If a friend or loved one has died and the responsibility for the next steps has fallen to you, you may be wondering how to proceed. This resource is available for those who know that the deceased intended to be cremated.
- Report the Death – Care facilities, (like nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice care), have trained professionals to handle this. If the deceased passed at home, contact their cremation provider, if one has been chosen. If no other options are available, call 9-1-1.
- Inform the Family – If the deceased is not related to you, you will want to reach out to any surviving relatives to inform them of their passing. If there are no surviving relatives, a well-written notice should be prepared for a printed obituary to inform other friends and acquaintances.
- Decide on a Service – Depending on the deceased’s wishes, you can select among a funeral or memorial service. The primary difference is that a funeral is held before cremation where a memorial is held afterwards.
- Plan the Service – The cremation provider you select for an at-need cremation will be happy to guide you through the details of planning a service for your friend or loved one.
Of course, these are just the basic things one should begin thinking about when someone has died. If you require an immediate at-need cremation for your friend or loved one, we at Accu-Care Cremation & Funerals are available to assist you in your time of need, any time of the night or day.