Information
When A Death Occurs
There are several things that need to be considered when a death occurs. The order in which things need to be done usually depends on whether the death occurred at a residence, a public place, a care center or in a hospital.
* Today a large number of people choose to be at home with Hospice or a Home Health Care provider assisting the family until the death occurs. Usually the family will notify the hospice provider and hospice will notify the proper people in the correct order. They will contact the physician, the medical examiner's office, and they will call the funeral home. The medical examiner's office needs to be notified of all deaths that occur in a home. With hospice or a home health care provider involved, a simple phone call is the only notification that the medical examiner needs. The medical examiner will not need to come to the residence to review any information.
* If the death occurs in a residence and the person is not under hospice care, the police will need to be notified and respond to the residence before the deceased is brought to the funeral home. The police will notify the county medical examiner and their office will contact the funeral home for you.
* If the death occurs in a hospital or care center, the name of the funeral home should be left with them, and the institution will notify the funeral home at the time of the death. The funeral home will respond, and at the right time, review matters with the family.
* A funeral director will be in contact with the family after the medical examiner or institution has notified the funeral home.
* If in any case the death should occur and you are not sure of who to notify or what to do, you may call your funeral home and they will assist you in notifying the proper agencies.
When death occurs away from home
When a death occurs away from home and there will be no services held in the city of the death, it is best to contact the funeral home where the services will be held. This will help limit additional expenses that could be incurred. Gill Brothers will contact and make arrangements with a local funeral home to pick up the deceased from the place of death, embalm or cremate the body and make preparations for return to Minnesota.