Veteran services at Burke & Blackington Funeral Home
Burke & Blackington Funeral Home in West Newton, MA supports veteran families with military funeral arrangements. Directors guide families through VA benefit claims, military honors, and burial at veterans cemeteries.
Veteran-related services offered include direct burial, graveside service, memorial services, and cremation. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
Published pricing at Burke & Blackington Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,480. That places direct cremation roughly 7% below 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 46 miles from Burke & Blackington Funeral Home. Burke & Blackington Funeral Home 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. Burke & Blackington Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Burke & Blackington Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,480. 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 Burke & Blackington Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Burke & Blackington Funeral Home is located at 1479 Washington Street in West Newton, MA. You can reach the home at (781) 235-1481. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Burke & Blackington Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Burke & Blackington Funeral Home provides direct burial, graveside service, memorial services, preparation of required documentation, traditional funeral, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Burke & Blackington Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Burke & Blackington Funeral Home assists veteran families with VA burial benefits, military funeral honors, and coordination with national and state veterans cemeteries. Eligible veterans may receive a burial allowance and a free government headstone.
Which faith traditions does Burke & Blackington Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, United Church of Christ, Episcopal families, among others.
What sets Burke & Blackington Funeral Home apart
- A third-generation family ownership and operation, ensuring continuity and personal attention to families.
- Two distinct locations: Henry J. Burke & Sons in Wellesley Hills (established 1933) and Burke & Blackington in West Newton (established 2009, with historical roots tracing back to 1861).
- Highly qualified staff, including Marianne M. Burke, a Summa Cum Laude graduate and Pi Sigma Eta inductee, and Michael T. Burke, who also volunteers with the Wellesley Special Police Department.
- Extensive bereavement support resources, including partnerships with Newton-Wellesley Hospital for specialized grief groups and connections to local organizations like The Children's Room and Compassionate Friends.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Direct Burial
- · Graveside Service
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · National Funeral Directors Associations
- · Massachusetts Funeral Directors Associations
- · Wellesley Women's Business Network
- · Wellesley Special Police Department
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, United Church of Christ, Episcopal.
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 SettlementHow 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.