Veteran services at Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals
For veterans in New Bedford, MA, Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "The funeral home facilitates services with military honors, as evidenced by an obituary mentioning a committal service with military honors at Massachusetts National Cemetery. They also direct families to resources like the Veterans Transition House. [cite: obituary for George W. Wells]" On-site amenities include on-site chapel and ample off-street parking, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $6,125 for basic burial and $2,635 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. Local families rate the firm 4.9 stars across 105 Google reviews.
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 Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals: direct cremation from $2,635. That places direct cremation roughly 2% 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 National Cemetery in MA, approximately 36 miles from Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals. Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals holds a 4.9-star rating from 105 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. Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,635. 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 Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals is located at 495 Park Street in New Bedford, MA. You can reach the home at (508) 994-0100. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
What services does Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals offer veteran families?
Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals provides pre-planning, graveside service, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.
Does Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals help veterans with VA burial benefits?
The funeral home facilitates services with military honors, as evidenced by an obituary mentioning a committal service with military honors at Massachusetts National Cemetery. They also direct families to resources like the Veterans Transition House. [cite: obituary for George W. Wells]
Which faith traditions does Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals accommodate?
Staff coordinate services for Catholic, Christian, Unitarian Universalist, Jewish families, among others.
How do families rate Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals?
Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals holds a 4.9-star rating across 105 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What sets Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals apart
- Family-owned and operated since 1951, spanning multiple generations.
- Operates two distinct locations in New Bedford and Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.
- Available seven days a week for planning and pre-planning consultations.
- Offers comprehensive personalization options, including tribute videos, keepsakes, live streaming, and online memorials.
- Provides a year of grief support messages following services.
Burial & cremation services
Burial
- · Graveside Service
On-site facilities
Affiliations & specializations
Industry affiliations
- · Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association
- · Sacred Heart Home
- · Our Lady’s Haven
- · Better Community Living, Inc.
- · New England Funeral Trust
Specializations
- · Veterans Services
Religious traditions & languages
Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Christian, Unitarian Universalist, Jewish. Languages spoken at the home: English, Spanish.
What families have said
Bill coordinated our parents' arrangements over decades, maintaining clear guidance and steady focus throughout. Whether preplanning or managing tight schedules, Saunders-Dwyer proved organized and responsive to our needs.
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.