by derek jurovich 10 years ago
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The Seven Stones Team
What To Do When Death Has Occurred
If you have experienced the loss of a loved one, we offer our sincere condolences and
are here to help you. Dealing with loss can be overwhelming but we can guide you
through the process. To find out what to do next, please read below or contact us at
Whether you received a 2 a.m. phone call with news of an unexpected death or shared
your loved one's final moments of a long illness, your initial reaction to the death was
likely shock. It doesn't seem to matter how prepared we are - or aren't - a loved one's
death often leaves us feeling numb and bewildered. If you're responsible for making the
funeral arrangements or executing the will, shock and grief can be immobilizing. Even
simple decisions can be overwhelming. Seven Stones at Chatfield Cemetery’s highly
experienced Staff are available to help you make key decisions, both now and for the
When Death Occurs At Home
If the death has been expected, the physician caring for the deceased will be able to
pronounce the death and this is the person you should first contact. You can then call
the funeral home of your choice to remove the body and follow the personal wishes of
the deceased. If the deceased was under Hospice Care you may call them and they will
If the death is unexpected, the police should be notified. They will in turn dispatch
an officer and contact a local coroner or medical examiner who will then decide the
level of investigation necessary to determine the cause of death. They will arrange to
have the body transferred to the either a hospital or examination center if an autopsy
is required (at their cost). You may suggest to the coroner or medical examiner the
funeral home of your choice to make this transfer, however if you do not or they wish
to use their own personnel, you are under no obligation to use the funeral home they
choose. Once the body has been transferred and the examination complete you have
the right to choose the funeral home you wish to carry out the deceased's final wishes.
If after a preliminary examination and investigation it is determined no further inquiry
is necessary, you may then call the funeral home of your choice to remove the body
and carry out the deceased's final wishes.
When Death Occurs Away From Home
If a death was to occur away from the home, i.e. during a vacation or a business trip,
then Seven Stones suggests that you do a few things first. Call Seven Stones. He / she
will take care of making the necessary contact with a reputable firm in the area that the
This action will avoid any possibility of becoming involved with a funeral home outside
of your residential area that may care little about matters because they feel they will
not ever deal with the family again. When calling Seven Stones, we can act as your
agent, monitoring and avoiding any possibility of excessive, unnecessary or double-
Contact the local police department and they will dispatch an officer to your location
immediately so you will not be alone. If the death was sudden and unexplained, your
local police authorities will make the necessary call to the local coroner to attend to the
place of death. A county medical examiner or coroner may be called.
If you have not called your funeral director, you will have to consider doing so as
the body will have to be removed by them or an authorized agent. Seven Stones
can refer you to a reputable Funeral Director in your area. Regrettably, there have
been circumstances where police and or coroners have called a funeral home of their
choice. While we will not speculate on the motives, often families find themselves being
pressured by a funeral home that was called to the scene.
When Death Occurs At A Hospital or Care Facility
Whether or not you are present when the death occurs a health care professional will
contact you and ask a few questions. Two of the questions you may be asked, you
should be prepared for.
1. Which funeral service provider will you be releasing the body to, for transfer from the
2. Would you like an autopsy performed? Unless the deceased has died unexpectedly,
you will have the choice. An autopsy is the thorough examination of the deceased
body, to understand and determine the cause of death or any factors that may have
contributed towards the cause of death. The information resulting from an autopsy can
help researchers in developing cures and medications to assist in the preventions of
such diseases. Autopsies are generally performed quickly, as to not interfere with the
funeral process, however you may experience some short delays and should check with
the health care professional as to when you can expect the autopsy to be completed if a
delay could be of concern to you.
It may be easier on you to make a few phone calls to other relatives or friends and ask
each of them to make a phone call or two to specific people, so the burden of spreading
the news isn't all on you. If you are alone, ask someone to keep you company while
you make these calls and try to cope with the first hours after the death.
One of the most important things to remember is that making the right decisions now,
regarding burial or cremation and choosing the right memorial location, will help to give
you peace of mind in the years ahead.
While we are not funeral home, we can also guide you through what you need to do
about making funeral arrangements.
As there is so much to consider, our aim is to simplify the process for you, so you can
focus on how you would like to remember and honor your loved one. To consider your
options, you may prefer to meet with us at Seven Stones for a free consultation or if
more convenient, we can arrange to come to you.
Choosing The Right Cemetery
Choosing the right cemetery is an extremely important decision as this determines where family, friends and future generations are able to remember and honor a life.
People choose cemeteries for a variety of reasons, including tradition, family connections, proximity to home or because a certain cemetery is characterized by history, prestige, tranquility, sheer physical beauty or unique Memorial offerings..
Seven Stones at Chatfield is Denver’s newest and most diverse destination in which to honor and celebrate life.
What really sets Seven Stones apart is the extraordinary beauty and vibrancy of our location, our unique creative approach to paying tribute and our staff who will always treat you right.
