Upon the death of a loved one, the first calls are to the Temple – (301) 340-6818 and the funeral provider. The clergy will assist you taking the next steps. The funeral provider will assure that the death certificate is obtained and provided to you. The provider will also arrange for removal of the body. A listing of local funeral directors is provided here for your convenience.
Arrangements may vary depending on where the death occurs.
If the decedent died at home, it may be necessary to call the police or 911 to report the death and arrange for removal of the body.
In a hospital setting, the death certificate will be prepared by the attending physician and the body will be held until arrangements can be made with the funeral home.
In a hospice setting, the hospice doctor should be notified. The doctor will sign the necessary documents and hospice will help make the necessary arrangements.
If you want Temple clergy to officiate at the funeral, it is important to coordinate with Temple staff before any arrangements are finalized. Even if Temple staff will not be involved in the funeral service, the congregation will provide support to the bereaved family.
If the family knows death is imminent, it is better to discuss and resolve some of these issues and procedures concerning the funeral and burial beforehand.
