There are a number of important things that need to happen after someone dies.
Immediately after a death occurs
- Family contacts Funeral Director
- Funeral Director transfers deceased person
Key decisions to be made during this time:
- Burial or cremation (affects the immediate paperwork done by doctor)
- Intended date of service (i.e. if time required for out-of-town family to arrive; affects level of embalming required)
- Viewing yes/no? (affects the level of presentation required, e.g. hair/makeup, reconstruction)
- Newspaper notices
- Family mail – to be sent to funeral directors for collection or direct to family PO Box
Pre-Funeral
- Family meets with Funeral Director to arrange funeral plans
- Funeral Director arranges/orders funeral resources (venue, vehicle, casket, crematorium/cemetery staff)
- Funeral Director engages other service providers (minister/celebrant, florist, caterer, musician(s)/sound tech
- Obituary/funeral notice placed in newspaper(s)
- Viewing held (if desired)
- Images, choice of music, and text for the service sheets are chosen and service sheets designed and printed
- Route for funeral cortege researched
- Funeral Director registers the death and orders the Death Certificate
Key decisions to be made during this time:
- Venue/date/time of funeral
- Preferred minister/celebrant; style and type of funeral (flowers, casket, etc.)
- Preferred charity for donations
- Pallbearers chosen
The Funeral
- Funeral Director briefs operations manager and support staff
- Deceased person transported to funeral venue
- Funeral Director meets and greets family and funeral attendees
- Funeral Director ensures service runs to plan
- Deceased person driven to cemetery/crematorium in cortege
Post-Funeral
- Funeral Director completes paperwork, including applying for the Death Certificate
- Funeral Director processes all supplier and subcontractor invoices
- Account forwarded to family/executor for payment
- Funeral Director pays follow-up visit to family
- Any family mail being collected at funeral home is delivered directly to family