Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina

Veteran services at Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina

Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina serves veteran families in Paullina, IA with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Eldridge Family Funeral Homes offers specific Veteran Services. While the details of these services are not explicitly outlined, the inclusion indicates a dedicated focus on assisting military families with arrangements and benefits. This aligns with regional hospice providers in Iowa, such as Gundersen Palmer Hospice, which partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 'We Honor Veterans' program to provide specialized care for veterans." On-site amenities include on-site chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,450 for basic burial and $2,955 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, veteran services, memorial service, graveside service, and direct cremation. 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 on-site chapel. 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.

Published pricing at Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina: direct cremation from $2,955. That places direct cremation roughly 2% above the Iowa median ($2,905). 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 South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in SD, approximately 67 miles from Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina. Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Iowa has approximately 577 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Eldridge Family Funeral Homes - Paullina apart

• Over 45 years of continuous family ownership and operation, spanning two generations of the Eldridge family.
• Comprehensive pre-planning services, including an online preplanning form and a detailed checklist, designed to ease family burdens.
• Extensive grief support resources, such as the GriefPlan Video Program by Dr. Jason Troyer, free e-booklets, and a year of daily grief support emails.
• Active community involvement by the Eldridge family in local organizations like the Paullina Lions Club, Chambers of Commerce, and the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.
• Personalized service options including traditional funerals, various cremation choices, Rosaries, and Masonic services.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Lutheran (ELCA), Lutheran (LCMS), Presbyterian, Catholic, Quaker, Masonic. Languages spoken at the home: English.

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.