Frequently Asked Questions

  • What do I do when a death occurs unexpectedly?

    • If the death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, the attending medical staff will notify the family first. This way, the family can spend time with their deceased loved one if they wish. Then the medical staff will contact the chosen funeral home.
    • If the death occurs at home in hospice care, the family should contact the hospice staff. The hospice staff will then contact the chosen funeral home.
    • If the death is unattended or happens outside of a hospital, nursing home, or at home in hospice care, you should notify the police.
    • Notify immediately family members or close friends for support and assistance in making arrangements. If the deceased person had not chosen a funeral home, you will need to choose one to assist with the final preparations for burial or cremation.
    • Depending on religious beliefs, contact the deceased person's clergy.
    • Notify family, friends, and coworkers. It is helpful to have a prepared list of individuals, along with their corresponding email addresses and phone numbers, that the deceased person would like notified.
    • Organize care of children and pets.
    • Contact their employer to request information about benefits, any pay that is due, and whether there was a life insurance policy through the company.
    • Review any pre-arranged funeral plans, insurance policies and special requests the deceased person may have previously recorded.
    • If you or another person is not listed on the deceased person’s bank account, a certified death certificate will be needed to access the account.

    Read more about funeral arranging.

  • How do I prepare for my first meeting with Bradbury Memorial Center?

    At the first appointment:


    • Come prepared with any questions you might have. We are here to guide you through the process in any way we can.
    • We will ask you for certain information so we can complete the death certificate. This includes the place of death, their Social Security number, if there are benefits to claim, and other details. We will also discuss how many death certificates you need.
    • We will ask questions about your loved one so we can create a memorable service or celebration of life.
    • If you request a traditional service, please bring clothing, jewelry, or other personal items that were special to your loved one.

  • What happens if someone dies while traveling away from home?

    Funeral directors most often work together to coordinate shipment of a decedent from city-to-city, state-to-state, or even to international destinations. If someone in your family happens to die while travelling, contact the funeral director at your hometown funeral home and the funeral director at the out-of-town location of where the decedent currently is. Together, they will work with the family or responsible person to organize the best way to get your deceased loved one to exactly where they need to be.

  • Is an obituary necessary?

    The definition of an obituary is this: "notice of death, especially in a newspaper or online platform, typically including a brief biography of the deceased".


    At Bradbury Memorial Center, we truly believe in the obituary. It is a document of record when it comes to a life well lived; a final message about the deceased and an opportunity to let the community, family, and friends of the deceased. It also informs them of when and where services are set to occur.


    Please keep in mind that most print publications do charge and most often have a very specific word count. That said, Bradbury Memorial Center has a special place dedicated on our website to showcase obituaries for the families we've had the privilege to serve.

  • What determines the cost of a funeral?

    The types of services and merchandise selected primarily determines the cost of a funeral. For example, Bradbury Memorial Center can provide a General Price List prior to any decision making.


    The General Price List details various types of services available and the cost for each. We've included price ranges spanning our different types of services including our available urns and caskets, too. We believe we have something for everyone's budget and style.

  • Do I have rights as a consumer?

    Yes you do and should ask questions regarding your rights.


    FTC Consumer Information