Veteran services at E Blake Collins Funeral Home
E Blake Collins Funeral Home in Wilkes Barre, PA supports veteran families with military funeral arrangements. In their own words: "The funeral home provides specialized assistance for veteran services, guiding families through available benefits and resources for their veteran loved ones." Published pricing lists $4,150 for basic burial and $1,950 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. A smaller but favorable set of 8 reviews averages 5.0 stars.
Veteran-related services offered include veteran services, cremation, and traditional burial. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
Published pricing at E Blake Collins Funeral Home: direct cremation from $1,950. That places direct cremation roughly 18% below the Pennsylvania median ($2,375). 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 Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in PA, approximately 69 miles from E Blake Collins Funeral Home. E Blake Collins Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Pennsylvania has approximately 1,623 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. E Blake Collins Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at E Blake Collins Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $1,950. 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 E Blake Collins Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
E Blake Collins Funeral Home is located at 159 George Avenue in Wilkes Barre, PA. You can reach the home at (570) 822-3514. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does E Blake Collins Funeral Home offer veteran families?
E Blake Collins Funeral Home provides funeral planning, pre-planning, veteran services, cremation, traditional burial, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does E Blake Collins Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
The funeral home provides specialized assistance for veteran services, guiding families through available benefits and resources for their veteran loved ones.
Which faith traditions does E Blake Collins Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for All Faiths, Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist families, among others.
How do families rate E Blake Collins Funeral Home?
E Blake Collins Funeral Home holds a 5.0-star rating across 8 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets E Blake Collins Funeral Home apart
- Fourth-generation family ownership and operation, with E. Blake Collins III continuing the legacy.
- Long operational history dating back to 1913, including the acquisition of the John J. Maher Funeral Home established in 1886.
- Handicapped accessible facilities, enhanced through a 1993 renovation.
- Specialized expertise in Veteran Services, assisting families with benefits and resources.
- Recipient of the National Funeral Directors Association Pursuit of Excellence award for ten consecutive years.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Traditional Burial
Cremation
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Pursuit of Excellence award recipient
Specializations
- · Veteran Services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: All Faiths, Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist. Languages spoken at the home: English.
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used E Blake Collins Funeral Home. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“Very reasonable and worked well understanding financial situtions”
“I had a very positive experience with this funeral home on 5/27/21. Ted Collins, Funeral Director, was professional yet caring during this difficult time. He walked us through the process and took care of all the details. i would highly recommend this funeral home.”
“Thank you Ted, Madeline and Dan. Well done throughout.”
“All details were handled very professionally.”
“Thank you”
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.