Veteran services at Mercadante Funeral Home
Mercadante Funeral Home serves veteran families in Worcester, MA with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Assistance with Veterans Benefits (Military Monument, Flag, Burial Allowance); Military Services" On-site amenities include chapel and large well lighted parking areas, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,495 for basic burial and $3,380 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. Across 139 Google reviews, the firm averages 5.0 stars.
Veteran-related services offered include burial vaults, cremation caskets, veterans benefits assistance, cemetery plot selection assistance, memorial tribute dvds, and custom memorial folders. 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 Mercadante Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,570. That places direct cremation roughly 4% below the Massachusetts median ($2,677). 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 Massachusetts State Veterans Cemetery - Winchendon in MA, approximately 31 miles from Mercadante Funeral Home. Mercadante Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Mercadante Funeral Home holds a 5.0-star rating from 139 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
Massachusetts has approximately 579 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Mercadante Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Mercadante Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,570. 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 Mercadante Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Mercadante Funeral Home is located at 370 Plantation St. in Worcester, MA. You can reach the home at (508) 754-0486. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Mercadante Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Mercadante Funeral Home provides 24 hour staff availability, funeral arrangements, religious faith accommodation, professional service, personalized service, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Mercadante Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Assistance with Veterans Benefits (Military Monument, Flag, Burial Allowance); Military Services
Which faith traditions does Mercadante Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Christian (Catholic), Jewish, All Faiths families, among others.
How do families rate Mercadante Funeral Home?
Mercadante Funeral Home holds a 5.0-star rating across 139 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Mercadante Funeral Home apart
- Mercadante Pet Cremation Care services
- Crowdfunding platform to assist families with funeral expenses
- 24-hour staff availability for immediate needs
- Ability to make arrangements at the funeral home or in the family's residence
- Accommodates all religious faiths, creeds, and customs, including Christian (Catholic) and Jewish services
- Offers a wide range of price categories to meet diverse financial needs
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Burial Vaults
- · Graveside Services
- · Immediate Burial
Cremation
- · Cremation Caskets
- · Urns
- · Cremation
- · Pet Cremation Services
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · National Funeral Directors Association
- · Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association
- · Greater Worcester Funeral Directors Association
- · Order Sons of Italy In America
- · Shrewsbury Kiwanis Club
- · The American Society of Embalmers
Specializations
- · Pet Cremation Services
- · Sea Burials
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Christian (Catholic), Jewish, All Faiths.
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Mercadante Funeral Home. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“The exemplary service we received from Kevin and the entire team at Mercadante was simply top notch. Their sensitivity, empathy, flexibility, and service level were just outstanding! We are grateful for their support during this difficult time for our family. The services exceeded our expectations - thank you from all the Lemires!”
“Losing our beloved mother was one of the most painful and devastating experiences of our lives. During such a heartbreaking time, Stephen Gemelli and the entire staff at Mercadante Funeral Home treated my family and me with the utmost compassion, respect, and care. From the very beginning, Stephen showed genuine empathy and kindness. He walked us through every step of the process with patience and understanding, making sure we felt supported and never alone in our decisions. His professionalism, paired with heartfelt compassion, gave us a sense of peace and reassurance during such a difficult time. The entire Mercadante staff went above and beyond to ensure our mother’s services were handled with dignity and grace. They were attentive, comforting, and truly dedicated to honoring our mother’s life in the most beautiful way possible. I am forever grateful and thankful for how Stephen and his team treated us. Their support meant the world to my family and me, and I will never forget their kindness during our time of grief. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
“From start to finish, my experience with Mercadante Funeral Home was nothing short of exceptional. Stephen was incredibly kind, sincere, and helpful throughout the entire process, making a very difficult time much easier to bear. The communication was top-tier and every question I had was answered promptly and thoroughly. They truly went above and beyond to accommodate all of my needs, ensuring everything was handled with care and compassion. One of the most meaningful aspects was the beautiful keepsakes I received, which will help me cherish my father’s memory forever. I cannot thank Stephen and the team enough for their dedication and support. I highly recommend Mercadante to anyone in need of such services!”
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Mercadante Funeral Home, especially to Stephen Gemelli and your team, for handling every request we had with such care. We wanted calling hours in my mother’s home—a service that’s rarely done—and they made it look as if they’d done it a million times. Every detail was so beautifully and seamlessly carried out. My mother looked beautiful, and we received countless compliments on the professionalism of the staff. We never had to worry about anything because our funeral director was so attentive and proactive. I cannot recommend Mercadante Funeral Home more highly. They are compassionate, empathetic, and continue their support even after the service is over. Thank you for helping us through the hardest time of our lives and making it easier on us. Stephen and your team, you truly are the best!”
“The team at Mercadante Funeral Home are professional, caring. They listen and work with you, guide you through the process. In addition, they are knowledgeable and respect customers from different cultures. 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.