What Happens After Contacting a Funeral Director?

What Happens After I Contact a Funeral Director?

Once you contact a funeral director following a death, they will ask some initial questions, explain what needs to happen next and begin coordinating the practical arrangements.

You do not need to have every decision made before you call. The first conversation is usually about understanding the circumstances, dealing with any immediate requirements and arranging a suitable time to discuss the funeral in more detail.

What happens during the first telephone call?

The funeral director will need some basic information so they can advise you correctly.

They may ask:

The name of the person who has died
Where the death occurred
Whether the death was expected
Whether a doctor, hospital, hospice or nursing home is involved
Whether An Garda Síochána or the Coroner has been contacted
Who is making the call and how they can be contacted
Whether the family has any immediate questions or requests

You may not have all this information available. That should not prevent you from making the call.

The funeral director can explain which information is needed immediately and what can be provided later.

Can the funeral director take the person into their care immediately?

This depends on where and how the person died.

An expected death at home

When an expected death occurs at home, the person's GP or out-of-hours GP service should be contacted so that the necessary medical procedures can begin.

It may take several hours for the appropriate healthcare professional to attend.

The funeral director can explain what will happen and arrange to take the deceased person into their care once the necessary requirements have been met.

A death in a hospital, hospice or nursing home

Staff will follow the procedures that apply in the hospital or care setting.

The funeral director will normally liaise with the facility and arrange to take the deceased person into their care when the necessary procedures have been completed.

A sudden or unexpected death

A sudden, unexplained, violent or unnatural death may need to be reported to An Garda Síochána and the Coroner.

The funeral director may be able to support and advise the family, but where the Coroner is involved, the deceased person may need to be formally released before the funeral director can take them into their care.

What happens when the funeral director takes the person into their care?

The funeral director will arrange the transfer of the deceased person to the funeral home, another agreed location or, where appropriate, the family home.

What happens next will depend on:

The circumstances of the death
The family's wishes
Whether there will be a wake or reposing
Whether the coffin will be open or closed
Where the funeral will take place
Whether any medical or Coroner's restrictions apply

The funeral director will discuss the care and preparation of the deceased person with the family.

When are the funeral arrangements discussed?

The funeral director will arrange to meet or speak with the family.

This conversation may take place at the funeral home, in the family home, by telephone or in another suitable setting. The precise approach varies between funeral directors.

The family may be asked to consider:

Burial or cremation
Where the deceased person will repose
Whether the wake or reposing will be public or private
The coffin
The funeral ceremony
The church, crematorium or other ceremony location
The cemetery or burial ground
Dates and times
Transport
Funeral notices
Flowers, music, readings and other personal choices

Some decisions may have to be made relatively quickly because churches, cemeteries, crematoria and other facilities need to be contacted.

However, the funeral director can explain what is urgent and what can wait.

The funeral director will also discuss the costs of the proposed arrangements, explain their own charges and identify any additional costs payable to third parties, such as cemeteries, crematoria or churches. Families can ask for a written breakdown of the costs before confirming arrangements.

Do I have to know what the person wanted?

No.

If the person recorded or discussed their funeral wishes, these can help guide the arrangements. However, many people die without leaving detailed instructions.

The funeral director can explain the available choices and help the family work through them.

There is no need to recreate another family's funeral or follow a particular custom simply because it is common locally. Families can ask what alternatives are available.

Does the funeral director make all the decisions?

No. The funeral director organises and coordinates the funeral, but the family is normally involved in deciding what arrangements are made.

The funeral director may:

Explain the available options
Contact the church, celebrant or ceremony venue
Liaise with a cemetery or crematorium
Arrange transport
Help prepare and publish the funeral notice
Coordinate the wake, removal, ceremony and committal
Explain any documentation required for the funeral
Arrange services supplied by other providers

The exact services provided can differ between funeral businesses. The family should be told what is being arranged and have an opportunity to ask questions.

What if I change my mind about an arrangement?

Tell the funeral director as soon as possible.

Some arrangements can be changed easily, while others may already have been confirmed with a church, cemetery, crematorium, newspaper, florist or another provider.

The funeral director can explain whether a requested change is still possible and whether it affects other arrangements or costs.

Can I contact the funeral director again with questions?

Yes.

It is normal to remember questions or reconsider details after the first conversation. Families are dealing with a great deal of information in a short period.

It can be useful to establish:

Who your main contact will be
Which telephone number to use
Whether an out-of-hours number is available
How changes or additional information should be provided
When the arrangements will be confirmed

Keeping a written note of decisions and outstanding questions can also be useful.

The key point

After the first call, the funeral director will explain the immediate steps, arrange for the deceased person to be taken into their care when appropriate and guide the family through the funeral arrangements.

The precise process depends on the circumstances of the death, local procedures and the family's wishes.

Related information

When Should I Call a Funeral Director?

What Information Will a Funeral Director Need When Someone Dies?

Sources

Last reviewed: October 2026