When Death Occurs
Death at Home
If someone has died at home, please know that you do not need to figure everything out on your own. Many families have never experienced a death at home before, and one phone call to Haskett Funeral Homes is enough to begin.
What to do first
Call us first, whenever you are ready. We will calmly walk you through what needs to happen and help determine the next step based on your situation.
There is no obligation to have decisions made before calling. You do not need to know about service details, cremation or burial, newspaper notices, clergy, cemetery arrangements, paperwork, clothing, photos, or anything else before reaching out.
If the death was expected, there is often a nurse, doctor, hospice team, or other healthcare professional involved in the care. In many cases, they will attend the home to pronounce the death and provide the authorization needed for us to care for your loved one.
If you are unsure who to call first, please contact us. We can help guide you through the process and explain what needs to happen next.
What happens next
We will guide you through the immediate steps
Every situation is different. Our role is to help you understand what needs to happen and to support you through those first difficult hours.
We will arrange the transfer into our care
Haskett Funeral Homes is available 24 hours a day. Once the required authorization has been completed, our team will come to the home and bring your loved one into our care with dignity and respect.
We will coordinate with others involved
We can help coordinate with doctors, nurses, hospice teams, coroners, clergy, cemeteries, family members, and others who may need to be involved in the days ahead.
We will talk about arrangements when you are ready
Some families want to begin making arrangements right away, while others need a little time first. There is no pressure to have everything figured out immediately.
Before our team arrives
If there are any circumstances we should be aware of before arriving, we always appreciate any information you can provide. This may include access concerns, stairs, parking, pets, or anything else that may help our team prepare respectfully and appropriately.
If there are vehicles blocking the driveway or entrance, it can sometimes be helpful to move them before our arrival. It can also be helpful to secure pets before our staff arrive at the home.
Our team may be assisting another family at the time of your call, so arrival times can vary depending on the circumstances. We will always communicate with you clearly and keep you informed throughout the process.
There is no perfect way to navigate these first few hours. We will help you take things one step at a time.
Common questions
What if I call after hours?
After hours, our telephones are answered by a professional answering service, and one of our team members is always responsible for returning those calls. The answering service assists funeral homes across much of Ontario, so they may not know all the details of our local communities, but they are caring people who genuinely want to help. Once our team connects with you directly, everything will feel much more personal and local.
Do we need to call 911?
If the death was expected and healthcare professionals have been involved in the care, you likely do not need to call 911. In many cases, the nurse, doctor, hospice team, or other healthcare provider will guide the next steps. If you are unsure, simply call us and we will help point you in the right direction.
Do we need to have anything prepared?
No. There is no rush and you do not need to gather paperwork, clothing, photographs, or other information before calling. If there are items you would like us to take with your loved one, we are happy to do that, but those details can also be handled later.
Can family stay during the transfer?
Absolutely. Some families choose to remain with their loved one and be part of the transfer into our care, while others prefer to say their goodbyes privately and leave the rest to us. There is no right or wrong choice.
What if family members are travelling to the home?
We understand that sometimes people are travelling long distances and families wish to wait before the transfer takes place. We are happy to discuss those circumstances with you. We also want families to know there will usually be opportunities to spend time with their loved one again at our funeral home, so nobody should feel pressured or rushed.
What if there are pre-arrangements already in place?
If pre-arrangements have been completed, we may not have immediate access to that information when we first arrive at the home, and that is completely alright. There will be plenty of time afterward to review those details together.
What happens after my loved one is brought into your care?
Typically, we will either arrange a meeting with your family for the following day or contact you afterward to discuss next steps by telephone. There is no pressure to make immediate decisions.
Related information
You can return to our main When Death Occurs page or contact us directly at any time.
You are not alone in this
When someone dies at home, the first few moments can feel overwhelming. Please call us. We will help you take the next step, one step at a time.
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).