When a Death Occurs
When a death occurs in your family, you will be faced with important tasks and decision-making during a very difficult time. You may not know what to do or when to begin making arrangements. Bearing the responsibility can be overwhelming. Remember that you are not alone. We at the funeral home are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist you with the details and offer our guidance.
After a death has occurred, notify by calling Walter Johnson Funeral Home (732) 382-6262, Werson Funeral Home (908) 486-4118 or Sullivan Funeral Home (908) 241-2345.
Within Hours
When a loved one dies at home or in a place that isn’t a healthcare facility, and your loved one was under hospice care, you should call hospice immediately.
If your loved one is not under the care of hospice, please contact emergency personnel before they can be taken into our care.
If your loved one dies in a healthcare facility, they will notify the proper authorities, including the funeral home you have chosen to care for your loved one if they know that information.
This part of the process is often the most emotional, and we are here to help and support you. If you’re not sure what to do, call us any time.
If your loved one did not preplan their funeral, you might want to start thinking about a few of the big choices you will need to make, such as:
- Burial or cremation
- The location of their final resting place in a grave or mausoleum
- Any religious services you will need, such as clergy or spiritual leaders
- The types of service you want, such as a viewing, religious service, graveside, memorial service, etc.
These questions are just a starting point, and you don't need to know the answers right away. Don’t hesitate to contact us to gain a better understanding of your options. We're here to make this process easier for you.
What to Expect When We Meet
We will then set an appointment time for you to come to the funeral home to complete the details of the funeral arrangement. We'll then ask you about your loved one to gain an understanding of the person the services will honor. Use this time to communicate your ideas and preferences, share your loved one's life story, revisit memories, and highlight their accomplishments. Our professionals will use this information to guide you in the creation of a personalized, meaningful celebration of your loved one's life. We believe every service deserves to be truly memorable, and correct to the finest detail.
We will ask you to bring in some items and information that will be necessary to complete the arrangement. We have compiled the following list to help guide you.
This process may include:
- Full legal name
- Full legal address
- Marital status
- Date and place of birth
- Last place of employment (name, town, state)
- Occupation
- Years of education
- Social security number
- Place of burial, entombment or cremation
- The name, address, and phone number of person in charge of these arrangements
- Parent's names (including mother's maiden name)
- Physician's name, phone number, and address if known
- Veteran's discharge papers
- Cemetery deed or grave location
Biographical Information Needed:
- Names, town and state of residence of survivors (Don't forget brothers, sisters, and possible close friends or partners)
- Chronological order of places of residence
- Memberships in clubs, organizations, volunteer work and positions held
- Religious affiliation, church memberships(s), and positions held within the church
- Military information
- Education/schooling (be specific with degrees, and years of graduation if possible)
- Alumni organizations
- Special hobbies, interests and awards received
- Personal remarks about the deceased
- Work history (positions held, years of service, awards, etc…)
- Charitable donations that will be made in the name of the deceased
Funeral Information Needed:
- Where and when do you want visiting hours or a gathering?
- Where and when should the ceremony be held?
- Should there be any special services by civic and volunteer group?
- Name of clergy, church, and religious affiliation
- Who are to be pallbearers?
- What newspapers should we be contacting (local, state, national)?
- Is monument work to be done?
- How many certified copies of the death certificate will you need?
Clothing and Other Items Needed:
- Color picture of the decedent (It will be returned to you in original condition)
- Clothing, including underclothing (What would you like to see your loved one wearing?)
- Shoes are optional
- Jewelry, glasses, personal effects (rosaries, icons, prayer books, medals, etc…)
- What personal effects should be returned to the family, and what should stay with the deceased?
When Death Occurs Out of the State
When funeral arrangements must unexpectedly be made away from home we will assist you in any way that we can.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Call Walter Johnson Funeral Home (732) 382-6262, Werson Funeral Home (908) 486-4118 or Sullivan Funeral Home (908) 241-2345 day or night. It is not necessary for you to contact an out-of-state funeral home. We can do this for you. We will make the arrangements necessary to transport the deceased to the out-of-state funeral home for embalming, preparation, and return to our funeral home. We will need some basic information from you, and we will ask you to call us upon your return to NJ to set a time for an arrangement conference.