When Someone Dies: What to Do Next
The death of someone you love can be one of life's most difficult experiences. Alongside grief, there are often practical decisions and legal responsibilities that can feel overwhelming, particularly if this is your first experience of arranging a funeral. So it is vital that you are looked after by experienced, trustworthy and compassionate funeral service providers.
At Eynsham Funeral Services, we are here to support you with kindness, patience and understanding. From your first phone call, we will guide you through every step of the process, explaining what needs to happen and helping you to make informed decisions at a pace that feels right for you.
You will never be rushed or pressured. Our role is simply to provide support, clear advice and professional care for both you and your loved one.
If Someone Dies at Home (Expected Death)
When a death is expected, it must first be verified by a qualified healthcare professional, such as a GP, an out-of-hours doctor or a registered nurse.
Once this has taken place, you can contact us at any time 01865 300600. We will make arrangements to bring your loved one into our care with dignity and respect, while supporting you with the next steps.
If Someone Dies at Home (Unexpected Death)
If a death is sudden or unexpected, you should call 999 and ask for the emergency services.
The police and the Coroner may need to be involved to establish the circumstances of the death. The Coroner will usually arrange for the deceased to be taken into their care. During this time, you are still welcome to contact us for advice and reassurance. Once the Coroner has completed the necessary procedures and authorised release, we will arrange to bring your loved one into our care.
If Someone Dies in Hospital, a Hospice, Residential/ Care Home or Nursing Home.
The staff caring for your loved one will usually explain what happens next and guide you through the initial process. A bereavement officer is usually appointed at the hospitals.
If you have any questions or would simply like reassurance, we are always available to help explain the procedures and support you through them.
If a death happens abroad.
The rules of a death occurring abroad are a little different. The death should be registered according to the law of that country and should also be reported to the British Consulate, who may arrange for the death to be registered in the UK.
We can be contacted to arrange repatriation as soon as the death occurs, as different countries have different requirements for registration. It is likely that the Coroner in the UK will wish to launch an investigation before a burial or cremation goes ahead in this country, despite a postmortem already having taken place abroad
Registering the Death
Following verification of the death, the Medical Examiner will review the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. They may contact the family to discuss any questions or concerns before the certificate is completed.
If there is no involvement from the Coroner, you will receive the information needed to register the death. This is normally sent electronically to the relevant Register Office
You will then need to make an appointment to register the death, you can either telephone 0345 241 2489 or online www.gov.uk registering a death.
When attending your appointment, you may find it helpful to have:
- The person’s place of birth and date of birth
- Full name and address
- If the deceased is a married female, her maiden name will be asked
- National Insurance number
- Last known occupation
- Whether or not the deceased was receiving pension or state benefits
- Full name, address and occupation of whoever is making the registration
The Registrar can provide official copies of the death certificate, which are often needed for banks, insurance companies and other organisations. They will advise you on current fees and the number of copies you may require.
The Registrar will also send the necessary documentation to your appointed funeral director, allowing funeral arrangements to proceed. They will explain the Tell Us Once service, which can notify many government departments and public services on your behalf.
Arranging the Funeral
Once the death has been registered, we will arrange a convenient appointment to discuss your wishes and those of your loved one.
There is no expectation to have every decision made in advance. We will guide you through each option carefully and answer any questions you may have. We can also start to provisionally book dates and availability of ministers.
Some things you may wish to consider include:- Burial or cremation
- A traditional, non-religious, graveside or direct cremation service
- The location of the service, such as a church, crematorium or another meaningful venue
- Clothing for your loved one, whether their own clothes or funeral attire
- Whether you would like a minister, priest, celebrant, interfaith minister or humanist officiant
- Music, hymns, readings, photographic tributes and musicians
- Personal touches, themes or colours that reflect your loved one's life
We will discuss suitable dates and times and check the availability of churches, crematoria, officiants and venues on your behalf.
Coffin Choices
We offer a wide range of coffins to suit individual wishes and budgets, including:
- Veneered and solid wood coffins
- Simulated coffins (foil)
- Coloured or picture coffins
- Willow and bamboo coffins
- Natural and woollen coffins
- Cardboard coffins
We will explain each option and help you choose what feels most appropriate for your loved one.
Order of Service and Floral Tributes
We will also help you plan the Order of Service, including music, hymns, readings and photographic tributes, working alongside your chosen minister or celebrant where appropriate.
If you wish, we can assist with arranging floral tributes, working closely with our professional and highly recommended florist, Classic Flowers, Corn Street, Witney, www.witneyflorist.co.uk and professionally printed Order of Service booklets.
Before the funeral takes place, you will receive written confirmation of the arrangements together with a clear estimate of all costs.
Eynsham Funeral Services, Supporting You Every Step of the Way
Every family is different and unique, that is why we take the time to guide you through the processes and arrangements, so every funeral should reflect the life of the person being remembered.
Annie and David have spent many years supporting families in Eynsham and the surrounding villages with compassion, experience and local knowledge. They understand that arranging a funeral is about far more than practical arrangements, it is about caring for people they know very well and for those they are meeting for the first time, listening to their wishes and providing reassurance at one of life's most difficult times.
Someone you know, someone who cares
Our role is simply to provide support, clear advice and professional care for both you and your loved one. If you would like any guidance, please do get in touch.
