History & Staff

About Us

Our History

Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel has been serving Tulare County and the surrounding County’s since 2003. Through the years, we have always endeavored to treat our families with the utmost care, compassion, and respect. Those we serve come to us in the time of their greatest need, and we always try to live up to the trust placed in us.

Our professional and caring staff is always available for your assistance and guidance whether it is in handling the funeral services for a loved one, prearranging your own personal services, or just answering questions you’ve always had, but didn’t feel comfortable in asking. We never forget we are here to serve you.

In a time of need, it’s natural to trust in friends and neighbors for help and support. At Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, our funeral professionals are your friends known and trusted by families who have lived here for generations. We are proud to be the only locally owned and family operated funeral home in Visalia and are committed to serving families just like yours.

Since 2003, Salser & Dillard has had a vision to provide personalized, compassionate and professional service before, during and after the funeral of your loved one. When you think about whom to turn to in your time of need, it’s nice to know that there’s no place like home.

Steve P. Dillard, Owner/CEO

Experience and passion is what Steve Dillard brings to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Born and raised in Hanford where his parents and one sister still live, Steve started his, nearly 40 years experience in the funeral business, at 14 washing the cars at Peoples Funeral Chapel in Hanford, where his uncle John E. Lemos worked, and Steve continued to learn the business there for the next several years. At 20 Steve began an apprenticeship as well as broadened his experience with Whitehurst-McNamara in Hanford and continued working for the Lowen Group until he moved to Laguna Hills California in June 1987 where he worked for O’Connor Laguna Hills Mortuary. While working at O’Conner's, he attended Cypress College of Mortuary Science and graduated in December 1988 where he received the Ma Green Outstanding Student Award. After successfully completing the California State Board of Embalmers Exam and the National Board Certificate Exam he returned to the Loewen Group working for Hadley Funeral Chapel in Visalia January 1989. He worked at several Loewen locations in Kings and Tulare Counties before leaving in 1999. In 2001 Steve along with Jeff started the process opening their own chapel. When asked why he chose to open his own chapel, Steve's response was clear, "After traveling for many years with the Lowen Group, I had the opportunity to meet and work for many former chapel owners: Frank and Harold Keaton, Claude Wondrow, Lloyd Bledsoe, Don Miller, David and Paul Miller, Don Evans, Jack Creighton, Joe O'Conner, Dick Hemmingway, Clem McNamara, they all exemplified the importance of quality professional service and I wanted that for myself." Steve has a long history of funeral service here in the valley: Peoples Funeral Chapel, Hanford CA;Whitehurst McNamara, Hanford CA;Hadley Funeral Chapel, Visalia and Farmersville CA;Millers Memorial Chapel, Visalia CA;Miller’s Tulare Funeral Chapel CA;Bledsoe Family Peoples Funeral Chapel, Corcoran CA;And now a long and successful history owning his own chapel. A proud father of three and grandfather of seven, Steve's roots in the Valley are deep and he looks forward to continuing to serve his community for many years to come building a legacy that lasts for the generations.
Amber E. Dillard, Director of Family Service & Marketing
Josh Golden, Director of Care
Mark DiGirolamo, Director of Care
Juanita Matta, Family Care Team: Vital Records

Born and raised here in the Central Valley, Juanita is all about family; one of 19 children, she is a loving wife and mother of four. After graduating from College of the Sequoias and working with the Easter Seal Society and Wells Fargo Bank, she found a home working at Holy Family Catholic Church for 14 Years. Her time with the church is what ushered her into serving families in need starting at Miller Memorial Chapel where she first met Steve & Jeff and in Juanita's words was "impressed with their honesty, sincerity and professionalism." She was therefore honored to join their staff in 2004 helping to provide families the utmost in care.
Beth Conty-Golden, Family Care Team: Vital Records
Emilio Alvarez, Family Service Director
Jessica Matta, Family Service Director
Denise Casarez, Family Service Director
Cristian Garcia, Funeral Director/Cremationist/Clinical Care Assistant
Christine Serna, Family Care Director
Lydia Paul, Family Care Director: Licensed Funeral Director
Camisha Garcia, Family Care Assistant/First Responder
Mary Huerta-Perez, Family Care Assistant/Family Service Associate
Rosie Flores, Family Care Assistant
Melissa Reynolds, Family Care Assistant
Richard DelReal, Clinical Care Team: Cremationist
Zack Barnes, First Responder
Jayson Blofsky, First Responder
Randal Hamman, Long Distance Responder
Steve Bardonex, Long Distance Responder
Tony Brito, Family Care Associate
Frank Morales, Family Care Associate
Nate Esparza, Family Care Associate
Sebastian Galaviz, Family Care Associate/First Responder
Elisha Cervantez, Family Service Associate
Sabrina Molina, Family Service Associate
Stephanie Dias, Family Care Associate
Stacy Lowen, Family Care Associate
Erma Martinez, Family Care Associate
Jackson Paregien, Family Care Associate/First Responder
Joe Rodriguez, Family Service Associate
Kent Mishler, Family Service Associate
Matt Bither, Family Care Associate/First Responder
Kayla Gamez, Family Care Associate
Helio Amaral, Facility Care Associate
Paul Dillard, Auto Care Associate