largest funeral and cemetery services company in North America, operating thousands of funeral homes and cemeteries across the United States and Canada.
No independent founding history, original ownership details, or acquisition date specific to this Tucson location are available in the provided data. Families should be aware that as a corporate-owned provider, pricing structures, staff, and policies may differ from independently operated funeral homes, and that pre-need contracts made with a Dignity Memorial location are typically portable within the SCI network.
Accreditations
- BBB: Desert Rose Heather Cremation & Burial is not BBB accredited. No BBB rating or complaint count is available in the provided data.
- Dignity Memorial Network: Membership in the Dignity Memorial network carries SCI's national service guarantee, which allows pre-need contracts to be honored at other network locations if the originating facility closes or if the family relocates.
- No additional state licensing details, NFDA membership, or independent accreditation data are available in the provided data.
Conclusion
Desert Rose Heather Cremation & Burial is a mid-range cremation and burial provider in Tucson, best suited to families who want straightforward cremation or burial services with professional coordination and the backing of a large national network. Its strong Google rating and recurring praise for compassionate, no-pressure service are genuine strengths, and its direct cremation pricing starting at $1,155 is accessible for cost-conscious families. Families should factor in the potential for add-on fees — particularly weekend surcharges, cremation witnessing fees, and the required $1,295 basic services charge — when comparing total costs. The single documented complaint regarding personal property removal is worth noting; families are advised to inventorize and communicate clearly about any valuables before or at the time of transfer.
This report was generated using publicly available information including licensing records, pricing data, and consumer reviews. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.
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