Veteran services at Staples Funeral Home
Staples Funeral Home in Gardiner, ME supports veteran families with military funeral arrangements. The team handles VA burial allowances, honor-guard coordination, and national-cemetery scheduling. Published pricing lists a quoted rate for basic burial and $2,695 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs. Community feedback sits at 4.7 stars from 51 reviews.
Published pricing at Staples Funeral Home: direct cremation from $2,695. That places direct cremation roughly 15% above the Maine median ($2,350). 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 Central Maine Veterans Cemetery - Civic Center Dr in ME, approximately 8 miles from Staples Funeral Home. Staples Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.
Staples Funeral Home also accommodates Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Secular Humanist, and Lgbtq Affirming traditions for veterans whose religious or cultural observance shapes the service. Military honors can be integrated into the family's tradition with no conflict — the honor detail observes the family's pace.
Staples Funeral Home holds a 4.7-star rating from 51 Google reviews, indicating consistent service quality reported by families who have used the home for veteran and non-veteran services alike.
Maine has approximately 133 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Staples Funeral Home is among them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a funeral at Staples Funeral Home cost for veteran families?
From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $2,695. 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 Staples Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?
Staples Funeral Home is located at 53 Brunswick Ave. in Gardiner, ME. You can reach the home at (207) 582-3102. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.
Does Staples Funeral Home offer cremation for veterans?
Yes. Direct cremation at Staples Funeral Home starts at $2,695. Cremated veterans remain eligible for inurnment in a VA national cemetery.
Does Staples Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?
Staples Funeral Home assists veteran families with VA burial benefits, military funeral honors, and coordination with national and state veterans cemeteries. Eligible veterans may receive a burial allowance and a free government headstone.
How do families rate Staples Funeral Home?
Staples Funeral Home holds a 4.7-star rating across 51 Google reviews from local families and veterans.
What families have said
Brock handles intake with quick responsiveness; Danny brings personal empathy to graveside services. Follow-up aftercare with Melissa and Holly covers financial planning and grief support through Abide & Full Circle—a comprehensive service that felt respectful throughout.
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.