We file the Social Security 721 Form as a courtesy to every family we serve, so that Social Security is notified of the death of the individual. Social Security will pay a lump sum death benefit of $255 to a surviving spouse, OR a disabled minor child. If the deceased was not married, already widowed, or divorced at the time of death, the benefit does not apply. Further, if there is a surviving widowed spouse, Social Security will contact you via the information we submit to them. Depending on age, etc., there may be a survivor’s benefit. Social Security will have a telephone interview with the surviving spouse to make their determination. You do NOT have to contact them; they will contact you directly.

U.S. Military Veterans and their dependents may be entitled to a variety of benefits depending on their circumstances. One of our Funeral Directors or an agent of the Veterans Affairs office can help you determine what benefits can be claimed. To be eligible for most benefits, you must be:

Spouses and dependent children of eligible living or deceased Veterans may also be eligible for benefits. Your Military Discharge (form DD-214) will be required by the funeral home and the Veterans' Administration when applying for benefits.

The United States Government provides an American flag to be folded or draped on the casket of a Veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. After the funeral service, the flag will be given to the spouse, next of kin or a close associate of the deceased. Only one flag will be issued per Veteran. Our funeral home will obtain this flag for you.

The United States Government provides no cost burial in a National or State Owned Veterans' Cemetery to all those eligible. This often includes the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a grave liner or outer burial container, and in most cases, a grave for the spouse and or the dependant child of the Veteran. Many National Cemeteries have columbaria niches for the inurnment of cremated remains or a special section for burial of cremated remains. (Your Military Discharge, form DD-214, is required for this benefit.) The closest National Veterans Cemetery that accepts new burials is Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, Long Island, NY. All of the other area National Veterans Cemeteries no longer have room for new interments, however, they are still open for burials of a spouse or dependent child of an already buried person. The State owned Veterans Cemetery, Brigadier General William C. Doyle NJ Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located in the Arnytown section of Hanover Township, NJ, near McGuire Air Force Base and Six Flags Great Adventure. It is approximately 90 minutes or 65 miles from our funeral home.

The United States Government will provide a headstone or marker for the graves of Veterans and eligible dependents at any cemetery in the world. Flat bronze, flat granite, flat marble and upright marble types are available. Bronze niche markers may also be available to mark columbaria in national cemeteries, or any cemetery that will accept markers for a niche. The monument will be free of charge, but there will most likely be a charge from your cemetery for installation. You may also wish to add limited information or "terms of endearment" to the marker at an additional cost to you. Please note that delivery of a headstone or marker, in most cases, may take from three to six months or longer.

The United States Government provides a $300.00 burial and funeral expense allowance for Veterans who, prior to their passing, were disabled as a result of their service or were entitled to receive a pension or compensation in lieu of military retirement pay. Eligibility is also established when death occurs in a Veterans Administration facility or a nursing home with which the Veterans Administration has contracted. Additional costs for transportation of the remains may be reimbursed in such cases. Claims must be filed within two years after permanent burial or cremation. Our Funeral Directors will complete the necessary claim forms for you.

Burial at sea is a means of final disposition of either intact human remains or cremated remains. This is offered to, and utilized by, active duty, retired, and honorably discharged Veterans from all branches of the United States military. Burial at sea services are performed while a Navy vessel is on official maneuvers, therefore, it is impossible for the family to be present. The commanding officer of the vessel will notify the family of the date and time of the committal service and the approximate location where the burial took place. Our Funeral Directors will make the necessary preparations and explain the method in which the Military requires this to be done.

If you have any questions regarding Veterans entitlements or how we can assist you in planning Military funeral services, please contact us. If you need to speak to Military personnel, please try the number or link listed below.

Grave sites at Doyle Cemetery cannot be reserved in advance. At the time of need, the next of kin should obtain services from a local funeral home. To request burial, the funeral director should call the Cemetery’s Interment Office at 609-758-7250 while the next of kin is present.

Before scheduling the burial, the cemetery staff must determine eligibility. Fax any documents requested by the cemetery staff to 609-758-0169. The burial will be scheduled after eligibility is established. The same procedure is followed if an eligible dependent predeceases the qualifying veteran.

