Veteran services at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home
Coster-Heppner Funeral Home, located in Riverhead, NY, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home assists veterans and their families in securing burial benefits, including burial in a VA National Cemetery, headstones and markers, Presidential Memorial Certificates, and military funeral honors. They coordinate burials at Calverton National Cemetery and provide a complimentary wood flag display case to veterans' families." On-site amenities include chapel, off-street parking, and adjacent parking area, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,500 for basic burial and $1,985 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation, cemetery service, burial service, and veterans burial benefits. 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. 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 Coster-Heppner Funeral Home: direct cremation from $1,985. That places direct cremation roughly 14% below the New York median ($2,300). 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 Calverton National Cemetery in NY, approximately 19 miles from Coster-Heppner Funeral Home. Coster-Heppner Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
New York has approximately 1,440 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Coster-Heppner Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $1,985. 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 Coster-Heppner Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Coster-Heppner Funeral Home is located at 336 Marcy Avenue in Riverhead, NY. You can reach the home at (631) 734-7720. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Coster-Heppner Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Coster-Heppner Funeral Home provides funeral services, preplanning, cremation, urns and jewelry, cemetery service, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Coster-Heppner Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home assists veterans and their families in securing burial benefits, including burial in a VA National Cemetery, headstones and markers, Presidential Memorial Certificates, and military funeral honors. They coordinate burials at Calverton National Cemetery and provide a complimentary wood flag display case to veterans' families.
Which faith traditions does Coster-Heppner Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Baptist, Church of Christ, Pentecostal families, among others.
What sets Coster-Heppner Funeral Home apart
- Over 80 years of continuous family ownership and operation.
- 24/7 direct phone answering by staff, avoiding answering services.
- Facilities designed for both intimate and large funeral services, including a children's area.
- Extensive veteran burial benefits assistance, including a complimentary wood flag display case.
- Flexible preplanning options, allowing wishes to be kept on file without immediate payment.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial Service
Cremation
- · Cremation
- · Urns and Jewelry
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · New York State Funeral Directors Association
Specializations
- · Cremations
- · Burials
- · Veteran Services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Baptist, Church of Christ, Pentecostal. Languages spoken at the home: English, Polish.
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.