Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service

Veteran services at Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service

Veteran families in Chelmsford, MA can turn to Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home provides comprehensive support for veterans and their families, assisting with understanding eligibility requirements for burial benefits, death benefits, and memorial items. They help families apply for a United States flag provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to honor deceased veterans. Additionally, they guide families through the process of applying for a burial allowance, also known as a “veterans death benefit,” which helps offset burial, funeral, and transportation costs. The funeral directors can assist in determining eligibility and the potential amount of these allowances, including additional allowances for headstones or markers." Published pricing lists $2,695 for basic burial and $3,195 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include traditional burial, cremation, and veterans benefits. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

Published pricing at Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service: direct cremation from $3,120. That places direct cremation roughly 17% above the Massachusetts median ($2,677). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Massachusetts State Veterans Cemetery - Winchendon in MA, approximately 34 miles from Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Massachusetts has approximately 579 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $3,120. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.

Where is Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service is located at 24 Worthen St. in Chelmsford, MA. You can reach the home at (978) 256-5251. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service offer veteran families?

Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service provides traditional burial, cremation, pre-planning, veterans benefits, funeral mass resources, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home provides comprehensive support for veterans and their families, assisting with understanding eligibility requirements for burial benefits, death benefits, and memorial items. They help families apply for a United States flag provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to honor deceased veterans. Additionally, they guide families through the process of applying for a burial allowance, also known as a “veterans death benefit,” which helps offset burial, funeral, and transportation costs. The funeral directors can assist in determining eligibility and the potential amount of these allowances, including additional allowances for headstones or markers.

Which faith traditions does Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, United Methodist, American Baptist families, among others.

What sets Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home & Cremation Service apart

Over a century of continuous operation, established in 1923.
Family-owned and operated by Paul A. Hardy, Jr. and Jennifer Hardy.
Opened a new, larger, and modern facility in 2017 to enhance family experience.
Offers digital obituary pages for families and friends to contribute memories and photos.
Specializes in assisting families with Veterans Benefits, including eligibility and allowances.
Deeply integrated into the community through various local affiliations and staff involvement.

Military & veteran services offered

★Veterans Benefits

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Traditional Burial

Cremation

· Cremation

On-site facilities

· Main Entrance

· Exterior

· Conference Room

· Aerial View

· Interior

· Entrance Hall

· Casket Room

· Sitting Room

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association
· Chelmsford Police Foundation, Inc.
· Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce
· Chelmsford Business Association
· AHEPA Hellas Chapter 102 of Lowell
· Lowell Five Cents Savings Bank
· Lowell General Hospital

Specializations

· Veterans Benefits

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, United Methodist, American Baptist, Episcopal, Non-denominational Christian. Languages spoken at the home: English.

EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral

The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.

Begin Veteran Estate Settlement

How honors are coordinated

Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.

For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.