When Death Occurs
Where to Begin
Planning a funeral can be overwhelming, but you are not alone in this. We’re here to support you throughout this journey and make this process one of love, healing, and life celebration. Below is some information to help you get started, but you can contact us at any time if you need help.
Within Hours
When a loved one dies at home or in a place that isn’t a healthcare facility, you’ll need to contact emergency personnel before they can be taken into our care. If your loved one was under medical care, it’s a good idea to call their physician as well. If your loved one dies in a healthcare facility, they will notify the proper authorities, including the funeral home you have chosen to care for your loved one if they know that information. If your loved one was in hospice prior to death, you will be contacting them first.
Emergency and medical personnel involved in this part of the process will help you with obtaining a medical certificate and any other necessary paperwork. This part of the process is often the most emotional, and we are here to help and support you. If you’re not sure what to do, call us any time.
Within the First Few Days
You’ll want to notify close friends and relatives, both through personal phone calls as well as your loved one’s death notice. If this process is too painful for you, it’s absolutely okay to ask a trusted family member or friend to help you. This also is the time to review any of your loved one’s preplanned funeral wishes and meet with a funeral director to begin planning their service. If your loved one did not preplan their funeral, you might want to start thinking about a few of the big choices you will need to make, such as:
- Burial or cremation
- If burial, the location of their final resting place in a grave or mausoleum
- If cremation, the type of urn
- If cremation, the location of their final resting place through burial or scattering
- Any religious services you will need, such as clergy or spiritual leaders
- The types of services you want, such as a viewing, service, graveside memorial, etc.
These questions are just a starting point, and you don’t need to know the answers right away. Don’t hesitate to contact us to gain a better understanding of your options. We’re here to make this process easier for you.
What to Expect When We Meet
When you meet with a member of our staff to discuss your arrangements or speak over the phone, we’ll first provide you with a general price list to give you a basic idea of what our services cost. We’ll then ask you about your loved one to gain an understanding of the person the services will honor. Use this time to communicate your ideas and preferences, share your loved one’s life story, revisit memories, and highlight their accomplishments. Our professionals will use this information to guide you in the creation of a personalized, meaningful celebration of your loved one’s life. This process may include:
- Preparing and filing the official death certificate
- Selecting a casket, urn, or other products you may need
- Drafting an obituary
- Arranging necessary transportation
We’d like to make this process as smooth and stress-free for you as we can, so remember to bring the following information about your loved one with you as well:
- Full legal name and home address
- Social security number
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Social Security Number
- Father's name
- Mother's maiden name
- Names and relationships of survivors
- Veteran's Discharge or Claim Number
- Marital Status
- Education
- Profession
- Insurance policy information if used to pay for funeral expenses
Please also bring a recent photograph and any clothing you’d like us to use for cremation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IF I AM CREMATED, CAN I BE BURIED WITH MY SPOUSE EVEN IF HE WAS IN A CASKET?
Yes — Depending upon the cemetery’s policy, you may be able to save a grave space by having the cremains buried on top of the casketed remains of your spouse, or utilize the space provided next to him/her. Many cemeteries allow for multiple cremated remains to be interred in a single grave space.
WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE CREMATED REMAINS?
With cremation, your options are numerous. The cremains can be interred in a cemetery plot, i.e., earth burial, retained by a family member, usually in an urn, scattered on private property, or at a place that was significant to the deceased. (It would always be advisable to check for local regulations regarding scattering in a public place-your funeral director can help you with this.)
Today, there are many different types of memorial options from which to choose. Memorialization is a time-honored tradition that has been practiced for centuries. A memorial serves as a tribute to a life lived and provides a focal point for remembrance, as well as a record for future generations. The type of memorial you choose is a personal decision.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR A FUNERAL IF I CHOOSE CREMATION?
It really depends entirely on how you wish to commemorate a life. One of the advantages of cremation is that it provides you with increased flexibility when you make your funeral and cemetery arrangements. You might, for example, choose to have a funeral service before the cremation; a memorial service at the time of cremation or after the cremation with the urn present; or a committal service at the final disposition of cremated remains. Funeral or memorial services can be held in a place of worship, a funeral home or in a crematory chapel.
DOES THE BODY HAVE TO BE EMBALMED ACCORDING TO LAW?
The Federal Trade Commission says, “Except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law. Embalming may be necessary, however, if you select certain funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing. If you do not want embalming, you usually have the right to choose an arrangement that does not require you to pay for it, such as direct cremation or immediate burial.”
WHAT DOES A FUNERAL DIRECTOR DO?
- Pick up the deceased and transport the body to the funeral home (anytime day or night)
- Notify proper authorities, family and/or relatives
- Arrange and prepare death certificates
- Provide certified copies of death certificates for insurance and benefit processing
- Work with the insurance agent, Social Security or Veterans Administration to ensure that necessary paperwork is filed for receipt of benefits
- Prepare and submit obituary to the newspapers of your choice
- Bathe and embalm the deceased body, if necessary
- Prepare the body for viewing including dressing and cosmetizing
- Assist the family with funeral arrangements and purchase of casket, urn, burial vault and cemetery plot
- Schedule the opening and closing of the grave with cemetery personnel, if a burial is to be performed
- Coordinate with clergy if a funeral or memorial service is to be held
- Arrange a police escort and transportation to the funeral and/or cemetery for the family
- Order funeral sprays and other flower arrangements as the family wishes
- Provide Aftercare, or grief assistance, to the bereaved
IS THERE FINANCIAL HELP IF I NEED IT?
There are a number of options available, including:
- Determine if the deceased person qualifies for any entitlements. Check with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and with your State Fund. Many people are entitled to get financial assistance with their funeral costs from these agencies if they qualify.
- Review all insurance policies the deceased person has, including life insurance. Some life insurance policies have coverage clauses for funeral related costs.
- Find local charities providing financial help for funeral expenses. Search for non profit organizations and for churches in your area.
- Talk to your funeral director about cremation options - these can be much less expensive depending on your choices.