Family Funeral Home | Who to Call?

As a family funeral home, we’ve answered many questions regarding how to proceed or who to call first when someone passes away. Sometimes it depends on the specific situation in which the death took place. The following recommendations should be acted on immediately. This will make an already distressing time easier for everyone concerned.

• A legal pronouncement of death is a must. A doctor usually does it. However, if the deceased passed away at home under hospice care, a hospice nurse can declare the death, as well as coordinate the transport of the body.

If a person passed at home without hospice care, call 911 and be prepared to present a do-not-resuscitate document if one exists. If you don’t have this, paramedics will typically proceed with emergency procedures.  Then they will take the body to the emergency room so a doctor can make the pronouncement.

• Arrange for transport of body. If no autopsy is needed, you would then call a mortuary, crematorium or a multi-service family funeral home, like Mountain View Funeral Home. We will come and pick up the body and bring it to our location (it is required by law to provide relevant cost information over the phone).

• Notify the person’s doctor next. If this isn’t applicable, then you would call the county coroner.

• Close family and friends should be called next. You can delegate someone else to call others. 

• Call someone to oversee pet care if necessary.

• Call the person’s employer, if applicable. Request information about payments and benefits due. Inquire whether there was a life insurance policy with the company.

The following calls should be made a few days after the death:

• Call a member of the clergy and the family funeral home to confirm funeral, memorial, and final disposition arrangements. Research the deceased’s documents to find out if arrangements have been made for a prepaid burial plan.
• Call any military or religious groups to which the deceased belonged. They may have burial benefits or assist with family funeral home services.
• Call a friend or relative to monitor the person’s home (security purposes), get their mail, water plants and discard food.

Should you have any questions about any of the above details or our family funeral home services, contact us at Mountain View Funeral Home. Our caring staff is at your service to assist you during this difficult time.