when death occurs
What to do when you have lost a loved one.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCING A LOSS?
If a death has occurred please call
PNW Cremation & Funeral at (509) 483-3440
Or arrange online:
Handling the death of a loved one is never an easy task. We've put together some of the important information you'll need to make the initial decisions, reach out to the appropriate people, and begin the process of designing your loved one's final farewell. Remember that, as you begin to cope with your loss, it's often a good idea to enlist the help and support of a trusted friend in making the necessary arrangements.
If you have any questions about your next steps, the options available to you, or what the funeral arrangement process will entail, we'd be honored to walk you through this information in more detail and answer your questions. Don't hesitate to contact us for anything you might need.
WITHIN HOURS
When a death occurs at home or in the workplace, you'll need to contact emergency personnel or your loved one's physician if he or she was under medical care. If no one else was present when the death occurred, you'll also need to notify the police before the deceased is moved to a secondary location.
When a death occurs while your loved one is in a hospital, care facility or hospice program, the professional staff will notify you and contact the appropriate authorities. If you've already given them the name of a funeral home, the facility will contact them as well.
The next steps involve registration of the death, and the processes and documentation involved depend upon the circumstances. The professionals you've contacted will help to guide you through obtaining a medical certificate and the appropriate registration procedures.
If you're ever unsure of whom you should notify or what your next steps should be, please call us for assistance in determining the appropriate course of action for your particular situation.
WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS
After you've taken care of the initial necessary arrangements, you'll want to notify friends and relatives of the death. If it is too painful for you to do this yourself, it's absolutely okay for a trusted friend to make the call in your place. Now is the time to review any prearranged wishes or plans your loved one may have put in place, and meet with the professionals at your chosen funeral home to discuss your options and begin designing a funeral. You'll also write a death notice or obituary to notify those in the community of your loved one's passing.
Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have about what you need to do, even if your concerns aren't directly related to the funeral. We're well-versed in all topics relating to the loss of a loved one, and we'd be honored to provide you with answers, advice, and guidance in your time of need.
A NETWORK OF SUPPORT
Your initial call with our funeral director will allow us to inquire about any prearrangements and gather the information we need to transport your loved one to the funeral home, but you can also feel free to ask any questions you may have and resolve any of your initial concerns. At later meetings you'll be able to discuss your arrangements in greater detail, but we're always available in your time of need to provide emotional support, a sympathetic ear, and careful guidance.
Know that, during your time of loss, your greatest resource will be loved ones who want to offer their assistance in any way they can. We encourage you to get in touch with relatives, neighbors, friends, clergy members or other spiritual advisors, and other trusted members of your community. They are often more than happy to prepare food, look after children, help with arrangements, or simply offer a kind word and open arms.
visit a location near you
PNW Cremation & Funeral is a Spokane funeral and cremation provider with three Spokane area locations.
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Each of our stores are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, but are available 24/7 for emergencies.
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It is our desire to make every visitor feel welcome and comfortable. For that reason, we intentionally designed our each location to be a casual environment with superior professional and caring services from our staff.
Additionally, you will be able to browse a number of memorial options, ranging from a diverse selection of urns, cremation jewelry, keepsakes in addition to casket and marker options for traditional body burial.
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For directions, staff info and more info, click the image at right.
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we are here for you.
Our caring staff of professional funeral directors are available to assist you with any immediate needs you may have, or to answer any questions you may have about plans for yourself or a loved one.
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We would be honored to serve you and your family. Visit or call any of our three Spokane locations, or send us an email through our contact form.