When a death occurs in your family, you will be faced with important tasks and decision-making during a very difficult time. You may not know what to do or when to begin making arrangements. Bearing the responsibility can be overwhelming. Remember that you are not alone. Cremation Society of Wisconsin is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist you with the details and offer our guidance. We have compiled the following list to help guide you through the steps you will need to take when a death has occurred. Your funeral director will help coordinate all of the details when you meet for an arrangement conference.
In most instances, the staff of the care facility will contact the funeral home of your choice if it is on record at the facility. When death appears imminent, we suggest that you notify the hospital, nursing home or hospice personnel of the funeral home you have chosen to engage. Upon death, the staff of the care facility (or hospice) will notify the funeral home on your behalf. Upon the release of the remains, the deceased will be brought from the place of death to the funeral home.
Contact emergency (911) personnel. In most states, when a death occurs at home, the law enforcement agency in your area will need to send an officer to your home. They will assign a case number and pronounce the time of death. The officer will call the funeral home for you and arrange for the transfer of the deceased to its care. The remains may not be removed from the home by the funeral home staff until authorized by the law enforcement agency. In almost all situations, the officer responding to the death call will remain on the scene until the funeral home staff has arrived to transfer the body to the funeral home.
When someone dies and hospice is involved, contact the hospice providers instead of 911. They can notify the proper authorities and the funeral home on your behalf.