Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home

Veteran services at Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home

Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home in Reading, MA supports veteran families with military funeral arrangements. In their own words: "Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home provides extensive information and support for veterans and their families. This includes guidance on eligibility for free burial in a National Cemetery, provision of headstones and markers, and details on burial at sea services. They also assist with obtaining Presidential Memorial Certificates, understanding reimbursement for burial expenses (including a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance and potential transportation costs), and securing a United States burial flag. The funeral home helps families gather the necessary documents, such as certified DD214 forms, marriage certificates, and death certificates, to claim these benefits." On-site amenities include ample parking, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $6,100 for basic burial and $2,930 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include graveside services, memorial services, direct cremation, burial, 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 Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,525. That places direct cremation roughly 6% 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 48 miles from Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home. Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom 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. Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,525. 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 Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home is located at 25 Sanborn St. in Reading, MA. You can reach the home at (781) 944-0284. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home provides traditional funeral services, graveside services, memorial services, direct cremation, shipping services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home provides extensive information and support for veterans and their families. This includes guidance on eligibility for free burial in a National Cemetery, provision of headstones and markers, and details on burial at sea services. They also assist with obtaining Presidential Memorial Certificates, understanding reimbursement for burial expenses (including a $300 burial and funeral expense allowance and potential transportation costs), and securing a United States burial flag. The funeral home helps families gather the necessary documents, such as certified DD214 forms, marriage certificates, and death certificates, to claim these benefits.

What sets Douglass, Edgerley, & Bessom Funeral Home apart

Operated by a sixth-generation funeral director, John Douglass Jr., alongside his father, John Douglass Sr.
Extensive personalization options, including casket and urn engraving, keepsake jewelry, memory tables, and picture boards.
Comprehensive information and assistance regarding veterans' benefits and services.
On-site grief resources through an online Grief Library from the Center for Loss and Life Transition.

Military & veteran services offered

★Memorial Services

★Mausoleum Entombment

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Graveside Services
· Burial

Cremation

· Direct Cremation
· Cremation

On-site facilities

· Spacious Rooms for Visitations and Services

· Ample Parking

· Handicapped Accessible

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Chamber of Commerce
· Reading Rotary Club
· Good Samaritan Lodge

Specializations

· Veterans Services

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 Settlement

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.