Death of a Loved One

Has someone in your family just passed? Below you’ll find information about what to do, what questions to ask, and other considerations.

Notify the proper authorities. If your loved one passed in a hospital or care facility, you will need to notify a funeral home. In some cases, the hospital or care facility will call the funeral home of your choice to arrange transportation of your loved one to the funeral home. There will be transportation fees for this service. It’s a good idea to ask about these costs when choosing a funeral home. Use our Funeral Cost worksheet to help you take notes when comparing prices/services. The funeral home you choose will contact the person in charge of arrangements to set an Arrangement Conference time. 

If your loved one is on hospice care, your hospice nurse will notify the funeral home of your choice. The funeral home you choose will contact the person in charge of arrangements to set an Arrangement Conference time.

If your loved one passed and is now at a coroner’s office, you will need to speak to a funeral home to schedule an Arrangement Conference. A release signed by the family will need to be completed at the funeral home prior to transportation of your loved one from the coroner’s office. The loved one will not be released until the coroner completes their investigative period, which may take several days. 1.1.4.     If your loved one passes at home without hospice care, you must notify the local authorities. In San Joaquin County, you may call the San Joaquin County Sheriff Non Emergency Line at 209-468-4400 to report the passing. You will need to select a funeral home and set up an Arrangement Conference appointment. 

What to look for in a funeral home? Read more >