T here are several important steps that must be taken in the event of a death. It is our desire that our families are informed of the options available to them at such a time.

Depending on where the death occurs and under what circumstances, the following will explain what you should do when the death occurs:

DEATH IN AN INSTITUTION: When a death occurs at a hospital or nursing home, the medical staff will take care of all necessary legal steps. You just need to notify the medical staff that Honquest is the funeral home handling the arrangements so they can have you sign any necessary release paperwork and they will take care of notifying us.

ANTICIPATED DEATH AT HOME: Today, more people with terminal illnesses are electing to die at home under the care of Hospice. You just need to notify them that Honquest is the funeral home of your choice; they will then take care of all necessary legal requirements and notify us. Many times when someone has a terminal illness, the family will elect to make pre-arrangements with us so they are not overwhelmed with the important decisions at the time of death.

UNANTICIPATED DEATH AT HOME OR ELSEWHERE: In these circumstances, you should call 911 immediately. The police and emergency medical personnel will then determine the appropriate steps to be taken. Often the police can release the human remains directly to our funeral home. However, in certain cases, the body may need to go to the Medical Examiner's Office so that the cause of death may be determined.

DEATH OUT OF STATE: If the death occurs out of state, you should call Honquest on our toll-free number, 888-212-2820. We can then coordinate with a local funeral home at the place of death. Being a member of several national organizations, Honquest can make the necessary arrangements and often save the family money, as well as give peace of mind that every detail is being handled in a dignified and professional manner.

This is only a general overview of some of the more common situations and we encourage you to call if you have any questions.