M any people do not know what steps to take when a death occurs. It is important that you understand what should be done when a death occurs and during a funeral arrangement conference. We want to make sure that you have the necessary information to make these important decisions.
When Death Occurs

Depending upon where the death occurs and under what circumstances, the following steps should be taken:



If death occurs in an institution:When death occurs at a hospital or nursing home, the medical staff will take care of all necessary legal steps. You, however, must notify the medical staff that Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center is the funeral home handling arrangements so that you may sign any necessary paperwork.
Anticipated death at home:Today, more people with terminal illnesses are electing to die at home, under the care of hospice. In this situation, you must notify hospice that Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center is the funeral home you have chosen. Hospice will then take care of all necessary legal requirements. Many times, when someone has a terminal illness, the family will elect to make prearrangements with us so that they are not overwhelmed by the many decisions which must be made at the time of death.
Unanticipated death at home or elsewhere:In these situations, immediately call 911. The police and emergency personnel will then determine the appropriate steps to be taken. In certain cases, it may be necessary to remove the body to the Medical Examiner’s office so that the cause of death can be determined.
Death out of state:If the death occurs outside of New Hampshire, you should first call Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center at (603) 622-8223. We will then coordinate with a local funeral director at the place of death. Being a member of several national associations, Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center can often save families money by having our firm make the arrangements.


Funeral Arrangement Conference

To ensure that we offer the personal attention and time needed to make the arrangements, we would request that you call to schedule a mutually convenient arrangement time.

Although the majority of funeral conferences are handled at the funeral home during normal business hours, we are also available to make arrangements in the comfort of your residence or to meet with you during the evening or on weekends. At Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, we are on duty 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

When attending a conference, you should have the following items:

Personal information about the deceased to be included in the obituary.
A recent photograph for prayer cards and preparation purposes.
Burial clothing, which entails all normal attire, including undergarments. For women, an outfit closed at the neckline and with long sleeves is preferred.
Jewelry and personal items.



During the funeral arrangement conference, if you have not already made prearrangements with Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, we will obtain vital information for completion of the death certificate at that time.

Certified copies of the death certificate are legal documents that are issued by the New Hampshire Department of Vital Records. Photocopies are not considered legal documents. After the original certificate has been signed by the physician or the medical examiner and all vital information has been completed by the funeral home, it will then be filed with the Department of Vital Statistics.

At the funeral arrangement conference, we will ask you how many copies of the death certificate are needed. As part of our service package, we will obtain the certified copies on your behalf. Although we make every effort to obtain the certified copies before the completion of the funeral services, this is not always possible. In order to assist you in ascertaining the number of certified copies that you will need, please refer to the list below:

Each life insurance company
Pension, IRA or other retirement benefits
Each bank where an account is maintained
Stocks and bonds
Real property
Motor vehicles
Probate of will
Final tax return
Your own files



We understand that you may have additional questions; therefore, we encourage you to contact us should you need more information. We may be reached at (603) 622-8223..