Simkins Funeral Home

Veteran services at Simkins Funeral Home

Simkins Funeral Home in Morton Grove, IL supports veteran families with military funeral arrangements. In their own words: "Simkins Funeral Home provides specialized services for veterans, including assistance with headstones and burial flags." On-site amenities include on-site chapel and parking lots, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $5,400 for basic burial and $2,850 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include cremation service, memorial service, graveside service, permanent memorialization (urn at home), urn burial, and veteran services. 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 Simkins Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,850. That places direct cremation roughly 14% above the Illinois median ($2,495). 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 Fort Sheridan National Cemetery in IL, approximately 12 miles from Simkins Funeral Home. Simkins Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Illinois has approximately 1,192 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Simkins Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Simkins Funeral Home cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,850. 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 Simkins Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Simkins Funeral Home is located at 6251 Dempster St. in Morton Grove, IL. You can reach the home at (847) 965-2500. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Simkins Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Simkins Funeral Home provides cremation service, traditional funeral service, memorial service, graveside service, permanent memorialization (urn at home), and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Simkins Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Simkins Funeral Home provides specialized services for veterans, including assistance with headstones and burial flags.

Which faith traditions does Simkins Funeral Home accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for All Faiths, Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ families, among others.

What sets Simkins Funeral Home apart

Family owned and operated since 1939, now in its third generation of family leadership.
Historically provided the only emergency ambulance service in the area until 1967.
Facility is handicap accessible with no-step entrance, and chapels and restrooms on one level.
Offers abundant parking with two large parking lots.
Recently remodeled facilities, including an expanded chapel for larger gatherings.
Provides 24-hour accessibility for immediate assistance.

Military & veteran services offered

★Memorial Service

★Permanent Memorialization (Urn At Home)

★Veteran Services

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Graveside Service

Cremation

· Cremation Service
· Urn Burial

On-site facilities

· On-site Chapel

· Arrangement Office

· Casket Selection Room

· Cremation Urn Room

· Coffee Room

· Lobby

· Lounge

· Parking Lots

· Handicap Accessibility

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Consolidated Funeral Services, Inc.
· Tribute Technology

Specializations

· Grief Support
· Children & Grief
· Preplanning

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: All Faiths, Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ. Languages spoken at the home: English.

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.