When Death Occurs
The overwhelming feelings of despair, disbelief, shock, and numbness caused by the passing of a loved one cannot be conveyed by mere words. Even when the death is expected, the pain that loss brings can still be devastating. In truth, no one is completely prepared for the death of someone close to their heart.
During this difficult time, there are decisions to be made immediately, arrangements to be coordinated, and a lot of things to be considered for your loved one’s final farewell. We understand how this may feel overwhelming, especially with the grief you’re feeling over the loss. Please know that we are here to help and support you.
On this page, we’ve put together helpful information to guide you through this process.
Notify Proper Authorities
If your loved one passes away while under the care of a facility — such as a nursing home or a hospital — staff from the facility will contact you and notify the funeral home and the appropriate authorities themselves.
If the loved one that dies is on hospice, please call your hospice provider (not 911). They will come to the place of death and provide the legal procedures necessary prior to calling the funeral home.
If the death occurred in the workplace or at home, you will need to call 911 for emergency medical personnel, as the Coroner will determine the cause of death must be identified and indicated in legal documents.
In the event that no one was present at the time of death, you will need to contact 911 and the Coroner will need to investigate the death and he/she will contact the funeral home at the appropriate time.
Call the Funeral Home
The facility, Hospice Nurse, or coroner will make the initial call to notify the funeral home. We will collect information from them in order to facilitate the transfer of your loved one’s remains to our facility. Upon the funeral home staff's arrival, you would also be asked if the deceased has made pre-arrangements and whether or not you’d like for him/her to be embalmed. While of course you can ask any questions you have in your mind during this call, note that once you visit the funeral home, we can discuss the arrangements in greater detail.
During this time, you’ll also be informed about the things that you need to bring with you like the clothes your deceased loved one will use for the burial. Feel free to call us whenever you feel the need to. Remember that we are here to listen to you, help you, and guide you during this difficult and trying time.
Meet the Funeral Director
On your first meeting with us, we will discuss the arrangements for your loved one’s burial. You will be shown a list of our services so you can decide what suits your family’s preferences and budget. You will be asked whether you’d prefer burial or cremation arrangements and optionally you would select a casket, vault, and memorial stationary, schedule a time and date for the services, decide on the location of the burial, draft an obituary notice, and select pallbearers and clergy.
We would also use this opportunity to inquire about your loved one for us to have a better understanding of the person the services will honor. It will be extremely helpful if you can bring a photo that would give us a clearer picture on how you envision paying tribute to your loved one.
File for a Death Certificate
A death certificate is a legal document indicating the cause of death, including other vital statistics pertaining to the deceased, signed by the attending physician or Coroner. Certified copies of the death certificate can also be purchased during the arrangement conference. These certified copies are important when gaining access to bank accounts and safety deposit boxes, claiming for benefits due to the family (like the Veteran’s benefits or insurance claims), and transferring or selling ownership of properties.
