What to Do?

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.

What to do first next depends on the circumstances of the death. When someone dies in a hospital or care facility, the staff will usually notify family and will keep your loved one in their care until we make arrangements to pick them up. If someone is being taken care of at a residence and the death occurs, you must first call their doctor or a doctor who has been assigned to them and inform them that the death has occurred. They will then come to the residence and pronounce the death. Once a doctor has been called, you can then phone us. We will wait until the doctor arrives and completes the medical forms and then bring the deceased back to the funeral home. Regardless of the hour in which the death occurs, Bernardo Funeral Home will be able to assist you in your time of need.