What to Do When Death Occurs

What to Do When a Death Occurs

When a death occurs, the first step depends on where it happens. If it is at home and was expected under hospice care, call the hospice nurse, who will make the pronouncement. If it is sudden or unexpected, call 911. In a hospital or care facility, the staff will guide you. Once the death has been pronounced, call a funeral home to arrange the transfer into care. Greco-Hertnick is available 24 hours a day at (304) 748-3219 and will walk your family through every step, including cremation at our own on-site Weirton Crematory.
When a death occurs at home and was expected under hospice care, the hospice nurse makes the official pronouncement. If the death is sudden or unexpected, call 911 first. In a hospital or facility, the staff will guide the family.
Once a death has been pronounced, the family should contact a funeral home so the loved one can be brought into care. There is no need to rush the larger decisions about the service.
Greco-Hertnick is available 24 hours a day and performs cremation at its own on-site Weirton Crematory, so a family can begin arrangements at any hour with one call to (304) 748-3219.

Why Families Choose Greco-Hertnick

  • Available 24 hours a day, every day, at (304) 748-3219.
  • Clear guidance on the first steps, with no pressure on the larger decisions.
  • Help coordinating a transfer into care, even from out of town.
  • Cremation performed at our own Weirton Crematory when you are ready.
  • Compassionate, hometown care from a funeral home serving the area since 1922.

The First Steps, Based on Where the Death Occurs

If the death happens at home and was expected, contact the hospice or the attending physician so the death can be officially pronounced, then call a funeral home. If the death is sudden or unexpected, call 911 first. If your loved one is in a hospital or care facility, the staff there will guide you and notify the appropriate people. In every case, once the death has been pronounced you can call Greco-Hertnick to arrange the transfer into our care.

What to Gather and Who to Notify

Over the following hours and days, it helps to gather the person’s full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and, for veterans, discharge papers such as the DD-214. You will also want to notify close family, the person’s employer if applicable, and, in time, the Social Security Administration. Our staff will tell you exactly what is needed and help you request certified death certificates.

How we help from the first call

From the moment you call, our staff handles the logistics so your family can focus on one another. We coordinate the transfer into our care, explain your options without pressure, and, when you are ready, begin arrangements, including cremation at our own Weirton Crematory. Call (304) 748-3219 at any hour.

First Steps at a Glance

When What to Do Who to Call
Right away Have the death officially pronounced Hospice nurse, physician, or 911
Once pronounced Arrange the transfer into care Greco-Hertnick, (304) 748-3219
First 24 hours Gather key information and documents Close family members
First few days Plan the service and notify others Funeral director and Social Security

Service Area

We respond to families across Weirton, New Cumberland, Chester, Follansbee, Wellsburg, and Colliers in West Virginia; Steubenville, Wintersville, and Toronto in Ohio; and Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first thing to do when someone dies?

The first step depends on where the death occurs. If it happens at home and was expected, contact the hospice or attending physician, then call a funeral home. If it is unexpected, call 911. In a hospital or care facility, the staff will guide you. Greco-Hertnick is available 24 hours a day at (304) 748-3219.
If the death was expected and under hospice care, call the hospice nurse, who will make the official pronouncement. If it was sudden or unexpected, call 911. Once the death has been pronounced, call a funeral home to arrange the transfer into our care. We are available any hour.
There is no need to rush the larger decisions, but the funeral home should be contacted once the death has been pronounced so your loved one can be brought into care. You can reach Greco-Hertnick at (304) 748-3219 at any time, day or night, and we will walk you through the next steps.
It helps to gather the person’s full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and, for veterans, discharge papers such as the DD-214. You do not need everything at once. Our staff will tell you exactly what is needed and help you obtain certified death certificates.
We can help even if your loved one passed away in another city or state. Call us and we will coordinate the transfer into our care and explain the options. Our staff handles the logistics so your family does not have to manage them alone.
Yes. Greco-Hertnick performs cremation at its own on-site Weirton Crematory, and we can begin arrangements as soon as you are ready. Call (304) 748-3219 at any time and we will guide you through each step with care.
Reviewed by the licensed funeral directors of Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Weirton, WV.
Available 24 hours a day. On-site crematory owned and operated by Greco-Hertnick. Serving the tri-state area since 1922.