When a death occurs at home or in the workplace, a family member or co–worker should contact emergency personnel immediately. 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, for advice on how to proceed.

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 can be removed from the home.

If you are not sure who to notify or what to do, you may call us at 440.942.1122, and we'll assist you in notifying the proper agencies.

When a death occurs in a care facility, such as a hospital or nursing home, the professional staff will notify you and the necessary authorities. If the name of the funeral home has been left with them, the institution will notify the funeral home at the time of the death. The funeral director will contact you immediately following their notification to help you proceed. (However, we suggest you contact the funeral home immediately so you have the reassurance that all will be taken care of properly.)

If a loved one was in the care of a hospice program, a hospice representative will give family members instructions and procedures to follow. The coroner/medical examiner will be notified by the hospice. Following their release the hospice will contact the funeral home. It is always a good idea for the family to contact us immediately so we are aware of the impending call from the hospice.

During your initial call to the funeral home, the funeral director will gather information in order to transport your loved one to the funeral home. While you may ask the director any questions at this time, you will be able to discuss the arrangements in detail later when you meet in person. Our staff members are experienced professionals who can provide much of the information you need, emotional support, and compassionate guidance.

The funeral director will ask you a number of questions, including whether your loved one made any pre–arrangements. The director will also schedule a date and time for you to meet at the funeral home as well as provide you with a list of items you should bring with you.

Others who you will need to call:

• Family members and friends
• Clergy or other spiritual advisors

There are several other questions that you may have 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?

Contact us if you have any questions. We're always happy to answers any questions and assist in making the appropriate plans. You can reach us at 440.942.1122.

When you visit us, we will provide you with our prices and guide you through the entire arrangement process, explaining how you can create a memorable and personal celebration of your loved one's life. You can expect the arrangement conference to take anywhere from 1–2 hours or more.

The arrangement 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
• Selecting pallbearers

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

Feel free to bring any photos, a favorite song, or memorabilia so we can discuss how you would like your loved one to be remembered. More and more people today choose to personalize the funeral services they plan for their loved ones. A favorite song, a favorite gathering place, even a favorite activity can become part of the service. We'll assist you in planning a loving tribute that captures the spirit of the person whose life you wish to honor.

The following checklist will help you remember the necessary information about the decedent as well as any items you'll need to have for our meeting.

• Full legal name
• Home address (city, county, state and zip code)
• Social Security number (required on a death certificate)
• Date of birth
• Place of birth (city, town or county, and state; or foreign country)
• Father's full name
• Mother's first name and maiden name (required on a death certificate)
• Veteran's discharge papers (DD-214)
• Recent Photograph
• Highest level of education completed
• Occupation (type of work / position held and type of business)
• Clothing (along with appropriate underclothing)
• Survivors (names and relationships)
• Information about any memberships in groups or clubs; fraternal or civic organizations, special hobbies or interests, etc.
• Insurance policies (if applicable)