What Do You Do When Someone Passes Away?

What do you do when someone passes away?

When someone you love passes away, what should you do? Who do you call? What happens next? This highly emotional time can feel very overwhelming. Knowing the process ahead of time can help alleviate some of the stress that is experienced during this difficult time.

The right person to call depends on where the death occurs, and the circumstances surrounding their passing. When a death occurs in a hospital or other care facility or is an expected death at home, call the funeral home and we will transfer your loved one into our care. If the death was unexpected, call 911. The RCMP will come and call the right people to transport the body to either the funeral home of your choice or the Medical Examiner’s office when necessary.

When you are ready, call the funeral home and we will make arrangements to bring your loved one into our care. We will also arrange a time to meet with the executor or next-of-kin. In this meeting, we will discuss your wishes for your loved one. This includes which disposition is preferred (cremation or burial), whether you would like to have a service, and what that service will look like. One of our funeral directors will walk you through the process and can take care of many of the details for you.

After the funeral, is when the reality of loss often really sinks in. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could think clearly or even care about the many things that need to be taken care of following a loved one’s funeral. A few days after the funeral service, our AfterCare director will contact you to set up a meeting. They can provide valuable, hands-on assistance with many of the tasks (large and small) that must be dealt with. Bank account updates, land titles, credit card notification, cancellation of Alberta Health Care, timely insurance claims and Canada Pension Plan Benefits are among the most pressing matters facing a survivor and may impact your financial well-being.

Planning your funeral ahead of time will relieve your loved ones of many difficult tasks at an emotional and difficult time. Government documents will already be in place and many crucial decisions will have already been made. It is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give your family. For more information about pre-planning or what happens when someone passes away, give us a call at 780-532-2929 or visit www.oliversfuneralhome.com

– Written by Oliver’s Funeral Home