Burial services are scheduled, by appointment, Monday thru Friday only, excluding State holidays, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please arrive at the cemetery approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time. If attending chapel services, please proceed directly to the chapel. For all other services, please report to the cemetery’s Administration Building.

Family members and friends must provide for their own transportation when attending burial services at Doyle Cemetery.

There is no cost for burial at Doyle Cemetery unless the next of kin elects not to use a state provided grave liner. The next of kin may choose to purchase a vault in place of the state provided grave liner that is placed inside the grave site.

The next of kin is responsible for all costs associated with preparation and transportation of the casketed or cremated remains to Doyle Cemetery except in cases when the death occurred while on active duty in the Armed Forces. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Social Security Administration may also provide some monetary assistance. Please contact these agencies for additional information.

Grave sites are assigned on the afternoon of the business day prior to the scheduled interment. The next available in-ground grave site is assigned without regard to rank, color, creed, or gender of the eligible service member. When requested, a grave as close as possible to an interred relative or personal friend of the deceased may be assigned, but please note that some sections of the cemetery no longer have grave space available.

Pre-registration for interment at Doyle Cemetery is encouraged. While it does not guarantee a grave site, it can help avoid confusion and possible delays at the time of need. Pre-registration must be accomplished in person and may be done either at the cemetery or any Veterans Service Office.

We will complete and file the original death certificate to obtain certified copies for the family. Once this has been done, additional copies may be ordered in one of two places: Either the municipality in which the death occurred, or the State Health Department in Trenton, NJ.

For further information you can visit the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services website. For specific information on municipal registrars, information or assistance, please contact our funeral home.

To obtain a copy of an autopsy report from the Newark Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, you may contact them directly at (973) 648-3914, and give them the name of the deceased and date of death. The Medical Examiner’s Office staff will go over any additional information that may be required, and also discuss if there are any fees due. The Newark Regional Medical Examiners Office serves the following counties: Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Somerset. For contact information on obtaining autopsy reports from another Medical Examiners Office outside of the Newark Regional area, please contact our funeral home for assistance.

The AARP website contains a wealth of practical information for people of all ages. Please click on the link to their website to access their many areas and campaigns.

The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association is a nationally recognized state level professional trade organization providing funeral related education, information, pre-need vehicles and other services to the public and to its membership. All of our licensed funeral directors belong to the NJSFDA .

The Forethought Life Insurance Company began business in 1986 with the sole purpose of providing life insurance products to pay for future funeral expenses. Their products are offered exclusively through funeral homes by licensed funeral directors like Frank X. Mulligan, Jr. who also maintains a special insurance producers license.

An online directory of bereavement support groups and services from across the USA.

A Safe and wonderful place for kids to share and to help each other deal with grief about any of their losses. It is a place to share and deal with feelings, to show artwork and stories, to talk about pets, to meet with one’s peers. KIDSAID is owned and run by Griefnet.

Provides information services and technical assistance on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and related topics.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support – SHARE’s mission is to serve those who are touched by the tragic death of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death. Web site offers packet of grief literature, information on local chapters, bi-monthly newsletter, resources.

Survivors of Suicide – A directory of SOS chapters, excerpts from their quarterly newsletter and suggestions for suicide survivors are available at this site.

The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.

The Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees.

The secret of TCF's success is simple: As seasoned grievers reach out to the newly bereaved, energy that has been directed inward begins to flow outward and both are helped to heal. The vision of The Compassionate Friends is that everyone who needs us will find us and everyone who finds us will be helped.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is the most effective youth mentoring association in America, as research has proven. Founded in 1904, they are also the oldest and largest such organization. They serve over 225,000 young people ages 5 through 18, in 5,000 communities through a network of 470 agencies.

St. Cecilia’s Church, Kearny (201) 991-1116 Leave your name and telephone number, and you will be contacted by the group facilitator for meeting dates/times

St. Huberts Animal Welfare and Education Center Madison, NJ Call (973) 377-2295 from 12 - 4 daily Certified bereavement counselor conducts support group that meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.