Seven Stones will be considered to be one of Colorado’s most significant botanical cemeteries, always in harmony with nature and forever changing with the seasons.
Carefully considered indigenous plantings will produce the most tranquil and distinctive of places to rest and reflect. Hills, trees and water features abound and the grounds are graced by opportunities to walk or sit whether alone or with friends and loved ones.
Within Seven Stones Cemetery there are so many special places to honor and celebrate life. You will find unique tribute opportunities that are found nowhere else in the world. You are always welcome to enjoy the beauty and serenity of our grounds.
Please contact us at 855-337-3836 and we will be pleased to show you the garden options available.
Meeting With the Funeral Director
Meeting With the Funeral Home
Within the first 24 hours of a death occurring, you will need to meet with a funeral
home to begin the final arrangements. This will be a difficult time for you and your
loved ones. The funeral home staff will be there to guide you in making decisions and
help make this difficult time a little bit easier.
Who Will Go With You?
One decision that will need to be made when a death has occurred is who will go with
you to the funeral home. Do you have a list of people that are available within the first
24 hours to make the final arrangements?
Who Will Make the Decisions?
Deciding on your loved ones final goodbye will be challenging but not impossible. The
funeral home will help you in providing the answers to questions you may have. They
will help you understand what is involved in planning a funeral and be there to support
you in any way that you need. Something you will need to think about is who will be
making the decisions? Will it be you? Will it be someone with you at the funeral home?
Who Else is Involved in the Arrangements?
Does the deceased have children, friends, family that would like to be a part of
arranging the funeral? Do you know how the deceased felt about funerals or what their
final wishes were? You and your loved ones know the deceased best and your funeral
home will work with you to help in celebrating a life lived.
Do you have the information gathered for the paperwork?
When a death occurs, it is a legal matter that requires paperwork. To better prepare
yourself for the arrangement at the funeral home and the days to follow, it may be
helpful to gather documents needed. Below are a list of documents needed when a
death has occurred:
For The Funeral Home:
• Cemetery Arrangement Information Including Pre-planning Documents
• Life Insurance Policies
• Beneficiary Designations
• Last Will and Testament and any Codicils
• Revocable Living Trust
For Government, Financial Institutions, Personal Finances
• Account Statements of the deceased
• Deeds for Real Estate
• Automobile and Boat Titles
• Stock & Bond Certificates
• Pre-nuptial Agreements
• Post-nuptial Agreements
• Loans
• Leases
• Copies of Bills (utility, cell phone etc.)
• Tax Returns
If you need assistance, please contact us at 855-337-3836. We will be pleased to
assist you or answer any questions you may have.
Planning Your Service Details
Planning Your Service
The purpose of a funeral service is to celebrate and remember a person’s life. It’s an
opportunity for family and friends to gather and remember the deceased while offering
support and comfort to one another. Planning a funeral can be an emotional process
with several legal and financial matters to consider.
The Service Details
A funeral or memorial service can be held near the time of burial or cremation or at a
later date. You may personalize the service as much as possible.
The choice whether or not to have the casket or urn present at the service is yours.
Having a viewing service or wake is also up to you.
This service is all about remembering the deceased. The best way to remember the
deceased is to think of him as in life. If the person was fun, loved Hawaii, and abhorred
all things depressing, you could request that funeral guests come in Hawaiian shirts
and pass out leis. If your family is more traditional or conservative, a more subdued
funeral with guests dressed in black may be more appropriate. Tailor the funeral to the
deceased and it will always stand out in the minds of the guests.
The Location of the Service
Is there a special place that your loved one would like to have their final goodbye?
There are many options to holding a service for the deceased. It can be held at the
cemetery or in a funeral home, in the community, really the options are endless.
Pallbearers
Pall Bearers are the people you have probably seen who carry the casket at the service,
if there is a casket present. Have you thought about who will hold this responsibility?
Who Will Be Officiating the Service?
You can choose to have a minister officiate the service or a celebrant. The difference
between the two are religious and non-religious. Some find it offensive to speak of
religion if the deceased did not have religious beliefs. The choice is yours for who you
would like to officiate the service.
Other Decisions to Be Made
There are a number of other decisions that will need to be made for the service. You
will need to decide which flowers will be used, the type of music to be played, if there
will be transportation to and from the service for friends and family, if there will be
people speaking of stories or memories of the deceased, if there will be a eulogy, and
any other special services that may reflect the life of your loved one.
Notifying Others of the Death
There is likely a list of people that were important to your loved one. Preparing a list of
who should be notified of the passing of your loved one will be beneficial to you when
making the arrangements. Funeral homes today have a number of ways of notifying
people in the community and beyond of the death. Speak to the funeral home about
these options.
There are a number of options to celebrate the life of your loved one, if you would like
to discuss these, please contact us at 855-337-3836.
