Veteran services at Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes
Veteran families in Modesto, CA can turn to Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes offers specialized Veteran Funeral Services, including military tributes, to honor service members and veterans." On-site amenities include on-site chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,775 for basic burial and $2,880 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. Across 182 Google reviews, the firm averages 4.9 stars.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, memorialization options, and veteran funeral 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 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.
The nearest VA national cemetery is San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in CA, approximately 32 miles from Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes. Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes holds a 4.9-star rating from 182 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
California has approximately 1,115 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes is among them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes publish funeral prices?
Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes has not posted a full price list online. Under the FTC Funeral Rule it must provide itemized pricing on request — call (209) 529-5723, and ask how VA burial benefits apply.
Where is Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes is located at 1050 Mchenry Avenue in Modesto, CA. You can reach the home at (209) 529-5723. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes offer veteran families?
Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes provides funeral services, cremation services, memorialization options, immediate need, veteran funeral services, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes offers specialized Veteran Funeral Services, including military tributes, to honor service members and veterans.
Which faith traditions does Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic families, among others.
How do families rate Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes?
Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes holds a 4.9-star rating across 182 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes apart
- Established in 1946, with a Modesto facility (Colonial Chapel) dating back to 1887, offering a deep historical connection to the community.
- Operates two locations in Modesto and Ceres, California, providing broader accessibility.
- Offers 24/7 immediate assistance and support for families.
- Provides a dedicated pre-planning resource, 'Caring Decisions,' to ensure personal wishes are honored.
- Specializes in personalized funeral and cremation services tailored to individual lives and diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Offers live stream services for remote attendees.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Cremation
- · Cremation Services
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · BBB of Northeast California
- · CA Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
- · Modesto Chamber of Commerce
Specializations
- · Cremation Services
- · Funeral Services
- · Veteran services
- · Pre-planning services
- · Customized funeral, burial, cremation services
- · Life celebration services
- · Multicultural services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic. Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish.
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“Franklin and Downs, especially Felisha, were incredibly helpful and compassionate as we navigated planning the funeral services for my grandma. I have nothing but great things to say from the moment I first called, through the services and even when I picked up her remains. Felisha truly made such a difficult time feel easier. She spoke with so much care, fully explained every detail and worked closely with me to arrange a family viewing that meant so much to us. Her level of professionalism and compassion is unmatched. I am deeply grateful for the support Franklin and Downs provided during such a hard time for my family and me.”
“Franklin and Downs helped us navigate our way through my mother's passing. Felisha Brody, was amazingly helpful. Her heartfelt and caring touch was unmatched. She felt like family and was there to help every minute of the day. Her caring nature and her true professionalism was unwavering throughout the entire process. Thank you Franklin and Downs, for taking care of my sweet mom, the family is grateful for your services.”
“Franklin & Downs provided wonderful service during a diffcult time for my family and I. Ashley helped with my husband’s arrangements. From the moment I met her, she was incredibly kind, soft-spoken, and patient. She took the time to explain everything in detail and provided me with so much helpful information during a very difficult time. Her compassion and professionalism truly stood out, and I felt completely at ease knowing that everything was being handled with such care. I am very grateful for her support and the excellent service they provided.”
“Ashley and the team at Franklin & Downs provided us wonderful service from the time our mom passed through her services. Ashley was incredibly responsive throughout the process, and she helped us tremendously with decisions about what we wanted including prayer cards, urn selection, obituary, and services coordination. The Franklin & Downs team also helped with last minute flower transportation, which allowed us to focus our time with family.”
“Franklin and Downs went above and beyond when it came to caring for not just my mother but for my brother and I. Truly honest and genuine sincerity through the whole process of getting my mother's every request. We are truly appreciative for Felisha the funeral director. Thank you for all the updates and support”
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.