FAQ

When death occurs, what should I do?

When someone passes away in a medical facility, the staff will usually handle certain arrangements, such as contacting the funeral home of your choice. You will need to contact friends, family, and clergy. If someone passes away at home or work, call the emergency number in your area, usually 911. If the person is under hospice care, contact the hospice organization instead of 911. Depending on the circumstances of the death, the deceased will either be taken to the morgue for autopsy or to the funeral home of your choice. If the person was under medical care, please notify their doctor.

What do I do next and what does a funeral director do?

Next, contact the funeral home of your choice. That funeral director will help you with the following:

Transport the body
Obtain a death certificate
Select a casket, urn or grave marker
Arrange a funeral, memorial or burial service
Prepare the obituary
Help you notify the deceased’s employer, attorney, insurance company and banks
Offer grief support or direct you to other resources

What is the purpose of a funeral?

For millennia, funerals have provided a way for loved ones to cope with the loss of a dear one.

Acknowledge that someone has died.
Say goodbye.
Remember the person who died and encourage us to share those memories with others.
Affirm the worth of our relationship with the person who died.
Provide a social support system.
Search for the meaning of life and death.
Offer continuity and hope for the living.

What does one do at a viewing or visitation?

A viewing is a time for friends and family to come together to say their farewells with the body present. Attendees may sign a guestbook, speak with family members, and pay their respects to the deceased.

Why have a public viewing?

Viewing is a part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists report that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death.

What will help you with the loss of a loved one?

Remember the following:

Share your grief with friends and family members. Participate in the funeral as much as possible by planning a personal service that reflects your loved one's life. The best way to begin the healing process is with a meaningful funeral, where you can experience the support of others who also share your loss.

What is the purpose of a vault?

Outer burial containers enclose the casket and support the weight of the earth. Many are also designed to prevent water from entering the casket. Although no law requires a burial vault to be used, some cemeteries may require an outer enclosure.

What is a cremation?

Cremation is a process in which intense heat transforms the body back to its essential elements. The body, enclosed in a container approved for cremation, is placed in a cremation chamber. The soft tissue is vaporized. What remains is not ashes but bone fragments weighing from three to nine pounds on average. This is what is contained in the cremation urn.

What is a memorial service?

A memorial service is a way to honor and remember someone who has passed away without the remains being present. While the body is not at the memorial service, there may be a viewing before the service if the body is available. Similar to a funeral, the body can be buried or cremated. Since the body is not present at the memorial, the burial or cremation may occur before or after the service. You can choose to have a memorial service instead of a funeral or in addition to it. For example, you might have a funeral in the town where the person lived and died, and then have a memorial service later in the town where he or she grew up.ave a memorial service later in the town where he or she grew up.

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