What to Do When Somebody Dies

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When someone dies, an "official pronouncement of death" must be made and the body must be cared for until the burial or cremation can take place.

If the death occurs in a hospital, you may simply need to call a pre-selected funeral home. In many cases, however, we are not so well-prepared. Fortunately, there are several religious and medical organizations that can help you through the first few hours following the death of a loved one.

What to Do When Someone Dies

1. Pronouncement of Death: Call 911 or the coroner's office. A medical professional must be notified to make the official pronouncement of death. If the death occurs at a hospital or in hospice, the attending professional will make this pronouncement.
2. Expected Death: If the death was expected and arrangements have already been made, call the funeral home or crematorium to pick up the body.
3. Unexpected Death: If the death was unexpected, you will need to contact someone to pick up the body after the pronouncement of death has been made. You have a few options when it comes to who to contact next:
   • Funeral Home: When a death is unexpected, you're not going to feel like comparison shopping for funeral services. Just remember that the only decision you will need to make in those first few hours is whether or not you wish the funeral home to embalm the body. If you're not prepared to make that decision, they can pick up the body and hold it while you plan the funeral arrangements more thoroughly.
   • Crematorium: If you know the deceased wished to be cremated, contact a crematorium to pick up the body.
   • Medical Examiner: While most people would prefer not to have their loved one's body stored in the County Morgue for any length of time, calling the Coroner's Office is an option in a time of crisis.
   • Priest, Rabbi or Religious Organization: While a religious organization cannot take the body away for you, it can direct you to the funeral home or crematorium used by members of the congregation. A priest, rabbi or another appropriate spiritual leader can also help you with any last rites required by religious law.
   • Training Hospital or Medical School: If the deceased wished for his or her body to be donated for the benefit of science, it can be picked up by a training hospital or medical school. Be certain that the program is legitimate and connected to a major medical institution.

Immediately Following the Pronouncement of Death

If you are the primary mourner of the deceased, you will spend the first few days following your loved one's death making funeral or memorial service arrangements. Before that process can begin, however, you will need to do the following:

1. Look for the Deceased's Instructions: Did the deceased person leave a will or anything stating his or her desires regarding the funeral in writing? You will want to adhere to your loved one's wishes. If nothing was left behind, all major funerary decisions will be made by the primary mourner, typically the deceased's parents, spouse, domestic partner or adult children.
2. Contact Friends and Family: If you are the primary mourner, you may wish to contact just one or two close friends and family members and have those people reach out to others.

NOTE: While this guide deals largely with the pragmatic side of losing a loved one, there are resources out there to help you with the grieving process. In addition to your own religious or spiritual leader, you'll find help from such organizations as the AARP and Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

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