Page 20 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 15, 2024 avvya yavvy eniiooravvy S iorn or v y io iori by Jim Miller Of Malden. How to Tap Underutilized Burial Benefits for Veterans Dear Savvy Senior, What types of funeral benefi ts are available to old veterans? My 83-year-old father, who has Alzheimer’s disease, served during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Planning Ahead Dear Planning, Department of Veterans Aff airs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration actually off ers a variety of underutilized burial benefi ts to veterans as well as their spouses and dependents. Most U.S. veterans (both combat and non-combat) who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge are eligible for burial benefi ts. To verify your dad’s discharge, you’ll need a copy of his DD Form 214 “Certifi cate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.” If you don’t have it, you can request online at Archives.gov/veterans. Here’s a rundown of some of the diff erent benefi ts that are available to veterans that die a nonservice related death. Military Cemetery Benefi ts If your dad’s eligible and would like to be buried in one of the 155 national or 119 state, territory or tribal-operated cemeteries (see VA.gov/fi nd-locations), the VA provides a number of benefi ts at no cost to the family, including: a gravesite; opening and closing of the grave and perpetual gravesite care; a government headstone or marker; a United States burial fl ag that can be used to drape the casket or accompany the urn; and a Presidential Memorial Certifi cate. If your dad is cremated, his remains will be buried or inurned in the same manner as casketed remains. But be aware that funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are not taken care of by the VA. They are the responsibility of the veteran’s family, but some veteran’s survivors may be eligible for burial allowances. The VA also off ers a memorial web page called the Veterans Legacy Memorial for any veteran buried in a national, state, territorial or tribal cemetery. This allows families to post pictures and stories of their loved one online as a way to remember and honor their service. If you’re interested in this option, the VA has a pre-need burial eligibility determination program to help you plan ahead before your dad passes. See VA.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility or call the National Cemetery Scheduling Offi ce at 800535-1117. Private Cemetery Benefi ts The VA also provides benefi ts to veterans buried in private cemeteries. If your dad chooses this option, the VA benefi ts include a free government headstone or grave marker, or a medallion that can be affi xed to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker; a burial fl ag; and a Presidential Memorial Certifi cate. Funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are again the responsibility of the family, and there are no benefi ts off ered to spouses and dependents that are buried in private cemeteries. Military Funeral Honors Another popular benefi t available to all eligible veterans buried in either a national or private cemetery is a military funeral honors ceremony. This includes an honor guard detail of at least two uniformed military persons, folding and presenting the U.S. burial fl ag to the veteran’s survivors, and the playing of Taps. The funeral provider you choose will be able to assist you with all VA burial requests. Depending on what you want, certain forms may need to be completed which are always better to be done in advance. For a complete rundown of burial and memorial benefi ts, eligibility details and required forms visit Cem.va.gov. Burial Allowances In addition to the burial benefi ts, some veteran’s survivors may also qualify for a $948 burial allowance and $948 for a plot to those who choose to be buried in a private cemetery. And $231 for a headstone or grave marker allowance. To fi nd out if your dad is eligible or to apply, see VA.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Claire T. (O’Brien) Hubauer, who passed away on March 5, 2024. She was 91 years old. Claire was a lifelong resident of Malden. She was a 1950 graduate of Malden High School and a member of the National Honor Society and Pep Squad. Claire was a longtime employee of Nelson’s bakery before going to work for the Registry of Motor Vehicles. She then worked for the City of Malden wire and building department which she retired from. Claire liked to travel and enjoyed her trips to Ireland. She also loved visiting Charleston, SC and her trip to England. One of her favorite activities was shopping for her grandchildren and showering them with gifts. She cherished her grandchildren and great grandchildren and had so much love for them. Claire was the wife of the late Robert J. Hubauer. She was the loving mother of the late Robert J. Hubauer Jr and his surviving wife Elizabeth of GA, Shawn J. Hubauer of Malden, and Mary Clare Carney and her husband Christopher of South Carolina. Claire is pre-deceased by 6 brothers and 3 sisters. She was the cherished grandmother of Robert III, Jennifer, Nicole, Mark, Sarah, Shawn, Katherine, Matthew, Christopher and Erin, and great grandmother of Andrew, Matthew, Riley, Venessa, Dylan, Victoria, Bryce, Emma, Savannah, Raleigh, Salem, Warren, Trenton, Stella and Megan. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Claire was the lifelong friend of Marilyn McMahon of Malden. Over the past few years Claire enjoyed fun Fridays with her friend Amanda Spartichino-Lopez. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Funeral was from the A. J. OBITUARIES Claire T. (O'Brien) Hubauer Spadafora Funeral Home, Malden on Wednesday March 13th followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Joseph’s Church, Malden. Visiting hours were held at the funeral home on Tuesday March 12th. Interment was in Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of fl owers donations in Claire’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org Eleanor E. Cronin Of Malden. On March 12. Beloved wife of the late Ernest T. “Ernie” Cronin. Loving mother of Kathleen Cronin of Malden, Thomas Cronin and his wife Lillian of Tewksbury, Steven Cronin and his wife Linda of Stoneham, David Cronin and his wife Mary of Madison, New Hampshire and Daniel Cronin and his wife Anne of Framingham. Dear sister of Anne Cerasuolo of Long Island, New York and the late Mary Fandel and Jack Hanley. Loving grandmother of Michael, Michelle, Sean, Kaylie, Christine, Brian, Kerri, Nicole, Katie, Nora and Elizabeth. Loving great grandmother of Alexandra, Tyler, Maeve and Elyse. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Eleanor was raised and educated in Medford. She has been a resident of Malden since 1955. After raising her children, she began her career as a clerk for Boston Federal Savings Bank, retiring after several years of service. She was a longtime parishioner at Immaculate Conception Parish in Malden and was a former member of the Immaculate Conception Grammar School Mother’s Club. First and foremost, Eleanor was a homemaker who enjoyed taking care of and spending time with her family. Relatives & friends are invited to attend visiting hours at the Breslin Funeral Home, 610 Pleasant St., Malden on Friday March 15th from 9-11 AM followed by her Funeral Mass celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, 600 Pleasant St., Malden at 11:30 AM. Services will conclude with interment in Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden. In lieu of fl owers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452 (www.alz.org) or to the charity of your choice. Mary Lou Mallon Of Malden. On March 9th. Beloved daughter of the late Bernard and Pauline (Perry) Mallon. Dear sister of the late Robert Mallon and his wife Betty, John Mallon and his wife Jean, Patricia Pancygrau and her husband Henry, Marjorie O’Neil and her husband Russell and Richard Mallon and his surviving wife Evelyn of Stoneham. Dear friend of Charles Bosselman of Somerville. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Mary Lou has been a lifelong resident of Malden. For many years, she worked in the housekeeping department at Malden Hospital. An active parishioner at Immaculate Conception Parish in Malden, Mary Lou enjoyed being a member of the choir and was also a member of Catholic Daughters. She was an avid bowler, stamp collector and volunteered her time raising funds for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Relatives & friends were invited to attend her funeral from the Breslin Funeral Home, , Malden on Thursday March 14th followed by her Funeral Mass celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, Malden. Services concluded with interment in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. In lieu of fl owers, donations in her memory may be made to the MSPCA, www.mspca.org/ give . For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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