Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors

Veteran services at Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors

Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors, located in Westbury, NY, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors offers comprehensive Veteran Funeral Services, including assistance with obtaining a United States flag to drape the casket or accompany the urn, headstones, markers, or medallions from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Presidential Memorial Certificates signed by the current president. They facilitate Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremonies, which include the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag and the playing of Taps, performed by at least two members of the Armed Forces. Eligibility extends to veterans from all military branches, including active duty, Selected Reserve, and those who served honorably. The firm assists families in establishing veteran eligibility, preferably with DD Form 214, and provides guidance on benefits for burial flags and headstones." On-site amenities include chapels, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,825 for basic burial and $4,453 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, memorialization options, veteran funeral services, and burial services. 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 chapels. 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.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Long Island National Cemetery in NY, approximately 9 miles from Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors. Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors 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. Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Donohue-Cecere Funeral Directors apart

• Nearly a century of continuous family operation since 1927, maintaining a deep-rooted presence in the Westbury community.
• Managing Partner Thomas J. Donohue is a former professional baseball player (California Angels) and remains active in the Major League Baseball Alumni Association.
• Licensed Funeral Director Iveliz 'Liz' Wallace is fluent in Spanish, providing specialized service and support to the Hispanic community.
• Offers live streaming for funeral services, enabling remote participation for family and friends and providing lasting video recordings.
• Provides comprehensive Veteran Funeral Services, including assistance with VA benefits for flags, headstones, and military honors.
• Strong local community involvement, supporting various Westbury organizations and collaborating with local caregivers, veterans, first responders, clergy, hospices, and charities.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

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

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.