The Emergency Departments are experiencing high volumes of patients who need care. Please be prepared to wait. The most serious cases are treated first.
Not all health concerns need emergency care. You can also book a virtual visit or go to an urgent care clinic for these concerns. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
Thank you for your patience.
The death of a relative or friend is one of the most stressful events that happens in life. If death is sudden or unexpected, the feeling of shock can seem overwhelming. Even when the death is expected, it is still difficult to be prepared.
While this brochure cannot anticipate every situation, we hope that it will answer some of your questions and help you make necessary arrangements.
There is a list of phone numbers at the end of this page to direct you to those who can help.
It is important to remember to look after yourself. This brochure may also help you explore some of the feelings you may have and suggest ways to care for yourself and others.
Service Canada is now legislated to be one point of contact with various Government of Canada Departments, with whom the deceased or their estate may have had, or will require, some involvement. At the time of printing, the protocols and mechanisms to achieve this goal were being finalized.
A doctor or nurse pronounces that death has occurred. In hospitals and other institutions, whenever possible, the body is left for a short time on the nursing unit so that, if you wish, you can spend some time there. The body is then taken to the morgue until arrangements are made for release to a funeral director. At home, you and your family may choose to spend more time with your loved one, and do not have to rush to call the funeral director after an expected death. The funeral director will transport the body after death has been pronounced by a nurse or physician, and you are ready to release the body. Either way, you will be able to view the body again with the funeral director. The death of an infant or child, or the donation of a body to science, will entail additional needs with which the funeral director can assist you.
Often spiritual, faith, or cultural roots become important when there’s a death. Spiritual care practitioners are available at the hospital 24 hours a day and can help sort out some of the feelings that can arise. We also encourage you to reach out to any other spiritual, faith, or cultural supports who are important to you. Hospital staff can assist in contacting them.
If your religious or cultural traditions have special requirements, please advise hospital staff who will do their best to accommodate your needs.
In an end of life situation, families often make many decisions they may not have been expecting. One decision that many families find meaningful is helping others in need through the gift of organ and tissue donation. Ensuring families are offered the opportunity to donate is part of end of life care in Ontario hospitals. Donor families grieving the death of a loved one say that donation has provided a measure of comfort in knowing their gift has given hope and restored life to others.
Hospital staff are legislated to notify Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) when a patient dies. TGLN will assess the patient’s medical suitability and check the provincial registry to see if your loved one has registered their consent to donate. You will be contacted by TGLN to discuss the opportunity for donation if your loved one appears to be medically suitable as a donor. Information about organ and tissue donation and how to register your consent can be found at www.giftoflife.on.ca
The doctor may ask for permission to conduct an autopsy to clarify the cause of death. The autopsy report is sent to the patient’s family doctor who can review it with you. With organ and tissue donation or autopsy, some surgery is involved. It is entirely possible in either case for the body to be prepared by a funeral director for private or public viewing, including an open casket.
When sudden or unexpected death occurs, the coroner must be notified. They discuss the circumstances of the death with the family doctor and any specialists who were involved. The coroner decides whether an autopsy is needed and this may mean that the body cannot be released immediately. The coroner will discuss the situation with the family.
The doctor signs the Medical Certificate of Death and the original is given to the funeral director who provides Proof of Death Certificates for estate purposes. Several copies of this legal document will be provided to settle the business affairs of the deceased.
You will be asked to take any personal belongings of the deceased with you. This includes jewelry, clothing and medications. If any items are left at the hospital, they can usually be obtained by contacting Security.
A licensed funeral director is needed to assist with the disposition of the body, the registration of the death, and can also support the family in their grief. In the Province of Ontario, there are Funeral Establishments, also known as Funeral Homes, which can also arrange for cremation, and Transfer Services, also known as Cremation Services, which can also provide immediate burial services, though can’t provide embalming, visitation, nor participate in a funeral service. For the purposes of this brochure, we will refer to all of them as funeral directors.
