Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home

Veteran services at Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home

For veterans in Russellton, PA, Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home provides Military Funeral Honors, which include the folding and presentation of the United States flag to the veteran's family and the playing of Taps. The ceremony is performed by a funeral honors detail with at least two members of the Armed Forces, with at least one from the deceased veteran's branch of service. Eligibility extends to military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve, and former military members with honorable discharges. The preferred method to establish eligibility is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Information on obtaining this form and other eligibility details are provided." On-site amenities include chapels, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $3,605 for basic burial and $2,780 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include burial, cremation, and veterans 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 chapels. 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 Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home: direct cremation from $1,875. That places direct cremation roughly 21% below the Pennsylvania median ($2,375). 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 National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in PA, approximately 27 miles from Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home. Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Pennsylvania has approximately 1,623 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Siwicki-Yanicko Funeral Home apart

• Owner William A. Yanicko's personal commitment to treating every family as his own, a tradition he pledged to continue upon purchasing the funeral home.
• Extensive and long-standing community involvement of the owner, William A. Yanicko, across numerous local civic, religious, and emergency service organizations.
• Comprehensive grief support resources, including a year of daily email messages provided after services.
• Specialized expertise and detailed resources for Veterans' services, outlining eligibility and honor details.
• Facilitates sending flowers directly through local florists via their website, aiming to save families on wire service fees.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, Nazarene, Ukrainian Orthodox, Methodist.

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.