When Death Occurs

Immediately following the death of a loved one, there are many important decisions that must be made. During this emotional time, feelings of grief and uncertainty can make the process overwhelming, which is why it is helpful to lean on family, friends, and experienced professionals for support. The funeral home staff is dedicated to assisting you and your family with care, compassion, and guidance in making the best decisions possible. From arranging services to handling necessary details, we are here to help ease the burden and provide comfort every step of the way. This information is intended to guide you and your family through the process with clarity, understanding, and support during a difficult time.

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 like a hospital or nursing home, the staff will handle getting this declaration made. If your loved one dies at home, you need to immediately contact the local emergency officials to come and take them to a hospital where they can be legally declared dead. Family members who die under hospice care can be declared dead by the hospice staff. This legal declaration must be made before the family can proceed with making any funeral arrangements or handling any legal affairs.

Once your loved one has been declared dead, you and your family can proceed with funeral arrangements immediately. Your loved one may have pre-planned services, and you should first look into those choices. If your loved one has not made previous arrangements, and you have decided on a funeral home for the services, you will contact them, meet with the funeral director, and begin discussing options. During this time, if the deceased hasn’t made their final wishes known, the family will decide if they will bury or cremate the body, and what type of service should be held. These decisions include the time, date, and location of any service; what type of casket or urn your loved one needs; drafting an obituary notice; deciding on pallbearers; and making decisions about the service like who the minister will be, what music will be played, and who will speak. As part of the process to begin making arrangements, if the deceased was active or retired military, contact the Veterans Administration to determine if they offer death benefits or service options.

Following the death of your loved one, there are few things you need to attend to involving the deceased’s personal life. First, secure your loved one’s property. Make sure their home and vehicle are properly secure. If your loved one has a pet, make the necessary arrangements for the pet to be taken care of by family or friends. Any mail that comes to your loved one should be forwarded to a family member that plans to handle the deceased’s estate. Any mail that piles up at a vacant home only alarms potential intruders that a home is empty. Make sure to contact the deceased’s boss and inform them of the death. If your loved one had any upcoming appointments, make contact to notify them about the death and to cancel the appointment.

Planning ahead helps ease the emotional and financial burden on your loved ones. Our team is here to guide you with understanding and care.