Veteran services at Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home
Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home in Cheshire, MA supports veteran families with military funeral arrangements. Staff help families secure VA burial benefits, request military honors, and coordinate with national or state veterans cemeteries. Published pricing lists a quoted rate for basic burial and $2,900 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. A smaller but favorable set of 1 reviews averages 5.0 stars.
Published pricing at Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,900. That places direct cremation roughly 8% 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 Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in NY, approximately 40 miles from Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home. Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home also accommodates Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Secular Humanist, and Lgbtq Affirming traditions for veterans whose religious or cultural observance shapes the service. Military honors can be integrated into the family's tradition with no conflict — the honor detail observes the family's pace.
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. Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,900. 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 Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home is located at 121 North State Rd. in Cheshire, MA. You can reach the home at (413) 743-3678. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
Does Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home offer cremation for veterans?
Yes. Direct cremation at Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home starts at $2,900. Cremated veterans remain eligible for inurnment in a VA national cemetery.
Does Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Dery-Cheshire 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.
How do families rate Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home?
Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home holds a 5.0-star rating across 1 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Dery-Cheshire Funeral Home. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
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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.