Important Things You Should Do When a Loved One Dies

If someone you love has just died, your head is probably spinning. Your life will never be the same, but there are some very practical things you need to handle. Here are the top five things our caring team at Dynasty Memorial Mortuary Funeral Home recommends you do after losing someone close to you.

1.) Report the death.

If your loved one dies in a Houston-area doctor’s office, nursing home, hospital, or hospice care, a doctor will be able to do this for you. If they die at home, you will need to call 911.

2.) Make Dynasty Memorial Mortuary Funeral Homes your next call.

We will help you complete the certificate of death and arrange for the transportation of your loved one here to the funeral home. If your friend or family member dies while traveling, we will bring them home in a professional manner for the lowest possible cost.

You will need to make several other decisions at this moment. Our caring, experienced staff will walk you through all of your options and determine the kind of service and final disposition that most closely matches your loved one’s wishes.

3.) Notify others.

Take care to tell the people in your inner circle first. It is best practice to refrain from sharing any news on social media until you are sure all family and close friends have been notified. Be sure to call your loved one’s employer and make arrangements immediately to care for any children or pets left behind.

You may want to enlist the help of other family members and friends help with notifications, especially if you are the primary person responsible for making the funeral arrangements.

4.) Plan the funeral.

When planning a funeral, you must consider several factors. Unless your loved one chooses to preplan, you’ll need to decide between traditional burial and cremation, as well as their final disposition and all the other details related to their service.

At Dynasty Memorial Mortuary Funeral, we will work closely with you to design a service that will capture your friend or family member’s personality and bring you healing. Think about how you want to infuse the service or visitation with your loved one’s personality. Depending on your needs and budget, a reception might also be a good option for you. Fortunately, our staff is not only experienced with managing all of these details, they also know firsthand what a difficult process this is for you. Their care and concern will help make these decisions as easy as possible.

5.) Begin down a road toward healing.

Grief is a long journey, and for some, it never ends. In the midst of managing the practical details that must be attended to after a loved one’s death, don’t neglect to take the time you need to practice self-care. As much as possible, try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep at night. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy foods, and try to fit in a bit of exercise each day – even if it’s simply taking a walk around the block. Spend time with people who lovingly support you, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

Above all, know that you are never alone when you plan with Dynasty Memorial Mortuary Funeral. We are always here to connect you with resources to help you in your grief. Our commitment to helping you and your family continues long after the funeral service is over.

At Dynasty Memorial Mortuary Funeral Home, we have heard many questions from the greater Houston community about what to wear and say at a funeral. Everyone is different, and each person’s life can be celebrated uniquely. It’s a big reason we provide personalized funeral services for families to explore in planning.

For some, a traditional funeral complete with black or dark coloring is desired and appropriate for the lived life. For others, this conservative memorial might seem too somber or unfitting. There are countless ways to remember a loved one, and it's important to find out exactly what’s expected for that particular service.

If the deceased was bubbly and constantly smiling, perhaps bright clothing and colorful flowers or balloons might be a fitting tribute to someone who was also bright and imaginative. Our Houston families often say, “She would have wanted everyone lighthearted and celebrating, not crying.” Adding color to a service is an appropriate and acceptable way to memorialize a cheerful person, creating a “celebration of life” atmosphere rather than “mourning a death.”

Similarly, if a child dies, often the school holds a ceremony or service open to the students. Classmates are commonly told to wear bright colors to make the youth feel comfortable and not intimidated by death.

We would advise you not to call the family during such a difficult time and ask them questions about dress. Our staff can tell you what the family has requested, or the family may include that information in their loved one’s obituary or post it on Facebook. The most important thing is being present for the bereaved.

For what you can say to the bereaved at a funeral, it is always appropriate to speak from the heart. Some find it hard to know what to say, so try collecting your thoughts ahead of time, thinking of a good memory or story to share. Many people may be in attendance, so if time is limited, expressing your sympathy, love, and support is best. Remember your presence for them at such a difficult time will be comforting, so even saying simple but kind words, such as “My thoughts and prayers are with you,” will be welcomed and appreciated.

If you are seeking help for your friend who is grieving after the service is over, we provide aftercare resources for those who need additional support. Our care does not stop when the funeral ends; we have a grief support guide on our website to help you or your friend when convenient.

The National Funeral Directors Association has alerted us that scammers are targeting consumers of funeral and cemetery services. This unfortunate scam targets families that have recently lost a loved one and planned funeral services. The scammer looks at recent obituaries and then pulls names to contact. The scammer then calls the family and falsely purports to be an employee of the funeral home or cemetery which they just found from the obit. The scammers can also use spoofing software so the number they are calling from appears to be a legitimate business number. They tell the family that there was a problem with their credit card or simply need additional money for the funeral arrangements to stay on schedule. The family then gives the requested information to the scammer, believing they are from the funeral home or cemetery.

If you receive any suspicious phone calls or if you aren’t sure you are speaking to one of our staff members on the phone, even if our phone number is on the caller ID, please hang up and call us back to check if it is a legitimate call. NEVER provide credit card information over the phone.

We hate that families are being targeted in their time of loss. Thankfully, we have not had an issue yet, and hope this never happens to anyone else. Please do not hesitate to call us directly with any concerns.

Sincerely, The Staff of Dynasty Memorial Mortuary Funeral Home