South Coast Chapel Mortuary

Veteran services at South Coast Chapel Mortuary

For veterans in East Freetown, MA, South Coast Chapel Mortuary coordinates military honors and burial benefits. In their own words: "South Coast Chapel Mortuary offers a "Complete Veterans Funeral Package" for eligible veterans discharged under honorable conditions (DD 214 papers required). This package includes a choice of four quality caskets (two metal, two wood), transfer from the place of death, securing permits and documents, professional services of a licensed funeral director and staff, embalming and other preparation, a funeral service at a church, the chapel, or graveside with full military honors, visitation prior to the service, a funeral coach, one certified copy of the death certificate, a stationary package, and burial in Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts. The mortuary also assists with Department of Veteran Affairs benefits, including grave markers/headstones and military U.S. flags. Military Funeral Honors (MFH) include the folding and presentation of the U.S. flag and the playing of Taps, performed by at least two Armed Forces members. Eligibility extends to active duty military, Selected Reserve members, and former military members with honorable discharges." On-site amenities include chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $4,000 for basic burial and $3,230 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include memorial service, 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 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.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Massachusetts National Cemetery in MA, approximately 20 miles from South Coast Chapel Mortuary. South Coast Chapel Mortuary can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

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. South Coast Chapel Mortuary is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets South Coast Chapel Mortuary apart

• Christine L. Hatfield, RN, Type 3 Funeral Director & Embalmer, personally answers the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without using an answering service.
• Christine L. Hatfield possesses over 30 years of nursing experience and more than 20 years in funeral service.
• The mortuary operates by the "Golden Rule," welcoming and serving individuals of all faiths without discrimination.
• Explicitly states non-affiliation with the Mackinnon Family of Funeral Homes.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Catholic, All Faiths. Languages spoken at the home: English.

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.