Westside Funeral Home

Veteran services at Westside Funeral Home

Veteran families in Palmetto, FL can turn to Westside Funeral Home for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Westside Funeral Homes provides specialized services for veterans, including assistance with obtaining government headstones or markers for unmarked graves, and securing burial flags. They help families navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and ensure appropriate military honors are arranged." On-site amenities include calera chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies.

Veteran-related services offered include burial, cremation, memorial service, 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 calera 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 Westside Funeral Home: direct cremation from $1,195. That places direct cremation roughly 25% below the Florida median ($1,595). 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 Sarasota National Cemetery in FL, approximately 22 miles from Westside Funeral Home. Westside Funeral Home can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Florida has approximately 1,014 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Westside Funeral Home is among them.

Frequently asked questions

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

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $1,195. 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 Westside Funeral Home located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Westside Funeral Home is located at 204 7Th Street West in Palmetto, FL. You can reach the home at (941) 722-4960. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Westside Funeral Home offer veteran families?

Westside Funeral Home provides burial, cremation, funeral service, grief support, memorial service, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Westside Funeral Home help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Westside Funeral Homes provides specialized services for veterans, including assistance with obtaining government headstones or markers for unmarked graves, and securing burial flags. They help families navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and ensure appropriate military honors are arranged.

Which faith traditions does Westside Funeral Home accommodate?

Staff coordinate services for Baptist families, among others.

What sets Westside Funeral Home apart

Owner Rickey DeLaine is a licensed Pharmacist and Funeral Director, bringing a unique professional background to funeral service.
Rickey DeLaine was honored with the "Entrepreneur of the Year" Award in 2009 upon launching the Fairfield location.
The Fairfield facility is recognized by the City Council as a distinguished business, indicating its quality and community standing.
The funeral home offers a year of daily grief support messages via email, extending care beyond the immediate services.

Military & veteran services offered

★Memorial Service

★Veterans Services

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Burial

Cremation

· Cremation

On-site facilities

· Fairfield Showroom

· Calera Chapel

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Alabama Funeral Directors Association

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Baptist.

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.