When Death Occurs

When A Death Occurs

Immediately following the death of a loved one, there are many decisions that must be made. At this time, you may find your emotions are heightened, and for that reason it is a good idea to ask for help in making decisions and arrangements. Additionally, the funeral home’s staff is honored to assist you in making the best decisions possible. This information can help guide you and your family through the process.

Contact The Proper Authorities

Before any arrangements and decisions can be made, a legal pronouncement of death must be declared. If your loved one dies inside of a medical or nursing facility (ie. hospital, nursing home, hospice house), the staff will handle getting this declaration made. If your loved one dies at home (not under hospice care), immediately contact (911) local emergency officials to come and pronounce the death. A family member who passes under hospice care will first call hospice, so a nurse can come out to the home to pronounce the death. This legal declaration must be made before the family can proceed with making any funeral arrangements or handling any legal affairs.

The Steps

1) Contact Family

If possible it would always be helpful to have someone with you while you contact other family members. Contacting them is difficult and there are no right words to make it easier. Immediate family often will gather to take part in making funeral arrangements. Out of town family will need to make travel arrangements as well, based on the date and time of the visitation and funeral. Your funeral director will help in setting a time when the family can meet to discuss the many details and gather the necessary information.

2) Contact Your Clergy

He or she may be your clergy or that of the deceased, or there may be other clergy known by different members of the family. They are waiting to offer you support and reassurance, to offer guidance and assistance. Call them.

3) Call the professional

Notify the funeral director. He or she has the knowledge to advise and assist you. Be sure to provide more than one telephone number, if available, so you can be reached promptly by return call.

If the death is in a health care facility, give that facility the name of your chosen funeral home. The facility will notify the funeral home when they are ready for the funeral home to come. If you do not hear from your funeral director within a reasonable time, call the funeral home. The health care facility may not have contacted the funeral director yet or you may be at a different phone number than the one given by the hospital to your funeral home.

If the death is at home, either the hospice nurse or the rescue squad and police will be required to respond. It is important that the proper steps be taken to meet local regulations and record the death with the appropriate medical and government entities. Remember that the questions police and rescue squad personnel may ask are simply to be sure that the required records are complete. They are there to help.

A death out of town, while on vacation or at a second home, can be the most confusing. Call your hometown funeral home and let them make the arrangements unless you are planning a service where the death occurred. They will arrange for your loved one to be brought back to your hometown.

4) Gather Important Papers

5) Talk and Remember