First Steps

First Steps

OSheas-Funeral-Home-Killarney-Kerry-Funeral-Directors-first-steps
At O’Shea’s Funeral Home, Killarney, we understand that death is extremely difficult for the bereaved family.
Death is an extremely difficult time for the bereaved family. There are many decisions to be made at a time of considerable stress and anxiety. If you have recently lost someone close to you or know someone who has recently been bereaved, there are some immediate things that must be done following a death.
If a relative dies at home the next steps depend on whether the death was sudden or expected.
If expected, the Deceased will have been attended to by his or her GP recently. The first/initial call should be made to this doctor who will be required to visit the home to confirm death has occurred. If the death occurs out of hours, an alternative number may be given to contact a locum doctor. The locum will visit to confirm death has occurred. Your GP should then be contacted during normal working hours to advise that death has occurred. Once death has been confirmed the Funeral Director should be called.
If the death is unexpected, the first call should be made to the Deceased’s G.P. who was attending during his or her last illness. The GP may advise that the family contact their nearest Gardaí, as the Gardaí may wish to contact the Coroner. If contacting the GP out of hours, normally a number for an out of hours/locum doctor will be given; once contacted they will arrange for a doctor to call to the house. The Funeral Director should be contacted at this stage.
In the case of a sudden death the Coroner may decide the Deceased cannot be moved from the home. They may request that a particular Funeral Director, under contract to the Coroner’s Service, be called to remove the body to the local hospital for post mortem. It is important to note that in this case, the family may utilise an alternative Funeral Director to make the funeral arrangements for them.
In the event of any death at home the family may also wish to contact a Priest or Minister of their faith.

When you contact O’Shea’s, from the first call we guide you through the options and choices available to your family.

We will arrange a time for you to come and visit us or to visit you – whichever is most convenient to you. We will sit down with you and your family and will discuss what needs to be done next, at all times being conscious of the wishes of the Deceased and the family.
We will also give you advice about the various options such as:
  • Locations and times for a wake/viewing.
  • Funeral ceremonies (religious and non-religious).
  • How to decide between a burial and cremation.
  • Show what caskets, coffins, or urns are available.
After discussing your requirements, we will arrange the funeral you wish for, taking care to organise every aspect of the event and deliver it at the highest professional standards.
Our role as Funeral Directors is to offer you our advice on your preferred options and subsequently to arrange everything in accordance with your wishes, and those of the Deceased. This usually involves the following:
  • Discuss advice and plan the type of funeral that you would like to organize.
  • Organise any other third parties such as gravediggers, florists, and ceremony musicians required to carry out the funeral.
  • Plan, manage, and supervise any funeral mass/services or civil ceremonies
  • Take care of the Deceased throughout all stages of the funeral from the time they are received into our care until the burial/cremation has taken place.

We are here for you and your family, not just from your first phone call to the final handshake, but very often, way beyond the days of the funeral.