When a Death Occurs
The shock, disbelief, and numbness that follow the death of someone you love cannot really be described. Even when a death is expected, the loss can still be devastating, and no one is ever completely prepared for it. At the same time, there are decisions that have to be made right away. This page walks through what happens in the first hours so that you know what to expect. If you would rather just talk to a person, call us at (561) 557-4739. Someone answers day or night.
Notify the Proper Authorities
If your loved one died while under the care of a hospital, hospice, or nursing home, the staff there will contact you and notify the appropriate authorities themselves. You do not need to do anything on that front.
If the death happened at home or at work, you will need to reach their physician or emergency medical personnel, because the cause of death has to be identified and recorded in the legal documents. If no one was present when the death occurred, contact the police before your loved one is moved anywhere.
Call Us, Any Hour of the Day
Once the authorities have been notified, call us. We will gather the information we need to bring your loved one into our care and arrange the transfer to our facility here on Okeechobee Boulevard.
On that first call we will ask whether your loved one made any pre-arrangements with us or anyone else, and whether your family wants embalming. We will also tell you what to bring when you come in, including the clothing your loved one will be dressed in. Ask us anything that is on your mind. There is no such thing as a question that is too small.
Meeting With Your Funeral Director
At your first meeting we go through the arrangements in detail. We will show you our packages so you can choose what suits your family's wishes and your budget, and we will work through burial or cremation, the casket, the date and time of the services, the place of burial, the obituary notice, vehicles, and pallbearers.
We will also ask you about your loved one, because the more we understand about the person, the better we can honor them. Bring photographs, videos, letters, or treasured belongings if you have them. We can help you file for the death certificate as well, and order the certified copies you will need for bank accounts, insurance claims, veterans benefits, and transferring property.
