McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc

Veteran services at McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc

McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc, located in Mars, PA, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Inc. provides comprehensive veteran services, including assistance with obtaining Veterans Headstones and Veterans Burial Flags. They facilitate Military Funeral Honors (MFH) ceremonies, which typically involve the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veteran's family and the playing of Taps. These ceremonies are performed by an armed forces detail, with at least one member from the veteran's specific branch of service. The funeral home also helps establish veteran eligibility using documents like DD Form 214. They also note eligibility for members of the Commissioned Officer Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,485 for basic burial and $2,475 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include veterans services, military funeral honors, veterans headstones, veterans burial flags, burial, and 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 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 McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc: direct cremation from $2,475. That places direct cremation roughly 4% above 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 National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in PA, approximately 27 miles from McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc. McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc 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. McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Inc apart

• Over a century of continuous operation, established in 1912.
• Current owner, John C. Hanovick, is a lifelong Mars resident and also serves as the Chief Deputy Coroner of Butler County.
• Active sponsorship and facilitation of the GriefShare program at Mars United Presbyterian Church.
• Comprehensive online features including direct flower ordering, enhanced obituaries with guest books, and email notifications for new notices.
• Specialized services for veterans, including assistance with headstones, burial flags, and coordinating military funeral honors.
• Affiliation with numerous local community and professional organizations, demonstrating deep local integration and expertise.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Alliance Church, United Methodist, Grace Bible Church, Lutheran, Baptist. 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.