When Death Occurs

When faced with the loss of a loved one, it's natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about the days ahead. When you call Woodbridge Cremation Center, we will guide you through this challenging time with compassion and expertise. While we can’t make it go away, we can make this difficult time easier for you every step of the way.

Contacting the Appropriate Authorities

Before any planning or decision-making can begin, you must obtain a legal declaration of death. If your loved one died within a medical or nursing facility, the facility's personnel will handle this formal declaration. If your loved one dies at home, immediately contact the local emergency officials to come and take them to a hospital then provide you with the declaration. In cases where the loved one was under hospice care, the hospice staff can fulfill this requirement. You need this legal declaration before you can begin end-of-life arrangements and address any associated legal matters.

Once the loved one has received the necessary legal declaration, you and your family can begin making funeral arrangements. If "end of life" plans were made ahead of time, start by exploring these predetermined preferences. In cases where there are no prior arrangements, and a funeral home has been selected for the services, your initial step is to contact them and arrange a meeting with a funeral director to initiate discussions.

During this phase the family must decide whether to opt for cremation or burial, as well as the specifics of the memorial service. Your loved one may have given explicit instrucitons or stated their wishes, but in many cases that has not happened. These considerations include details such as the timing, date, and location of the service, the choice of casket or urn, the creation of an obituary notice, the selection of pallbearers, and decisions regarding the service format, including the choice of officiant, music, and speakers.

If your loved one had a military background (active or retired), it is essential to reach out to the Veterans Administration to explore potential death benefits or service-related options.

Upon meeting with the funeral director, they will guide you on the necessary information and documentation required for the death certificate and final arrangements. This essential information includes:

-Full name and address
-Marital status
-Race/ethnicity
-Date and city of birth
-Highest level of education
-Father's name and mother's maiden name
-Name of spouse
-Occupation and employer
-Documents Requested by Funeral Directors

Funeral directors will also need specific documents to fulfill legal requirements. These documents may include:

-Account statements
-Beneficiary designations
-Life insurance policies
-Military discharge papers (form DD 214)
-Social Security number
-Handling Personal Affairs

In the wake of your loved one's passing, several practical matters regarding their personal affairs require attention. First, ensure the security of their property, including their home and vehicle. If the deceased had a pet, make arrangements for their care through trusted family members or friends. Redirect any incoming mail to a family member responsible for managing the deceased's estate, as a pileup of mail in an empty home can attract unwanted attention. Notify the deceased's employer of their passing, and if there were any upcoming appointments, contact the relevant parties to inform them of the situation and cancel the appointments.