When someone dies
Nobody knows what to do, and nobody is expected to. This page is the order things happen in and who does each one. The short version: ring us at any hour, and nothing else needs doing tonight.
Tonight
Ring the GP surgery, or the out-of-hours number on the surgery's message, or the district nurse if one was visiting. A doctor or nurse confirms the death; there is no hurry and you can sit with your person. Then ring us, at any hour, and we come when you are ready for us.
The staff confirm the death and will ask which funeral director you would like. Say Morgan & Daughters and they ring us; we collect from the hospital mortuary or the home within the day. The hospital's bereavement office handles the medical certificate.
Ring 999. The police attend as a matter of routine and the coroner's office takes over; your person is taken to the hospital mortuary and the coroner's officer will ring you, usually the next working day. You can ring us at that point, or before, for what happens next.
Ring the travel insurer first, then the British consulate where it happened, then us. We arrange repatriation with a partner in that country, at cost, and tell you honestly what the timescale is likely to be, which is usually one to three weeks.
The first week
FirstYou
There is no wrong time. If the death was expected and at home, the GP or district nurse confirms it and then you ring us. In hospital or a care home, they will ask which funeral director; say us and we do the rest. Nothing else needs doing that night.
FirstUs
Huw and one of us come to the house, the hospital or the home, usually within the hour, in an unmarked vehicle. We are not in a hurry. Your person is brought to Station Road and from then on you can visit whenever you want.
First weekTogether
A day or two later, at your table or in our rooms. About an hour. Burial or cremation, where, who leads it, the coffin, the music, the cars, the flowers. You leave with a written estimate and nothing is booked until you say so.
First weekYou, with us if you want
Within five days, at the register office in Llanelli, by appointment. The hospital or GP sends the medical certificate electronically. We tell you what to take, book the slot if you want, and come with you if you would rather not go alone.
The waitUs
We book the crematorium or cemetery, the minister, the flowers and the cars, draft the notice and the service sheet for your approval, and ring you with anything that needs a decision. You can visit the chapel as often as you need to.
The dayEveryone
The cortege leaves from where you chose. Huw conducts and walks ahead of the hearse out of the street, Eleri or Catrin stays with the family, and afterwards we take the flowers where you want them and bring you the cards and the donations list.
What you will need
None of this is needed on the night. Over the following days it helps to gather what you can; if something is missing we work round it.
Nothing on the night, and nothing at all until the arrangement, which is a day or two later when you are ready. The one legal deadline is registering the death within five days, and the registrar is used to that being tight; we will book the appointment.
Yes, as often as you need, by appointment, including evenings and weekends. Some families come every day; some not at all. Both are right.
Tell us at the arrangement, not after. If you receive certain benefits, the Funeral Expenses Payment covers the third-party fees and up to £1,000 of our charges, and we do the form with you. The unattended cremation is under two thousand pounds in full, and instalments without interest are by arrangement.
A celebrant: we work with four in the area, each with a different manner, and we will suggest the one who fits. Or a member of the family can lead it, and we help with the shape of it. Or there is no service at all.
For a death that has just happened, the number below rings Eleri, Catrin or Huw day or night, and we can be with you within the hour. For anything that can wait, the form on the contact page is answered the same working day, and plans, prices and what to do first each have their own page.