What Do I Do When A Death Has Occurred?

All arrangements can be made completely online and by phone if preferred. We make it convenient for you. To speak to someone call 905-529-2403.

For your convenience all arrangements can be made online, over the phone or in person, all from the comfort of your own home. Alternatively we can meet you in one of our many arrangement locations, whatever is convenient for you. If you need immediate assistance or you would like to begin the arrangement process by telephone, please contact us.

What happens in the case of an unexpected death

If there is a medical emergency, dial 911 to contact emergency services for assistance. An unexpected death may occur at home, at a hospital or at a nursing home. The coroner's office may be contacted in certain situations. This is a routine procedure and should not cause you or your family any unnecessary anxiety. In this situation the coroner will come to your home, or to the hospital to view the body. The coroner will discuss the removal of the body or the timing of its release to the funeral home. Once you have reached emergency services, you can then contact us to take care of the rest.

At the Hospital

If a death occurs at the hospital, simply call us and we will take care of the rest. There are certain government documents that need to be filled out and if you are comfortable, please fill out the required release documents provided under the Online Forms tab. If not, we are able to take care of the arrangements once the doctor has signed these release documents.

At the Nursing Home

When someone passes away at a nursing home we must be called immediately. Nursing homes are not equipped with holding facilities like hospitals, so the deceased must be taken into our care for the sake of their own dignity and for the health of the other residents.

At Home

If a loved one passes away at home and was not part of the Death at Home Program, you should simply call the police. They will respond and contact the coroner. The coroner should arrive shortly and pronounce the passing. Once this is done, we can make arrangements to take the deceased into our care, and prepare for any funeral services desired.

*Please note: We cannot take anyone into our care until the coroner has pronounced the passing.

Death at Home Program

In many cases when a death is imminent, people don't want to spend their final days in a hospital room or hospice. They would prefer to be home with their families. This provides great comfort to the individual, and also allows the family to be in the comfort of their own home during this difficult time. The Death at Home program was created to allow people to spend their final days at home with their family. Because the death is expected, all of the required paperwork is done before hand and Basic Funerals and Cremation Choices can come to the home immediately after a death, and bring your loved one into our care.