When Death Occurs

No matter if a death is sudden or if it something that was a long time coming, the loss of a loved one makes us feel emotional and overwhelmed. No amount of planning can fully prepare you for the loss of a loved one. There are many decisions that will come in the following days, most of which within in the first 24-48 hours. (100+ Decisions). The following information is to help inform you of what you may expect at the time of a death. Please know that you can always contact us should you have any questions.

When Death Occurs at Home or a Place of Business

When the death occurs at home or in a public location, the police may have to be notified immediately. The police may be dispatched to the place of death and will place the call to the coroner or family physician. The coroner will determine whether further action is necessary. The doctor or attending medical professional or coroner must release the body before we as a funeral home can do anything. Once released, funeral home staff will pick up your loved with dignity and respect and bring her/him into our care. If you are present, you will be asked a few questions about your loved one and their final wishes and to ensure that your needs are met.

When Death Occurs at a Hospital/Nursing Home/Hospice Facility

The staff of a care facility such as a hospital or a nursing home will notify you and the necessary authorities immediately after a death has occurred. We will be notified shortly after by their staff on your behalf, and we will be in contact with you to determine a time for you to make arrangements. Again, we will pick up your loved one once a release has been issued by the coroner or attending medical professional. If you are present at the hospital when our staff arrives, you will be asked a few questions about about your loved one and their final wishes and to ensure that your needs are met.

Meeting a Funeral Director/Making Arrangements

At the George Darte Funeral Home, Funeral Directors are also known as Funeral Event Planners as they are here for you from the first call to the days following the funeral and every step in between. Most people will meet with one of our Funeral Event Planners within the within 24 hours of the death to begin making final arrangements for their loved one.  Deciding on these final arrangements may seem like a very daunting task, especially when you are in heightened emotional state, but, with the aid of your event planner and our funeral home staff know that we take every measure we can to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

The following information may help you prepare for your first meeting with one of our funeral events planner. Please know that every death and every family is different and therefore information and decisions required will vary.

1. The Funeral Event Planner will gather your loved one's vital statistics:

  • Full Name (including maiden if applicable)
  • Address
  • Marital Status
  • Spouse's Name and Address
  • Date and City of Birth
  • Father’s Name, Mother’s Name (including maiden name)
  • Father's and Mother's City of Birth
  • Occupation and Employer

2. You will be asked to provide contact information for the informant, executor/executrix

3. The Funeral Events Planner will notify you of any documents required

4. If no pre-planning has been done, further arrangements need to be made for the funeral service.  These may include but are not limited to:

  • Scheduling the location, date and time of the visitation and funeral service
  • Selecting burial or cremation
  • Choosing Funeral Merchandise (Caskets, Urns, Vaults, etc.)
  • Arranging a cemetery plot
  • Preparing an obituary notice
  • Scheduling transportation arrangements
  • Clergy/Celebrant
  • Readings Selections
  • Music Selections (organist, violinist, CD etc.)
  • Stationery & Video Tributes

A Funeral Events Planner will guide you through all these steps, acknowledging your wants, needs and desires as a foundation to create a memorable funeral for your loved one. From here the funeral ceremony can be personalized. Did your loved one have a favourite sports team? What was their favorite type of music? What activity was your loved one known best for?  Recalling fond memories assists with the grieving process and will help honour the life of your loved one.

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