Facing a bereavement and confronting the reality that someone close to you has died is always a very confusing and difficult time. We are able to advise you on all the practical arrangements and procedures that must be dealt with in order to organise a funeral service, and the subsequent burial or cremation. It is common that people are unsure of what to do following a bereavement and the following information offers some initial guidance on the first steps that must be taken immediately following a death.

When someone dies in hospital

The nursing staff on your relative's ward or unit will make arrangements for a Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death to be issued by the doctor. You will need to collect this document, (and in some cases it will be Emailed) along with any belongings, from the hospital. If the funeral is to be followed by cremation, please advise the hospital staff so they can make arrangements for the Medical Certificates for Cremation to be completed. Contact Donnelly`s Funeral Directors (Telephone: 0755 55 69027) as soon as possible so that the initial arrangements for the preparation of the deceased and for the funeral services can be made.

When someone dies at home, or in a nursing home or hospice

The first contact should be with the deceased's doctor who, if satisfied with the cause of death, will issue the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death. In some cases you may be asked to collect the certificate from the surgery, or it will be Emailed. In the case of a nursing home or hospice death, their staff should liaise with the doctor. If the funeral is to be followed by cremation, please advise the nursing home or general practitioner's surgery staff so they can make arrangements for the Medical Certificates for Cremation to be completed. Contact Donnelly`s Funeral Directors (Telephone: 0755 55 69027) as soon as possible so that we can arrange for the transfer of the deceased to the funeral home, and so that the initial arrangements for the preparation of the deceased and for the funeral services can be made.

When someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly, or under suspicious circumstances

When someone dies unexpectedly, Her Majesty's Coroner is automatically involved and an investigation is begun. If the deceased has not been under a doctor's care on a regular basis, the emergency doctor, or any police involved, will inform the relevant Coroner’s office. Your initial contact in the event of an unexpected or suspicious death, should be with the Police, or Doctor attending the deceased. Then contact Donnelly`s Funeral Directors (Telephone: 0755 55 69027) as soon as possible so that the initial arrangements for the preparation of the deceased and for the funeral services can be made.

When someone dies away from home or abroad

Contact Donnelly`s Funeral Directors (Telephone: 0755 55 69027) as soon as possible so that we can arrange for the transfer of the deceased to Northern Ireland, and so that the initial arrangements for the preparation of the deceased and for the funeral services can be made.