If the death is unexpected, the police should be notified. They will in turn dispatch an officer and contact a local coroner or medical examiner who will then decide the level of investigation necessary to determine the cause of death. They will arrange to have the body transferred to the either a hospital or examination centre if an autopsy is required (at their cost). You may suggest to the coroner or medical examiner the funeral home of your choice to make this transfer, however if you do not or they wish to use their own personnel, you are under no obligation to use the funeral home they choose.  Once the body has been transferred and the examination complete you have the right to choose the funeral home you wish to carry out the deceased's final wishes. If after a preliminary examination and investigation it is determined no further inquiry is necessary, you may then call the funeral home of your choice to remove the body and carry out the deceased's final wishes.

The Simpler Times program was designed to vette the market for only reputable funeral homes that will serve families in an up-front, honest manner. You can contact any one of our providers, regardless of how far they may be from your location. They will always provide you with sincere guidance without cost or obligation.

Notifying Family & Friends is always an important consideration in the initial tasks to be completed. Call immediate family members first, Parents, Children, Brothers, Sisters and Grandparents of the deceased.  Again do not worry about waking others. Grief researchers say those close to the deceased feel left out if they aren't told about death immediately. Rely on others to assist you in notifying everyone, do not attempt to do this yourself. It not only helps others through the grieving process to have some responsibility, but also allows you to carry on with other tasks.  Although it may be difficult, telling others of a death it is therapeutic. Saying aloud that a loved one has died, the death is confirmed in your mind - an important step in the grief process.

Accessing the deceased's final wishes should be easy. Our arrangement kit contains a wallet card that should have been given to the deceased's contact person usually a next of kin or an executor. The deceased was also instructed to place the actual forms and other pertinent information in a safe place at home and notify the contact person of the location. Once these are located the deceased's final wishes will be understood. You can also access the deceased's final wishes from this web site by clicking on the North American Registry button on the home page and entering the code numbers provided to you on the wallet card or contained in the written forms. Keep in mind it is always wise to check the Simpler Times North American Registry System so you can obtain the latest update that may have occurred since the final wishes form was originally completed.

So Much to be Done in what seems like so little time. The emotional impact of death understandably makes it difficult to focus on the details that go into organizing a funeral.  The Simpler Times Selector and Final Wishes form was designed to help you and the funeral provider, in completing all the necessary details to finalize the deceased's funeral wishes. Also by clicking on the resource centre on the home page, you open a wealth of information and guidance to assist you through all of your needs.