Veteran services at Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home
Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home, located in Cheektowaga, NY, assists those who served and their families. In their own words: "The funeral home offers military services and is affiliated with the Patriot Guard Riders. Their pre-planning form also includes a question about military service, indicating an accommodation for veterans' specific needs." Published pricing lists $4,505 for basic burial and $1,800 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include memorial services, graveside ceremonies, military services, basic cremation urn service options, full-service cremation urn service options, and cremation. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.
The nearest VA national cemetery is Western New York National Cemetery in NY, approximately 23 miles from Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home. Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
New York has approximately 1,440 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
Does Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home publish funeral prices?
Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home has not posted a full price list online. Under the FTC Funeral Rule it must provide itemized pricing on request — call (716) 897-2402, and ask how VA burial benefits apply.
Where is Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home is located at 2400 William Street in Cheektowaga, NY. You can reach the home at (716) 897-2402. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home provides traditional funeral services, memorial services, graveside ceremonies, military services, basic cremation urn service options, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
The funeral home offers military services and is affiliated with the Patriot Guard Riders. Their pre-planning form also includes a question about military service, indicating an accommodation for veterans' specific needs.
Which faith traditions does Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Lutheran, Orthodox families, among others.
What sets Orlowski-Pietszak Funeral Home apart
- Multi-generational family ownership and operation since 1912, with current leadership by Michael A. Klimeczko and his daughters, Wilhelmina and Janine Klimeczko, all licensed funeral directors.
- Offers personalized memorialization products, including Memorial Bears, pillows, blankets, and ornaments crafted from a loved one's clothing.
- Provides extensive grief support through an online Griefwords library, featuring resources from Dr. Alan Wolfelt of the Center for Loss and Life Transition.
- Offers detailed guidance and information regarding FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program.
- Affiliated with the Patriot Guard Riders, indicating specific support for military families and veterans.
- Operates a handicap accessible facility at its Cheektowaga location.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Graveside Ceremonies
- · Burial
Cremation
- · Basic Cremation Urn Service Options
- · Full-Service Cremation Urn Service Options
- · Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Cooperative Funeral Fund
- · NYSFDA
- · Patriot Guard Riders
Specializations
- · FEMA COVID-19 Reimbursement Assistance
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Lutheran, Orthodox.
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.