Riles & Woolley Funeral Home

Veteran services at Riles & Woolley Funeral Home

Riles & Woolley Funeral Home serves veteran families in Forestville, NY with military funeral planning. In their own words: "The funeral home assists with pre-arrangements for veterans, including the handling of veteran's discharge papers." On-site amenities include spacious viewing chapel, viewing chapels (3 total), and off-street parking (handicap accessible), suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,000 for basic burial and $2,870 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include immediate burial and immediate 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 spacious viewing chapel and viewing chapels (3 total). 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 Riles & Woolley Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,870. That places direct cremation roughly 25% above the New York median ($2,300). 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 Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home Cemetery in PA, approximately 51 miles from Riles & Woolley Funeral Home. Riles & Woolley 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. Riles & Woolley Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Riles & Woolley Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,870. 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 Riles & Woolley Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Riles & Woolley Funeral Home is located at 39 Main Street in Forestville, NY. You can reach the home at (716) 965-2941. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Riles & Woolley Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Riles & Woolley Funeral Home provides traditional funeral, immediate burial, immediate cremation, preplanning, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Riles & Woolley Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

The funeral home assists with pre-arrangements for veterans, including the handling of veteran's discharge papers.

Which faith traditions does Riles & Woolley Funeral Home accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Wesleyan families, among others.

What sets Riles & Woolley Funeral Home apart

Independently owned and operated since 1927, with continuous family involvement through Mark Woolley, a Forestville native.
Extensive facility renovations in 2001, including a grand foyer with handicap ramp, three viewing chapels, and heated sidewalks.
One of the first funeral homes in Chautauqua County to install its own refrigeration unit (2017), accommodating up to three individuals.
Integrated built-in webcam for virtual funeral services via Zoom, implemented during COVID-19 restrictions.
Assistance with Medicaid-compliant irrevocable trust accounts for funeral preplanning, as well as revocable trust options.

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Immediate Burial

Cremation

· Immediate Cremation

On-site facilities

· New Entrance

· Grand Foyer

· Handicap Ramp

· Extra Deep Handicap Steps

· Arrangements Office

· Spacious Viewing Chapel

· Viewing Chapels (3 total)

· Embalming Room

· Men's Restroom (Handicap Accessible)

· Women's Restroom (Handicap Accessible)

· Baby Changing Tables

· Music System

· Public Address System

· Seating Capacity (up to 200 people)

· Off-Street Parking (Handicap Accessible)

· Two-Lane Exit Driveway

· Heated Sidewalks

· Refrigeration Unit

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Chautauqua County Funeral Directors Association
· New York State Funeral Directors Association
· National Funeral Directors Association

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Wesleyan, Lutheran.

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 Settlement

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.