When A Death Occurs

When a death occurs at home or in the workplace, a family member or co-worker should contact emergency personnel and the person's physician if he or she was under a doctor's care. If the death occurs at home with family or friends present, and the person is under a physician's care, the family will want to call us directly.

However, if the death occurs in a residence and no one is there at the time of death, the police will need to be notified and respond to the residence before the deceased is removed from their home.

If in any case you are not sure of who to notify or what to do, you may call (416) 440-8878, and we'll assist you in notifying the proper agencies.

When a death occurs in a hospital, long-term care home, or other care facility, the professional staff will notify you and the appropriate authorities. If our cremation service has been listed in your loved one's records, the facility will contact us at the time of death. Once we receive notification and the necessary release has been completed, a member of our team will contact you promptly to explain the next steps and begin the cremation arrangements. We also encourage you to contact us directly for guidance and reassurance that everything is being handled properly.

If your loved one was receiving hospice or palliative care, a member of the care team will provide instructions on the procedures to follow. They will also notify the coroner or other appropriate authority when required. Once the necessary release has been completed, the hospice team may contact us to arrange the transfer into our care. We recommend calling us as soon as possible so we are aware of the pending transfer and can support you throughout the process.

Our experienced team can provide the information, emotional support, and compassionate guidance you need during this difficult time.

During your initial call, you are welcome to ask any immediate questions. A member of our team will gather the information needed to arrange the transfer of your loved one into our care and explain what happens next. You will have an opportunity to discuss the cremation arrangements in greater detail during a scheduled meeting or consultation.

We may ask whether your loved one made any pre-arrangements and will let you know what documents or information to have ready. You may also wish to notify:

• Family members and close friends
• Clergy, faith leaders, or other spiritual advisors, when appropriate

If there is no plan in place, there are several other questions that you may have to have answered in regards to the death of your loved one:

• Do I have to have embalming?
• Do I need to purchase a casket?
• What about cemetery arrangements?
• Does the family have to engage the services of a minister?
• What type of service should we have?

By contacting our staff, we'll be able to help answer your questions and assist in making the appropriate plans. You can reach us at (416) 440-8878.

However, as we've said before, one of the best ways to make sure that all of your questions and desires are taken care of is to make pre-arrangements. This is as simple as outlining your wishes to having all of the details written down and the financial arrangements prepaid. Please contact one of our staff at (416) 440-8878 to learn more about pre-arrangement.

One of the first things the arranger will do is to provide you with our general price list. He or she will then guide you through the entire arrangement process, explaining how you can create a memorable personal celebration of your loved one's life. This is not a one-way conversation; we want to hear your ideas and desires, and use them as the foundation for the arrangement process.

This process may include:

• Preparing and filing the official death certificate
• Scheduling the location, date and time of services or events
• Selecting a casket, urn or other items
• Preparing an obituary notice
• Scheduling vehicles
• Selecting pallbearers

You may also sign necessary authorizations or make arrangements to have them signed by the appropriate family members.

We'd like you to bring any photos, a favorite song, or memorabilia so that you and your arranger can better discuss how you would like your loved one to be remembered. Having these things, and knowing their favorite song or favorite gathering place – even their favorite activity – will help us create a truly fitting memorial service.

Our arrangers will assist you in planning a loving tribute that captures the spirit of the person whose life you wish to honor. To learn more about personalizing the service, please read the Honoring Life section of this Web site. The arranger will discuss personalization with you during your arrangement conference.

The following checklist will help you remember what information about the decedent and items will be needed when meeting with a arranger.

• Full legal name- Home address
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Father's name
• Mother's maiden name
• Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214)
• Recent Photograph
• Highest education
• Occupation
• Place of burial (if applicable)
• Clothing
• Clergy name and phone number
• Survivors (name and relationship)
• Insurance policies (if applicable)