What Should I Do When What Should I Do When Death Occurs?

Whether you receive a 2 a.m. phone call with news of an unexpected death or share you loved one’s final moments of a long illness, your initial reaction to the death is likely shock.  It does not seem to matter how prepared we are, or are not, a loved one’s death often leaves us feeling numb and bewildered.  Shock and grief can be immobilizing; even simple decisions can be overwhelming.

Making the First Notification of Death

What to do depends on the circumstances of the death.  Regardless of when and where a death occurs, the family should call us as soon a possible. At that time we will ask some specific questions, such as the name and location of the family member who passed away, the name of the attending physician and the name of the next of kin. We will also ask about the type of funeral service the family is considering so that we may begin any necessary procedures as expediently as possible. If you are undecided on the type of service, you need not make any immediate decisions. We will set up a convenient appointment time to make the actual arrangements.

Death in a Health Care Facility

When a death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, there is little the family needs to do other than to call us. The medical staff at the health care facility will take the necessary steps to ensure that all legal requirements are met. Although some health care facilities will call the funeral home on behalf of the family, to ensure we are aware of the death, it is best that the family calls us directly.

Anticipated Death Outside of a Health Care Facility

Many people with terminal illnesses are now choosing to die at home in more familiar and peaceful surroundings with family and friends close by. If an anticipated death occurs outside a health care facility, the first step would be to call the hospice organization or physician under whose care the individual was receiving medical treatment. The hospice nurse or physician would then release the deceased to the funeral home.

Unanticipated Death Outside of  Health Care Facility

If a sudden death occurs outside of a health care facility, the best advice is to call 911 to dispatch local police to the scene. The police will then determine the appropriate steps to take depending upon the particular situation. In the case of a non-suspicious death of an apparently healthy individual, the police would call the Coroner/Medical Examiner’s office and await instructions. The Medical Examiner, depending upon the circumstances, may require that an autopsy be performed. If the death was suspicious in nature, then the Medical Examiner would in all likelihood order an autopsy.

Out-Of-State Death

If the death takes place outside of Wisconsin, there is no need to contact a local funeral director in the state where the death occurs. Doing so invariably results in additional expenses for the family. We can make all the necessary arrangements with a facility where the death occurs.  All you need to do is to call us (920-733-7383), and we will handle the rest of the details.

Laws Regarding A Death

The deceased cannot be removed from the place of death without a pronouncement of death signed by a physician or a registered nurse, or a Medical Examiner/Coroner who will become responsible for legally releasing the deceased to the funeral home.  A registered nurse can only release the deceased to the funeral home if the death was anticipated and under hospice care. In all other cases, only a medical doctor can release the deceased to the funeral home or under certain circumstances, the death must be referred to the Coroner/Medical Examiner who will become responsible for legally releasing the deceased to the funeral home.