About Us—
Losing her in a busy, clinical setting left us without a proper goodbye. That heartbreak sparked a transformation in Rejine; she realized her mission was to bridge the gap between end-of-life care and the spiritual honor found in her heritage. In her Māori culture (Ngāpuhi), animals are Kaitiaki—spiritual guardians of the land and sea. In our Mexican heritage, the traditions of Día de los Muertos teach us that our pets never truly leave us, returning to visit those they loved.
To honor these sacred bonds, Rejine became a Registered Pet Funeral Director and Certified Alkaline Hydrolysis Operator.
Together, we founded Ikaroa Falls. We merged Carlos’s veteran standard of honor with Rejine’s vision of science and cultural reverence to ensure that no family ever feels rushed, and every pet is honored as the guardian they were in life.
At Ikaroa Falls, our family is here to care for yours. We provide the same gentle, dignified care we would expect for our own cherished pets, alongside unique memorabilia to help you honor their memory.- DiegoBello’s
Our journey began in 2018 when we eloped in San Diego, joined by our only witness: a puppy named Ikaroa. For years, we built our careers—Carlos as a Navy Chief and Boat Captain with 19 years of service, and Rejine in microbiology, dentistry and cancer research—but it wasn’t until we lost Ikaroa that our vision found its purpose.
Ikaroa
10/11/2018 - 11/11/2023
The Spirit of Ikaroa
Ikaroa was a giant, majestic, slobbery force of nature who took up half the bed and all of our hearts. Losing her unexpectedly felt like a cruel joke—a front-row seat at a funeral where no one else was present. In the rush of emergency vets and silent phones, there was no room to properly say goodbye.
Driven by that profound grief and a lack of compassionate aftercare in South San Diego, we were inspired to build something better. Our business was born from this passion: a commitment to honoring the unconditional love of pets with the warmth and dignity they deserve.
Through Aquamation, we ensure every pet is treated with integrity. This is more than a business; it is a tribute to the connection between pets and their families—a reflection of our journey with Ikaroa and a way to give back to a community that cherishes their companions as family.
