Planning a funeral

What to do when someone dies

When a relative or friend has just died it can be overwhelming and daunting not knowing what to do or who to call first, especially if you have never experienced a bereavement before. Depending on the circumstances, and where the person has died, there are a few different steps to take…

If the death was expected (e.g. due to a terminal illness) Have they died at home or in a Nursing Home?

If the death was expected, perhaps due to a terminal illness, a doctor or registered nurse will need to verify the death. You should call your GP practice, which will divert to the on-call duty doctor if out of hours. The doctor or nurse can take a number of hours to attend. Once the death has been verified,

you can contact a Funeral Director when you are ready. You may choose to take some time to say your goodbyes before calling the Funeral Director.

Have they died in Hospital?

If someone dies in hospital, you will be contacted by the bereavement team based at the hospital. If the death occurs outside of the bereavement office hours, you can usually

expect the call to take place the next working day. They will be able to offer practical and emotional support. The bereavement team will ask you if you have a Funeral Director appointed. As the hospital will arrange all of the necessary paperwork, the Funeral Director cannot usually bring the person that has died into their care straight away, this means you can take your time to appoint someone.

If the death was unexpected Have they died unexpectedly?

For sudden or unexpected deaths, the standard procedure is for the ambulance service to attend to verify the death. Once the paramedics have verified the death, the Police will be asked to attend on behalf of the coroner. The police officer(s)

will collect information for the coroner and will then contact a Funeral Director to take the person who has died to a nearby hospital, in the care of the coroner. You may request a Funeral Director or alternatively the police will contact a local Funeral Director to act on their behalf. You do not need to use the Funeral Director who attended for the funeral. For our local area, the coroner’s designated hospital is Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. The coroner may request a post-mortem or inquest to determine the cause of death. The coroner will speak to you about their investigation and will ask you to appoint a Funeral Director if you haven’t already done so.

Have they died abroad or away from home?

If someone dies abroad, the death needs to be registered according to the regulations in that country. The death will also need to be registered with the British Embassy to obtain a consulate death certificate. You should let a tour operator or

resort representative know about the death. If someone died while on a ship or plane, you must register the death in the country that the ship or plane is registered to and not where the ship or plane was at the time of death.

If you are unclear on what to do next in any of the above situations, we recommend calling your preferred Funeral Director to ask for advice and guidance. n

Kelly Bowsher is the first female funeral director, and soon to be family member, at Tom Owen and Son – an award-winning, family run, independent community Funeral Director situated in Llandudno. They provide a modern fresh approach to organising funerals that empowers you to have a unique funeral that is fitting for the person that has died. For more information, please get in touch with one of the team by calling 01492 860 280 or visit the blog and website at https://www.tomowenandson.com/

Book Corner

African Twist

Maggie Ogunbanwo

From the added heat of West African chillies to leafy greens and pulses from the east, this collection of African-inspired recipes showcases a range of ingredients, flavours and

combinations to invigorate any plant-based offering with an African twist.

Written by the owner of Maggie’s African Twist sauce company based in North Wales, Maggie Ogunbanwo, African Twist combines immaculate balance of flavours combined with

playful presentation to ensure these are recipes to remember for those wanting to explore broader culinary horizons.

Recipes include: Golden Rice with Raisins, Carrot and Apricot Soup, Courgette, Kale and Leek Bitetuteku, Banfora: Burkina Welsh Cakes, Rum Caramel Oranges, Puff-Puff with Kombucha.

African Twist is available to purchase now for £9.99 from local bookshops or online from www.graffeg.com