Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home

Veteran services at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home

Veteran families in Topeka, KS can turn to Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home provides services for veterans, including burials with military honors. This commitment is highlighted by staff members who find fulfillment in assisting military families and ensuring respectful final arrangements for service members." On-site amenities include chapel (160 capacity) and large chapel tv monitors, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,700 for basic burial and $2,055 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include traditional burial, cremation, online memorials, mass of christian burial, graveside service, and burial. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include chapel (160 capacity) and large chapel tv monitors. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.

Published pricing at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,450. That places direct cremation roughly 7% below the Kansas median ($2,647). 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 Leavenworth National Cemetery in KS, approximately 45 miles from Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home. Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Kansas has approximately 428 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,450. 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 Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home is located at 800 Southwest 6Th Avenue in Topeka, KS. You can reach the home at (785) 354-7706. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home provides traditional burial, cremation, funeral services, pre-planning, grief support, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home provides services for veterans, including burials with military honors. This commitment is highlighted by staff members who find fulfillment in assisting military families and ensuring respectful final arrangements for service members.

Which faith traditions does Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Catholic families, among others.

What sets Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home apart

Over a century of continuous local ownership since 1916.
Donna L. Mathena-Menke, former owner and current Director/Embalmer, was named Kansas Funeral Director of the Year in 2023.
Offers specific Catholic services including Rosary, Mass of Christian Burial, and Knights of Columbus ceremonies.
Arrangement office includes a dedicated children's area.
Provides a year of daily grief support emails to families.
Staff actively involved in numerous community organizations and local churches.

Military & veteran services offered

★Online Memorials

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Traditional Burial
· Mass of Christian Burial
· Graveside Service
· Burial

Cremation

· Cremation

On-site facilities

· Central Location

· Handicap Accessible

· Handicap Restroom

· Chapel (160 capacity)

· Large Chapel TV Monitors

· Arrangement Office with Children's Area

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Kansas Funeral Directors Association
· 20/30 Club of Topeka
· Mayetta Lodge #393 A.F. & A.M.
· Arab Shrine of Topeka
· Daughters of Isabella Little Flower Circle #503
· Midland Hospice

Specializations

· Traditional Services
· Cremation Services
· Personalization
· Veteran Services
· Livestreaming

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic. Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish.

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.