What to Do When a Loved One Dies

When a loved one dies, the first steps are simple. If the death was expected under hospice care, call hospice to pronounce it; if it was unexpected, call 911. Once the death is pronounced, call C.R. Lyons and Sons at 978.777.7900, any hour of the day or night, and the firm will bring your loved one into its care. There is no need to decide everything at once. A funeral director will then help you gather information and plan the service at your pace. You are not alone in this.

Immediate Help Across the North Shore

C.R. Lyons and Sons responds to families in Danvers, Beverly, Peabody, Salem, Middleton, Topsfield, Wenham, Hamilton, Lynnfield, Swampscott, Marblehead, Boxford, and Ipswich throughout Essex County, day or night, from its funeral home at 28 Elm Street in Danvers.

Step by Step in the First Hours

In the first hours after a death, a clear sequence helps. First, confirm the death: hospice pronounces an expected death, while 911 is the right call for an unexpected one. Second, call C.R. Lyons and Sons at 978.777.7900 so the firm can bring your loved one into its care. Third, notify a few close family members. Fourth, gather basic information. Fifth, schedule the arrangement conference. Each step is described below.

What Information to Gather

For the death certificate and arrangements, the firm will need basic facts about your loved one: full legal name, date and place of birth, parents’ names, and whether they served in the military. You do not need these on the first call; gather them at your own pace and bring them to the arrangement conference. The firm orders the death certificates you need, usually six to twelve copies.

When You Are Far Away

If you live at a distance or a death occurs while you are traveling, C.R. Lyons and Sons can begin care and make arrangements with you fully remotely, using phone, email, and electronic signatures. The firm also coordinates transfers into and out of the area and international repatriation when needed, so distance is never a barrier to caring for your loved one.

How C.R. Lyons and Sons Helps in the First Hours

  • A real person answers death calls 24 hours a day at 978.777.7900.
  • Prompt, respectful transfer of your loved one into the firm's care.
  • Clear, calm guidance on pronouncement, paperwork, and timing.
  • Arrangement conferences in person or fully remote, within a day or two.
  • Four generations of independent, locally controlled care since 1925.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do first when someone dies at home?

If the death was expected and under hospice care, call the hospice; they will guide you and pronounce the death. If it was unexpected, call 911. Once the death is pronounced, call C.R. Lyons and Sons at 978.777.7900 any time, and the firm will bring your loved one into its care.
Call C.R. Lyons and Sons at 978.777.7900. Death calls are answered 24 hours a day, with most answered directly by staff and an answering service for backup. Families typically receive a response within an hour.
The firm will ask for basic information about your loved one for the death certificate, such as full legal name, date and place of birth, and parents’ names, and will ask whether the veteran served in the military. You can gather these at your own pace.
There is no need to decide everything at once. After your loved one is in the firm’s care, you can schedule an arrangement conference within a day or two. In Massachusetts, cremation has a 48-hour waiting period, and burial or cremation usually occurs within 24 to 48 hours of arrangements.
Reviewed by C.R. Lyons III, CFSP, CCS, owner and licensed funeral director, Massachusetts. Past president of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association and one of the first Certified Cremation Specialists in the United States (CANA, 2022).

Member of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, the Cremation Association of North America, and Selected Independent Funeral Homes. Recurring recipient of the NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award. Four generations of family ownership since 1925.