Veteran services at Cummings Funeral Service Inc
Veteran families in Watertown, NY can turn to Cummings Funeral Service Inc for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "The funeral home provides services for veterans, including assistance with obtaining government-furnished headstones or markers for eligible deceased veterans, regardless of their date of death. They also offer information regarding burial flags. While the headstone or marker itself is provided at no charge by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the applicant is responsible for arrangements and setting fees in private cemeteries." Published pricing lists $4,570 for basic burial and $2,195 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation, burial caskets, burial vaults, memorial markers, cremation caskets, and veterans services. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
Published pricing at Cummings Funeral Service Inc: direct cremation from $2,520. That places direct cremation roughly 10% above 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 New York State Veterans Cemetery - Finger Lakes in NY, approximately 113 miles from Cummings Funeral Service Inc. Cummings Funeral Service Inc 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. Cummings Funeral Service Inc is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Cummings Funeral Service Inc cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,520. 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 Cummings Funeral Service Inc located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Cummings Funeral Service Inc is located at 214 Sterling Street in Watertown, NY. You can reach the home at (315) 782-0830. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Cummings Funeral Service Inc offer veteran families?
Cummings Funeral Service Inc provides pre-need funeral planning, cremation, burial caskets, burial vaults, memorial markers, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Cummings Funeral Service Inc help veterans with VA burial benefits?
The funeral home provides services for veterans, including assistance with obtaining government-furnished headstones or markers for eligible deceased veterans, regardless of their date of death. They also offer information regarding burial flags. While the headstone or marker itself is provided at no charge by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the applicant is responsible for arrangements and setting fees in private cemeteries.
Which faith traditions does Cummings Funeral Service Inc accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for All Faiths, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal families, among others.
What sets Cummings Funeral Service Inc apart
- Over a century of continuous operation (established 1919)
- Three generations of family ownership and operation
- Dual locations serving Clayton and Watertown, NY
- Comprehensive online resources including grief support links, eulogy writing tips, and funeral etiquette guidance
- Specialized services for veterans, including information on headstones and burial flags
- Emphasis on pre-need funeral planning with an online arrangement form
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial Caskets
- · Burial Vaults
Cremation
- · Cremation
- · Urns
- · Urn Vaults
- · Cremation Caskets
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Specializations
- · Serving All Faiths
- · Veterans Services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: All Faiths, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal. 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 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.