When Death Occurs

Whether a death is sudden or expected, the loss of a loved one is indescribable. When you are in a heightened emotional state, even the most basic decisions can seem staggering. This section seeks to guide you through the immediate hours following a passing.

When death occurs at home or a place of business

If the person was not under hospice care, the sheriff's office will have to be notified immediately.  They will dispatch an officer to the home for investigation and will place a call to the coroner.  From there, the coroner will contact a funeral home to remove the body and determine whether further action is necessary.  In Lake County,  you have the right to choose which funeral home that you want them to call.  If your loved one ends up at a funeral home that was not your choice, contact us, and we can retrieve your loved one with no extra charges.

If the person was under hospice care, contact the hospice nurse, they will contact the funeral home that you have chosen.

When a death occurs at a hospital or nursing home

The staff of a care facility, such as a hospital or nursing home, will notify you and the necessary authorities immediately after a death has occurred.  If a funeral home has been provided to the hospital or nursing home, they will be notified at the time of passing.  An  Arrangement Counselor will contact you by telephone to set up a time to discuss arrangements.

Arrangement Counselors are here to help

Our Arrangement Counselors are here to help you obtain a death certificate and, in the event pre-planning was not done, help you with casket burial or cremation arrangements, selecting a casket or urn, and help with coordinating the funeral or memorial service.    Perhaps you're having a gathering and would like to have memorial cards, folders or a guest book?  We can help with those things, as well as placing your obituary in the newspaper(s) of your choice. 

We are here to help you and advise you. Deciding on final arrangements may seem like a very daunting task, especially when you are in a heightened emotional state.  We have many years of experience and have served many families in our community; our goal is to make things as comfortable as possible.

Making Arrangements:

First, we will gather the information required for the death certificate.  
We work between the county health department and the doctor to get the death certificate registered with the state.
  • Full Legal Name and Street Address
  • Birth Date and State of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Veteran
  • Highest Level of Education
  • Marital Status and Spouse's full name (if married)
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Occupation and Type of Business
  • Father’s Name, Mother’s Name (including maiden name) and their Birth States

If no advance planning has been done, necessary decisions need to be made.  

  • Will there be a time for visitation (viewing) for the public or a private time for family to say goodbye ?
  • Selecting burial or cremation
  • Choosing Casket, Urn and Keepsakes
  • Arranging a cemetery plot
  • Preparing an obituary notice

Our Arrangement Counselors will guide you through all of these steps to finalize your loved ones wishes.  We can create a memorable Funeral, Memorial Service, or Celebration of Life for your loved one. Services can be personalized.  Did your loved one have a favorite sports team?  What was their favorite type of music?  What activity was your loved one known best for?  Sharing these memories will allow you to pay tribute to the life of your loved one.

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