Veteran services at Messier Funeral Home
For veterans in Holyoke, MA, Messier Funeral Home coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "Messier Funeral Home assists families with death-related claims, including those related to VA insurance. They also facilitate services that may include offering veteran burial flags, as indicated by their association with Forestdale Cemetery." On-site amenities include on-site chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $6,600 for basic burial and $4,355 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. Early reviews are positive, averaging 5.0 stars across 11.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation, traditional burial, memorial service, graveside service, online memorials, and cemetery arrangements. 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 Messier Funeral Home: direct cremation from $4,355. That places direct cremation roughly 63% above 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 - Agawam in MA, approximately 10 miles from Messier Funeral Home. Messier Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Messier Funeral Home holds a 5.0-star rating from 11 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. Messier Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Messier Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $4,355. 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 Messier Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Messier Funeral Home is located at 1944 Northampton Street in Holyoke, MA. You can reach the home at (413) 532-5491. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Messier Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Messier Funeral Home provides cremation, traditional burial, memorial service, graveside service, pre-arrangement, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Messier Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Messier Funeral Home assists families with death-related claims, including those related to VA insurance. They also facilitate services that may include offering veteran burial flags, as indicated by their association with Forestdale Cemetery.
Which faith traditions does Messier Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic families, among others.
How do families rate Messier Funeral Home?
Messier Funeral Home holds a 5.0-star rating across 11 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Messier Funeral Home apart
- Specialization in supporting families with 'Children & Grief' and 'Death Away From Home' situations.
- Offering 'UrnSpiration' personalized cremation urn collections.
- Providing a year of weekly grief support messages.
- Utilizing online memorial tools, tribute videos, and integrated flower ordering directly from obituaries.
- Employing life celebrants to lead personalized memorial services.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Traditional Burial
- · Graveside Service
Cremation
- · Cremation
- · Crematory Arrangements
- · Urn Selection
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Milestone Funeral Partners, LLC
- · Milestone Funeral Services of MA, LLC
Specializations
- · Children & Grief
- · Death Away From Home
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic. Languages spoken at the home: English.
What families have said
Recent reviews from families who used Messier Funeral Home. Reviews are sourced from Google Places and shown verbatim — we do not edit or filter for sentiment.
“I recently had my mom's services at Messiers (as well as my dad's in 2014) at Messiers Funeral Home. I found owners Jen and Brian to be very accommodating to the family's wishes. My sister and I met with Jen on more than one occasion as well as several calls and each time they were understanding, respectful, and sympathetic. The services for each of my parents were exactly as requested. I would definitely recommend them to anyone!”
“On July 24, 2019, my beloved mother had passed away. We had her services here with Messier funeral home and they did a fantastic job with preparing her body the services to decoration and even at the gravesite. Then six years later unfortunately this past March my dear sweet 12-year-old had passed away, and we again reached out to Messier for cremation this time, and although her cremations were handled by a sister facility, everything was wonderful, And a smooth process, we couldn’t ask for more help more sincerity and understanding of what we were going through with our child. Everything was done in a timely manner with the best quality, even when receiving her earn and all the necklace pieces for her siblings. My whole family is grateful for the way both of our loved ones were handled with such professionalism and such care and delicacy. We truly, truly, truly appreciated it!!!”
“Mike Usher is very professional and runs a very respectful funeral home. He took care of my brother in-laws Wilfredo Nieves service in June and again in October for my mother in-law Dominga Rivera. And all we have for Mike Usher is gratitude and respect. This has been a difficult year for myself and my wife, and Mike has taken care of everything for us from start to end and has made it easier for us to put my brother-in law and my mother in law to rest! We the Adjuder family recommend for you when the time ever comes to use Messier Funeral Home. Everything they do at Messier's is done with love ❤️ Thanks Mike & Kate”
“In such an emotional time in a family's life. It was so comforting to have all staff at Messier Funeral Home to lean on. The time they took to answer and explain all question and concerns in great detail was most appreciated. Every member showed patients, empathy and understanding. We walked in nervous of the unknown. Left, with a smile feeling confident in our choices. Thank you!”
“"I cannot recommend Messier funeral home highly enough. Losing my mother was incredibly hard, but the staff here were a calm and steady presence throughout the entire process. They managed all the logistics seamlessly, clearly explaining our options and taking the burden of planning off our shoulders. More importantly, their genuine kindness and respect made us feel cared for, not just like clients.”
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.