Veteran services at Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service
For veterans in Berea, KY, Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service provides assistance with Veteran's Benefits, helping families navigate claims and paperwork related to military service." On-site amenities include chapels and parking area, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,300 for basic burial and $1,530 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. Early reviews are positive, averaging 4.8 stars across 17.
Veteran-related services offered include burial services, cremation services, memorials & celebrations, memorial service arrangements, and paperwork assistance (vital records, permits, death certificates, life insurance, veteran's benefits, social security claims). 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 Camp Nelson National Cemetery in KY, approximately 24 miles from Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service holds a 4.8-star rating from 17 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
Kentucky has approximately 552 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service is among them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service publish funeral prices?
Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service has not posted a full price list online. Under the FTC Funeral Rule it must provide itemized pricing on request — call (859) 986-8416, and ask how VA burial benefits apply.
Where is Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service is located at Po Box 9 in Berea, KY. You can reach the home at (859) 986-8416. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service offer veteran families?
Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service provides burial services, cremation services, specialty funeral services, memorials & celebrations, keepsakes & urns, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service provides assistance with Veteran's Benefits, helping families navigate claims and paperwork related to military service.
How do families rate Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service?
Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service holds a 4.8-star rating across 17 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service apart
- Operates Madison County's first and only on-site crematory, opened in 2019.
- Family-owned and operated since 1961, with multiple generations of the Lakes family involved.
- Facility designed from a former medical plaza, offering ground-level access, two large chapels, a coffee lounge, and extensive parking.
- Provides comprehensive post-service assistance, including estate settlements, veteran's benefits assistance, and Social Security claims assistance.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial Services
Cremation
- · Cremation Services
- · Keepsakes & Urns
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Funeral Home
- · Crematory
Specializations
- · Celebrant Services
- · On-site Crematory
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Lakes Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“My infant granddaughter passed 10 minutes after her birth. The hospital told us Lake's in Berea was the best. They were given specific music, copy of the lyrics, emailed the specific music and played the wrong music. We had two pallbearers, instead of waiting for them to get to the site, the worker, took my granddaughter and slammed her down on two ugly black bars that were very unstable. I told him the pall bearers were there, he said opps, didn't mean to step on anyone's toes!!!! The casket and vault were just and ugly fiberglass thing that looked like a sewing machine box. They never gave us the option of another casket, and we would have purchased it gladly! Very unprofessional. Very upsetting. The situation is bad enough, then you hear Celine Dion singing in French???? Horrible! They were busy so her visitation and service was very rushed. The didn't even take the time to put together a photo disc with the music they chose. I would not recommend them for anyone's service. People need to understand Also, that you don't have to use a funeral home. Have a home funeral with your loved ones, not strangers who can't take time to do a precious little girls services with an ounce of respect!!!!!!!”
“The Lakes family has always done a good job with preparing funerals that I have attended. I have known them for decades and they are always professional, kind and helpful when the time comes to put loved ones to rest. I have read other reviews on here and as far as any negative ones go, I'm very sorry that those have felt they had a negative experience when dealing with the Lakes family. I have been to countless funerals of friends and family at this home and through difficult times, I have never heard a complaint about these kind people. I have known them for decades, went to school with them 35 years ago and not one time do I ever remember a mean, unkind, or bad thing coming from them. Always been great people. My father passed a couple of weeks ago and they were like dealing with close family during this trying time. You can trust your loved ones with them because you will be dealt with professionally, courteously and most of all kindly. Scott Lake”
“Recently my granddaughter passed away, her father's mother is Lisa Lane that posted the bad review. I will say that I was never around when the arrangements were made, but I do know that at the visitation we were there an hour after it ended and no one ever rushed us out. The people there was as nice to us as anyone would want or expect. There isn't one bad thing I can say about this funeral home. They are the only ones that I know of that would offer a free funeral for an infant. Of course all the extras are not free. A bad review from a spitfull person should'nt discourage anyone from this funeral home. The workers at Lakes did a wonderful job in what little time they had. They get 5 stars from me, with everything going on in the world today they did an excellent job. They will have a customer from me when my time comes.”
“I've been to plenty of funerals here. Very nice. Hopefully not again, but you never know. They were very prepared and put together. Every, single, time. Better than most funeral homes I have been to.”
“This is some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They help you in anyway they can think of. You will not regret letting these nice people help you through one of the hardest times in your life.”
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.