BEREAVEMENT AND WHAT TO DO WHEN FACED WITH THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE

Many people find themselves bewildered and perplexed when faced with bereavement, particularly when the death of a loved one is sudden and unexpected.  Questions without immediate answers quickly fill the mind: feelings of panic often cause confusion.

Most people at some time will arrange a funeral or at least assist in the arrangements.  Important decisions will need to be made.

Below is a guide which we hope will be of help to you.  It offers answers that to some may be obvious, but to many may be new.  In a society that often seems to shun the reality of death this guide is offered for support and information.

WHEN DEATH OCCURS AT HOME – A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

  1. Call the deceased’s Doctor and request they certify the death.
  2. Once the Doctor has been to certify death, please contact us on (01481) 249778 – Noyon’s Funeral Services – and we will arrange removal to our Private Chapel of Rest – Available 24/7.
  3. We will then arrange a mutually convenient time to meet with you to discuss your requirements for the funeral and make further arrangements as well as complete all legal documents.

WHEN DEATH OCCURS SUDDENLY OR UNEXPECTEDLY

If the person’s death is sudden or unexpected other than at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, the Emergency Services may become involved.  If you have already decided that Noyon’s Funeral Services are to be your nominated Funeral Directors, please inform those attending from the Emergency Services and they will contact us on (01481) 249778.  We may be instructed to transfer the deceased to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital for further investigation rather than our Private Chapel of Rest.

Please note, even if the removal has been performed by another Funeral Director or Ambulance, you can still request that Noyon’s Funeral Services assist you with the funeral arrangements and completion of the required legal documents.

IF DEATH OCCURS AT THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH HOSPITAL – A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

  1. The Doctor in charge should certify death.
  2. The hospital staff are not responsible for contacting the funeral director, so you will need to contact us either by phone (01481) 249778 – Noyon’s Funeral Services – or email noyonsfuneral@suremail.gg to inform us of our appointment.
  3. We will then arrange a mutually convenient time to meet with you to discuss your requirements for the funeral and make further arrangements as well as complete all legal documents.  (The deceased will remain in the care of the PEH until all required paperwork has been completed.)

WHEN DEATH OCCURS AT A NURSING/CARE HOME – A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

  1. The nursing staff will call the deceased’s Doctor.
  2. Inform the nursing staff of your decision to use Noyon’s Funeral Services and ensure that the nursing staff have your correct contact details so that we can get in touch with you.
  3. Once the Doctor has been to certify death, the nursing staff will then contact us on (01481) 249778 – Noyon’s Funeral Services – and we will then arrange removal to our Private Chapel of Rest – Available 24/7.  However, we are not responsible for clearing any of the deceased’s personal effects from the Nursing/Care Home.
  4. We will contact you and arrange a mutually convenient time to meet to discuss your requirements for the funeral and make further arrangements as well as complete all legal documents.

WHEN DEATH OCCURS ABROAD

Depending on the circumstances, it maybe you or someone else that will contact us on (01481) 249778 – Noyon’s Funeral Services – or by email noyonsfuneral@suremail.gg  More often than not, it is a Funeral Director in the jurisdiction of where the person died who will contact us, providing they have been given our details, which can also be found on our website noyonsfuneral.com.  We will then liaise with that particular Funeral Director to repatriate the deceased back to Guernsey as swiftly as possible.

We will require contact details of the person(s) that we should contact to further discuss the requirements and subsequently finalise arrangements for the funeral as well as complete all legal documents.

For all your funeral needs please contact us on (01481) 249778 or email: noyonsfuneral@suremail.gg

The GUERNSEY BEREAVEMENT SERVICE can support you following your bereavement.  If you would like to talk over any worries or problems please contact them on (01481) 257778 – this is a 24 hour Bereavement Helpline.