Page 15 - St James FH
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it is something that was a long time help you obtain a death certificate,
coming, the loss of a loved one makes transport the body, and in the event pre-
us feel emotional and overwhelmed. No planning was not done, select a casket/
amount of preparation can fully prepare urn and arrange the funeral/memorial
you for the loss of a loved one. When service. The funeral director will also help
you are in a heightened emotional state, you notify the employer and insurance
even the most basic decisions can seem company of the deceased to assist with
staggering. The following is a rough those arrangements. Funeral directors
guideline of what needs to be done are here to help and advise you and will
within the first 24 hours after death. work very hard to relieve the stress and
logistics involved in funeral planning.
When death occurs at home or a place
of business Meeting a funeral director
If the person was not under hospice You should meet with a funeral director
care, the police will have to be notified within 24 hours of a death to begin to make
immediately. The police will be dispatched final arrangements for your loved one.
to the home and place the call to the Deciding on these final arrangements may
coroner/medical examiner. From there seem like a very daunting task, especially
the coroner/medical examiner will take when you are in a heightened emotional
the body and determine whether further state, but funeral home staff have years
action is necessary. The coroner/ medical of experience dealing with these issues,
examiner must release the body before and strive to ensure everything goes as
a funeral home can do anything. If the smoothly as possible.
person was under hospice care, contact
the hospice representative if they were Making arrangements
not present and they will notify family First the funeral director will gather
members what the proper procedures information required for the death
are to follow. certificate. This includes:
When a death occurs at a hospital/ • Full Name and Address
nursing home/hospice facility • Marital Status
The staff of a care facility such as a hospital • Race/Ethnicity
or a nursing home will notify you and the • Date and City of Birth
necessary authorities immediately after a • Highest Level of Education
death has occurred. If a funeral home has • Father’s Name, Mother’s Name
been provided by the hospital or nursing (including maiden name)
home, they will be notified at the time of • Name of Spouse (if married or
death. If you are present at the hospital widowed)
when the funeral director arrives, they may • Occupation and Employer
ask a few questions about the deceased’s
wishes and set up a time to come into The funeral director will also need
the funeral home to make arrangements. pertinent documents required to do all
However, if you are not present a funeral the legal paperwork, these documents
director will contact you by telephone to include:
discuss these arrangements.
• Account Statements
Informing a funeral director • Beneficiary Designations
Once everything has been cleared with • Life Insurance Policies
the proper authorities, the next call you • Real Estate Deeds
place should be to a licensed funeral • Car and Boat Deeds
director. Funeral directors are here to • Stock and Bond Certificates
St. James Funeral Home, Inc. - Page 15
