Veteran services at Riley Funeral Home
Riley Funeral Home serves veteran families in Lansing, MI with military funeral planning. In their own words: "Riley Funeral Home provides services for veterans, as indicated by obituaries for U.S. Air Force veterans." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists a quoted rate for basic burial and $2,845 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.
Veteran-related services offered include cremation services, direct cremation, traditional burial, and memorial service. 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 Riley Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,845. That places direct cremation roughly 29% above the Michigan median ($2,200). 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 Great Lakes National Cemetery in MI, approximately 48 miles from Riley Funeral Home. Riley Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Michigan has approximately 836 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Riley Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Riley Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,845. 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 Riley Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Riley Funeral Home is located at 426 West Saint Joseph Street in Lansing, MI. You can reach the home at (517) 372-6009. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Riley Funeral Home offer veteran families?
Riley Funeral Home provides cremation services, direct cremation, traditional burial, funeral service, memorial service, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Riley Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Riley Funeral Home provides services for veterans, as indicated by obituaries for U.S. Air Force veterans.
Which faith traditions does Riley Funeral Home accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for African Methodist Episcopal (AME), Baptist, Church of God in Christ (Pentecostal), Nondenominational Christian, Catholic (implied by St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery) families, among others.
What sets Riley Funeral Home apart
- Long-standing family ownership and operation since 1957, with James R. Riley, Jr. leading the firm for over 30 years.
- Mr. James R. Riley, Jr.'s specialized expertise as a Master Embalmer, Restoration Artist, and Certified Cremation Practitioner (CCP).
- Emphasis on personalized, meaningful memorials tailored to individual creeds, cultures, and costs.
- Extensive online resources for grief support, funeral etiquette, and planning insights, including content adapted from grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt.
- Affiliations with a wide range of professional associations and community organizations, including several local churches and fraternal groups like Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Free and Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliation.
Military & veteran services offered
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Traditional Burial
Cremation
- · Cremation Services
- · Direct Cremation
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · National Funeral Directors Association
- · National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association
- · Michigan Funeral Directors Association
- · Independent Family Funeral Home Association
- · International Funeral Associates Association
- · Michigan Embalmers Society
Specializations
- · Veteran services
- · Military Honors services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: African Methodist Episcopal (AME), Baptist, Church of God in Christ (Pentecostal), Nondenominational Christian, Catholic (implied by St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery). Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish.
Branches of service supported
Based on the home's stated services and specializations, Riley Funeral Home has documented experience supporting the following branches:
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.