Losing a loved one unexpectedly can be an overwhelming experience, filled with both emotional and logistical challenges. When no pre-arrangements have been made, families must grapple with grief while handling the daunting task of planning a funeral.
To help you during a difficult time, we’ve created a step-by-step guide designed to provide clarity and support, helping to ease the burden of planning a funeral after an unexpected loss.
A Step-by-Step Guide for Immediate-Need Funeral Planning
| Step | Details |
| Report the passing | If your loved one passed in a hospital or hospice facility, the medical staff will handle this step. If the passing occurred at home or in a nursing home, you’ll need to contact the authorities. Call 911 or use a non-emergency line, depending on your situation. If your loved one was on hospice care before passing, notify the hospice provider and they will assist with next steps. |
| Contact a funeral home | Reaching out to a funeral home early is essential, as they will guide you through many other steps to come. If you’re considering a green funeral such as human composting, be sure to choose a provider that specializes in eco-friendly options. |
| Arrange transportation | Once the death has been reported by the hospice, hospital, or authorities, you will then need to arrange the transportation of your loved one to a funeral home. The funeral home you choose will typically assist with this process, whether the passing occurred at home, in a hospital, or elsewhere. |
| Meet with a funeral director | When you’ve chosen a funeral home, you’ll work closely with a funeral director to make key decisions about the funeral and final disposition. This meeting is essential in determining whether burial, cremation, or soil transformation is the best fit for your loved one’s wishes and your family’s needs. |
| Obtain a death certificate | A death certificate is crucial for managing various legal and administrative tasks, like closing bank accounts, transferring assets, and filing taxes on behalf of your loved one. Once you’ve chosen a funeral home, they will typically assist in securing copies of the death certificate. |
| Review the will | If your loved one left a will, it can provide valuable insight into their preferences for funeral arrangements, memorial services, and the handling of their remains. The will may specify the type of funeral, namely burial, cremation, or human composting, and outline other important details.
In the absence of a will, these choices will fall to the next of kin. It’s important to reflect on what your loved one might have wanted if no specific instructions were left behind. |
| Plan the service | There are many ways to honor and remember your loved one, whether you hold a service immediately or plan to memorialize your loved one at a later date. Celebration of life ceremonies are an increasingly common alternative to traditional funeral services. Many people have found them to be the best way of remembering and honoring a loved one’s life. |
| Publish an obituary | An obituary not only informs others of your loved one’s passing but also celebrates their life and shares service details. It can be published in local newspapers, online through the funeral home, or distributed at the service.
Earth Funeral offers beautiful online obituaries, allowing you to share pictures and memories with family and friends. |
Consider Eco-Friendly Options: The Benefits of Human Composting
At Earth, we offer an eco-friendly funeral alternative to traditional funerals called soil transformation, also known as natural organic reduction or human composting. This process gently transforms a body into nutrient-rich soil, which can be returned to loved ones or donated to conservation projects. Families may choose how much soil they'd like to keep, and can use this soil for a memorial garden, tree planting, or scattering in a meaningful location.
For those seeking a sustainable, natural option, soil transformation provides a way to honor your loved one while giving back to the earth.
We’re here for you
If you’re facing an unexpected loss and are considering human composting for your loved one, our care advisors are available 24/7 to support you through every step of the process. We can answer your questions, explain your options, and help guide you through these difficult decisions.
Call us at any time at ​​(877) 327-4109 or visit us online to learn more about Earth’s services and how we can assist you during this time of need.
