Compassionate Funeral Procedures: Essential Steps and Guidelines

1. General Duties of the FD At Need Funeral Procedures

2. Notification of Death • Use of the telephone: • i) answering: • Know your funeral homes policies!! • ii) voice: • Avoid sounding impatient or bored. Don’t interrupt!

3. Add’l Items For Arrangement Conference • Photo and Clothing • Social Security Number and Vet. D/C • Biographical/Statistical Information • Cemetery Information • Time and Place for Arrangement is established

4. Add’l Info. for Institutional Removal • Name, address and telephone number of spouse or next of kin. • Name, address and telephone number of the person authorizing release to the FH • Time of release. • Availability of refrigeration. • Entrance to utilize.

5. Closing • Approximate time of arrival. • Assurance of continued assistance. • Permit the caller to close. • Avoid saying “thank you”. • Record information accurately. • Leave a copy of information at FH while the transfer is being completed.

6. Types of Notification • Immediate Family • Institutional • Relative/Close Friend • Walk-in • Trauma • It is important that you remain calm, compassionate and professional.

7. Trauma Call • 1) express condolences • 2) gather necessary information • 3) establish warm and caring relationship with the family • 4) schedule arrangement conference • 5) obtain permission to embalm • 6) provide family with a phone number • 7) obtain phone number and address from the family • 8) be prepared to offer assistance • 9) provide the family with the FH address • Follow-up:

8. NJ Administrative Code • 13:36-8.8 Authorization to embalm cadaver • “No licensed practitioner of mortuary science shall take possession of or embalm a cadaver without first being directed and fully authorized to do by those charged with the duties of interment.”

9. PA Code • 13.202 Unprofessional conduct • 10) “Furnishing embalming, other services or merchandise without having obtained written permission from a family member or other person authorized by law to make funeral arrangements for the deceased. Oral permission to embalm, followed by a confirmatory fax, telex, telegram, mailgram or other written confirmation will be acceptable.”

10. Transfer of Remains • Factors to consider before leaving the FH: • 1) selection of appropriate vehicle • 2) number of staff members required • 3) transfer equipment and accessories • 4) personal appearance of transfer personnel • 5) transfer procedures

11. Transfer From a Residence • Arrival at place of death: • Transfer procedures: Transfer From an Institution Legal Requirements

12. NJ Administrative Code • 13:36-5.17 • “No person shall remove human remains from any residence or institution without first securing authorization consenting to the removal from the next of kin or a person legally entitled to grant said authorization.”

13. PA Code • 13.213 Means of transportation. • “Transportation of the deceased by a funeral director or the director’s agent shall be only in or on a stretcher or container specifically designed for containment of human remains. A body shall be trnsported in a horizontal, face-up position and covered so that it is shielded from public view.”