After Your Loved One Dies
When your loved one dies, you will likely be in shock – even if death was expected – and be a bit dazed about what you need to do next. Here’s a guide than can help you.
Before you make funeral arrangements at a funeral home in Boones Mill, VA, there are things that you will need to take care of after your loved one dies. Perhaps this is the first time you have the responsibility after a loved one dies. Therefore, you might not know exactly what you need to do.
The first thing you need to do when your loved one has died is to report the death so that the death certification process can get underway. Doctors and funeral directors work together to complete your loved one’s death certificate. Death certificates will be needed to settle your loved one’s estate and for you to handle financial assets and property.
If your loved one was in a hospital, in a skilled nursing facility, or had hospice care, the staff will guide you through the notification process and a medical professional will start work on the death certificate.
If you are not sure who you need to call about your loved one’s death, then call 911. Emergency services will help make sure that time of death is declared and that the funeral home is contacted so they can transport your loved one to the funeral home.
If your loved one did not die at home, the next thing that you will need to do is to remove their possessions from the place where they died. It is imperative that you do this as quickly as possible after your loved one dies, even though this may be hard for you. Enlist family members to help so that you do not have to bear the burden of doing all of these things yourself.
The funeral home is next on your list. Your funeral director will be closely involved with you and your loved one throughout the funeral process. The funeral director has the knowledge and experience to guide you, so do not be afraid to ask questions you may have.
If your loved one was in a hospital or under hospice care, the hospital or hospice agency will contact the funeral home for you.
But, if your loved one was in an assisted living or nursing facility when they died, you will need to contact the funeral home directly. Many of these facilities will give you a short window of time (a few hours after death) to call the funeral home.
Once the funeral home staff come to transport your loved one’s body to the funeral home, they will suggest a time (generally within 24 hours) for you to meet with the funeral director so you can make your loved one’s funeral arrangements.
If you have already talked to the funeral home, you may have already brief discussed final arrangements for your loved one. If you have not talked with the funeral home, however, then you will need to make decisions about cremation or burial and services for your loved one.
When you meet with the funeral director, you will need, at a minimum, these documents for your loved one:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Divorce decree (if applicable)
- Social Security card, and
- Military discharge orders (DD-214) if your loved one was a military veteran, and you want military honors for them
The funeral director will help you with all the planning and will handle all arrangements, including writing the obituary (if you or your loved one has not written one already), getting permits, and coordinating logistics.
Do not forget to let members, clergy members, close friends, and employers (if applicable) know of your loved one’s death as soon as possible. If there are a lot of people to contact, let immediate family members or one or two close friends help you make the calls.
For information on making funeral arrangements at funeral home in Boones Mill, VA, our compassionate and experienced staff at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home & Crematory is here to help.
