When a Loved One Dies at Home
La muerte no siempre es una sorpresa. When someone is facing terminal illness or advanced age, passing away at home can be the most peaceful and comfortable option. In many ways, it’s easier for the family to gather to say goodbye together in the home. However, death at home is a little different than at a hospital.
Hospital workers face death every day and know what steps to take. If you’ve never had a loved one die at home before, or if you’ve never had to plan a funeral in the United States, you may feel overwhelmed.
¿A quién debes llamar? What are the next steps? How long is the process, and how do you know that your loved one will be cared for properly once they leave your home?
Latina Funerals & Cremations is here to help. Below, we’ll explain the next steps. But know also that we are here for you any time. Call us, day or night, at 303-996-0701.
A quién llamar cuando alguien muere
First, take a deep breath, and allow yourself a moment to breathe. Loss, even when expected, can be an emotional time. It’s okay to take a little time to cry, hold your family close, and let the feelings wash over you.
If your loved one was on hospice or under a doctor’s care at home, you can call that doctor directly. Otherwise, you or a family member should call 911 and explain the situation so the dispatcher can determine which authorities should be alerted. Either way, a medical professional will be sent to your house to confirm the loss.
You can then call Latina. We will come directly to your home to pick up your loved one and begin the funeral planning process, even if it’s the middle of the night.
Puedes cuidarlas en casa
In many parts of Mexico, it’s common for la familia to handle aspects of funeral care at home, such as preparing the body and hosting the velorio. These practices are less common here in Denver, but you are still allowed to spend some time with your loved one before they are taken to the funeral home. You can spend that time in prayer, choosing clothing for your loved one to be buried in, or simply sitting quietly by their bedside until the funeral director arrives.
If you wish to hold vigil at home before the funeral, speak with la funeraria about your options when you call us to begin making funeral arrangements. We have a beautiful reception space at our facility to host todo la familia, but we can work with you if you have something else in mind.
La funeraria te ayudará
We are here to help you at every step of the process, from meeting you at your home to helping lay your loved one to rest. We can handle the necessary paperwork and work with the church to arrange the funeral and transportation to the cemetery or crematorium.
In Mexico, you would have filed a death report (Acta de Defunción) and obtained the death certificate yourself. Here, the funeral director will handle this and other paperwork for you and provide as many copies of the death certificate as you need. If you wish, we can also work with the local consulate to arrange international transportation of your loved one’s remains.
Hablamos tu idioma. Whether this is the first time you’ve planned a funeral or have been through this before, we are always available to answer questions and explain your options. We know how hard this can be, and we are here to help your family through this time of loss in every way possible.
Go en paz.
As members of Denver’s Hispanic communities, we feel a deep responsibility to help its families through some of their most difficult days. We are here for you and your loved ones, and our staff is available to answer any questions you may have.
Llámanos al (303) 996-0701.
