<< Back

What should I do when a death occurs?

If death is sudden or unexpected, call 9-1-1 to notify the police and the coroner's office. If death was expected, and the deceased was under the care of a physician or health care nurse, then a call to 9-1-1 is not required. A call to your local funeral home should be made as soon as you can.

There are many decisions to be made after the passing of a loved one, and
funeral directors are experienced in helping families with this process.
Ask a trusted friend or family member to recommend a funeral home they know.

An appointment will be made to discuss arrangements and details, like:

• Have advanced plannings been made by the deceased?
• What type of service is preferred: burial, cremation, or mausoleum?
• Has a cemetery been chosen?
• Other personal information about the deceased to register the death with the local government.

The funeral director will also help you select a casket, music, floral tributes, custom stationery, an officiate for the ceremony, and can help write the newspaper notice if desired.

All details will be arranged with utmost care to ensure the service is a personal reflection of the life of the deceased, honoring their unique contribution and meeting the needs of the surviving members of the family.

If you have a question you would like answered by one of our funeral directors (at no obligation),
click here to send us an e-mail.

When death is expected, what do I do?

When a death is expected, there are a couple of considerations for immediate and future care:

- Is medical care needed for the individual?
- If so, alternatives include general hospital palliative care units; auxiliary hospitals; provincial and private nursing homes; hospices; or in-home nursing care.

This time can be used to plan or make funeral arrangements. Sometimes, this is difficult for the person involved, so a family member may be asked to make arrangements once death has occurred. If possible, try to discuss preferences beforehand.

Discuss the location of originals for all important business and personal documents, and make a list (and photocopies) so they are easily accessible when they are needed.

When caring for a dying person, make sure you take care of yourself and/or your family's emotional needs.

• Share your experiences with other family members or close friends
• Allow friends to help with small tasks, or by giving you time off
• If you belong to a church or synagogue, talk to the clergy for spiritual support
• Don't try to get through this time alone - even a little support can help

If you have a question you would like answered by one of our funeral directors (at no obligation),
click here to send us an e-mail.

What is important when selecting a funeral home?

Think about what will make the ceremony unique, personal, and meaningful to the family. Then, use these guidelines to find a funeral home that can accommodate your requests, since all have different services and facilities available.

Ask the following questions of the funeral home - they should answer this information without obligation.

• Has the funeral home been in business a long time in your city?
• Is the funeral home locally owned, or part of a larger national organization?
• Are they involved in local community organizations or activities?
• Do they have a good reputation for meeting the needs of families?
• Is their geographic location convenient and is their building handicap accessible?
• Can they provide all services required at their own location?
• Do they have small and large chapels to accomodate different size groups?
• Do they offer special services for ethnic cultures, and have an excellent understanding of cultural customs and traditions?
• Do they offer unique monument ideas, such as special tree planting memorial?

These are just some of the questions to ask when selecting a funeral home. It's important to choose a licensed funeral home with a good reputation, whom you feel comfortable with.

If you have a question you would like answered by one of our funeral directors (at no obligation),
click here to send us an e-mail.

Are there differences between funeral homes?

As with most services, there is a great variety of funeral services available to you, in a wide range of prices. To compare funeral homes, the best approach is to make inquiries before a death occurs, or get referrals from a trusted friend or family member.

Some considerations are whether the funeral home is familiar with different ethnic cultures or customs as part of the funeral service, and whether they have the special equipment or rooms set aside to meet these requests.

Many families need a place to meet after the service, but not all funeral homes have reception rooms with catering facilities right on location.

It may be important to you to know whether the funeral home is family-owned and operated, or part of a larger national organization.

Some funeral homes offer special services like personalized service folders, unique memorials such as tree plantings, and traditional white limousines.

Most funeral homes will gladly answer these and other questions, and provide estimates by phone or mail to your home, without any obligation.

If you have a question you would like answered by one of our funeral directors (at no obligation), click here to send us an e-mail.

 

How does a funeral director help with the grief process?

The primary role of a funeral director is to assist family and friends with both the practical and emotional side of coping with the loss of a loved one.

Over a few short days, funeral directors handle an estimated two to three hundred activities, requiring about 40-to-45 hours to arrange. Funeral directors are experienced in all legal, medical, cultural and religious procedures to provide the family with caring, individual counsel, and to ensure the funeral is as stress-free and meaningful as it can be.

Funeral directors are also aware of special services - such as financial benefits available to veteran's families, widows or persons with limited resources - and can help families access this information easily. Some funeral homes also offer service referrals for individuals needing help dealing with loss in the months or years that follow.

All funeral directors in Alberta (Canada) are graduates of a regulated, professional college program. Upon successful completion of a combination of education and on-the-job training, each funeral director is licensed, and continuing education is a post-graduate requirement to maintain their licence.

If you have a question you would like answered by one of our funeral directors (at no obligation),
click here to send us an e-mail.