When a Death Occurs
The first hours after a death are disorienting, even when it was expected. Knowing what to do — and what can wait — brings a measure of calm. This guide walks you through the immediate steps, whether your loved one passed at home, in a hospital, or in hospice care. And remember: you never have to figure it out alone. TraditionCare answers the phone 24 hours a day, every day, and we will guide you from the very first call.
If Death Occurs at Home
If your loved one was under hospice care, call the hospice nurse first — they will make the official pronouncement and can notify us for you. If the death was unexpected and no hospice is involved, call 911; emergency responders will guide the next steps, which may involve the county coroner. Once a pronouncement is made, call us and we will come into your home with care, at any hour.
At a Hospital or Care Facility
When a death occurs at a hospital, nursing home, or care facility, the staff handles the pronouncement and will ask which funeral home to notify — simply give them our name, TraditionCare Funeral Services, and they will contact us directly. We coordinate the transfer into our care and then call you to arrange a time to meet. There is nothing you must do at the facility itself.
Your First Call to Us
When you call, we will ask a few simple questions: your loved one's name and location, your contact information, and whether any pre-arrangements exist. That's all we need to begin. In the days that follow, it helps to gather documents — identification, insurance policies, veteran's discharge papers if applicable — but none of that is needed in the first call. We will walk you through everything else when we meet.
