When a loved one passes
What to do in the first hours
If you have just lost someone you love, please know this: you do not have to have it all figured out. Take one step at a time. And whenever you are ready, one phone call to us handles the rest.
Breathe. The next step is smaller than it feels.
In the first hours after a death, everything can feel urgent and overwhelming at the same time. Families often tell us they were afraid of doing something wrong or forgetting something important. You will not. There is very little that must happen immediately, and almost nothing that cannot be fixed or arranged later.
Below are the steps that genuinely matter, in the order they usually happen. Read them when you are able. If reading them is too much right now, skip to the phone number at the bottom of this page — that is the only step that truly cannot wait, and it takes about two minutes.
The first steps
Six things, taken gently
You are welcome to take these out of order, or to let us take them from your hands the moment you call.
- 01
Get a legal pronouncement of death
If your loved one passed in a hospital or care facility, the staff there will handle this and tell you what to do next. If they were under hospice care at home, call the hospice nurse — they can make the pronouncement and will guide you gently through the moments that follow. If they passed at home unexpectedly, call 911 first. Emergency responders will take care of the pronouncement and notify the proper authorities.
- 02
Notify family and close friends
Take your time with this. Call the people closest to your loved one first, and ask one or two of them to help pass the word along — you do not have to make every call yourself. If you are not ready to talk, a simple text is perfectly fine. There is no right way to do this, only your way.
- 03
Call the funeral home
This is the call that lifts the weight. One call to Turner Funeral Chapel and we begin caring for your loved one, day or night. We will ask a few gentle questions, then come to wherever they are — home, hospital, or care facility — at no cost to you for asking. You do not need decisions, paperwork, or money to make this call. You only need to call.
- 04
Gather basic information for the death certificate
Alabama requires a death certificate, and the funeral home prepares it for you. When you are able, have these details on hand: your loved one’s full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, their parents’ names (including mother’s maiden name), their highest level of education, and whether they ever served in the military. If you do not have all of it, that is all right — we will help you find what is missing.
- 05
Check for pre-arranged wishes or life insurance
Look for a pre-need or pre-planning file, a burial insurance policy, a life insurance policy, or a veterans’ benefit record. These can spare your family both expense and difficult decisions. If you are not sure whether anything exists, tell us the name and we will help you check. Many families are relieved to discover something was already set in place years ago.
- 06
Take care of the home and pets
Secure the house — lock the doors, set the lights on a timer, and bring in any mail or deliveries. If your loved one lived alone, feed and care for any pets, or ask a neighbor or family member to step in until you have a plan. These small practical things can wait an hour, but not a week, and you should not have to carry them alone.
One call, and we carry it from there
Everything after that first step, you do not have to hold alone. When you call Turner Funeral Chapel, here is what becomes our work instead of yours:
- We come to your loved one, wherever they are, at any hour
- We bring them into our care with dignity and gentleness
- We prepare and file the death certificate and permits on your behalf
- We help you choose a service, or carry out wishes already recorded
- We coordinate with clergy, cemeteries, and military honors
- We stay beside you long after the service has ended
You may be wondering
A few honest answers
Do I have to decide on a service before I call?
No. Call us first, with nothing decided. We will explain your options plainly, in your own time, with no pressure and no obligation. Many families have no idea what they want until they have had a conversation with us — that is exactly what we are here for.
What does a funeral typically cost?
It depends on the service and the selections you make, and we want you to know the full cost before anything is finalized. Our goods and services pricing is published on this site, and we provide a written, itemized statement before arrangements are completed.
What if my loved one served in the military?
Tell us, and we will take care of it. We coordinate honor guard details, the flag presentation and folding ceremony, and we help you apply for the veterans’ benefits your family is entitled to receive.
What if I cannot reach anyone or it is the middle of the night?
Our phone is answered at any hour, every day of the year. There is no wrong time to call us, and there is no charge for asking a question.
Looking ahead instead? Record your own wishes with pre-planning.
When you are ready, we are already here
Day or night, every day of the year. One call and we begin caring for your family.
Turner Funeral Chapel · 83 Westbrook Lane, Atmore, AL 36502