Waterloo Region is well served by many funeral directors. All funeral directors provide a 24 hour phone service and can arrange to meet with you at your convenience. We suggest that a family member or other authorized person call ahead for an appointment. At some hospitals, a form specifying the name of the funeral director chosen must be filled out.
If a funeral director has not been selected before you are ready to leave the hospital, you will need to call the hospital switchboard with your choice.
The funeral director will assist you with options including: an obituary; visitation; a funeral or memorial gathering; cremation or burial; and matters related to administration such as the Canada Pension Plan (see check list on opposite page).
If you have a religious or spiritual affiliation, the leader of your faith community can help with arrangements that will be helpful. Keep in mind any wishes that the deceased may have expressed.
When you meet with the funeral director, they will require this information regarding the deceased:
The Police Service recommends that you have a friend or neighbour keep a watchful eye on your home during the time you are away and involved with the funeral arrangements.
You might be eligible for help from a union, society, lodge or other association to which the deceased belonged. Veterans Affairs or Regional Social Services may also be of assistance. Check with the appropriate organization before you finalize funeral arrangements. The funeral director will be able to assist you with this.
Here is a checklist of government agencies, organizations and professionals that you need to notify, with a Proof of Death Certificate, as applicable, with advice from the funeral director.
Grief is the normal expected human response to loss. The way we grieve may be shaped by our personality, life experience, culture, religious or spiritual beliefs and by the way the person died. Each person experiences grief in their own way and in their own time, often with a variety of feelings. This may include: fear; anger; anxiety; restlessness; denial; exhaustion; sadness; isolation; frustration; guilt; and acceptance. These are normal feelings and are natural parts of grief. These feelings can sometimes be helpfully shared and explored in support groups.
Sometimes referred to as “the forgotten mourners”, children can experience the same emotions as adults but they may not understand or have the vocabulary to describe what they are feeling. Children need honest and clear answers to their questions. Be open and available to them. Age plays a large part in how a child will commonly respond, because children at different ages are at different levels of understanding about death. Be patient and be gentle with yourself, and others.
A loss early in life is a painful event. It may also present a significant opportunity for children to learn how to cope with inevitable future losses. You are not responsible for providing all the answers, but you can provide simple details, reassurance, and the love that children need. Various community resources and publications are available to assist you, including grief groups and one to one counselling for children.
During this difficult time, it is important to take care of yourself. Try to get some rest, physical exercise and to eat properly. Remember that family and friends, among others, are available to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It may also be wise to see your family doctor for advice and assistance.
When a death by suicide occurs, people experience traumatic grief. Trauma and grief interact with each other and this can feel overwhelming. This powerful response is made even more difficult by the stigma often associated with suicide. For assistance in “learning to live with the questions”, explore the helpful resources of the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council: www.wrspc.ca
In addition to the support of your family, friends and your religious or cultural community, most local funeral directors provide or sponsor bereavement support services. Be sure to check with the funeral director you choose.
Waterloo Region is well served by a wide variety of agencies and websites for bereavement support. A pamphlet entitled “Bereavement Support Services” is published by Hospice of Waterloo Region and is widely available. To request a copy of the pamphlet or to speak with a representative, please call 519-743-4114 or consult www.hospicewaterloo.ca. Follow the Resources tab to Publications and Flyers for electronic copies of that pamphlet and this brochure, among others.
An electronic copy of this brochure, among other bereavement resources, is also available at: www.grhosp.on.ca/spiritualcare.
Public libraries, local faith communities, schools and hospitals have various books and other resources geared to the needs of adults, teenagers and children who are grieving.
1-800-277-9914 (English)
1-800-277-9915 (French)
1-800-255-4786
(TDD/TYY) Box 2020,
Chatham, ON N7M 6B2
1-866-522-2122 (English)
1-866-522-2022 (French)
Adapted from: “When Someone Dies”, catalogue no. GV.300.W574, January 2003, with permission from Vancouver Coastal Health; “Decisions at a Difficult Time: Information for the Bereaved” published by Cambridge Memorial Hospital, 2003; and “Why?? Grief after Suicide” by www.wrspc.ca
