When A Death Occurs

When a death occurs, it’s hard to know what to do first.

Amongst all of the shock and anguish, it’s common not to know who to call – whether it should be loved ones, an ambulance or police.

Getting in touch with a funeral director is the last thing on your mind when grief is so fresh. To limit the confusion in this time, please read our guidelines below.

A Death From Natural Causes

If a death from natural causes occurs at home, the first phone call should be to a doctor so a Cause of Death Certificate can be issued. After this is done and the family feels the time is right, please give Alex Gow Funerals a call on (07) 3851 7800 so we can arrange for the deceased to be transferred into our care. We will also arrange a time to meet with you so we can begin making funeral arrangements. It is also a good time to inform family members and close friends of the deceased of their passing.

If the death occurs at a nursing home, the home will call Alex Gow Funerals to arrange the transfer of the deceased. You need only to contact our office to arrange a time to commence funeral arrangements. If we are asked to transfer your loved one outside of normal working hours (4.30pm to 8.30am) there is a fee of $580.

When death occurs at a hospital, the family will need to call us to notify us of the death. We will then schedule a time to meet with you to begin funeral arrangements, in the meantime we will organise the transfer of the deceased into our care. The cost of the first 50 kilometres travelled during the transfer of your loved one is included in each of our professional service fees. Any kilometres travelled after that is charged at $4.00 per kilometre.

A Death From Non–Natural Causes

By law, all accidental or unexpected deaths must be reported to police, who will refer the matter to the coroner. Police will transfer the deceased from the place of death to the John Tonge Centre in Brisbane. We suggest calling Alex Gow Funerals on (07) 3851 7800 when you feel the time is right, you do not need to wait until after the coroner’s examination.

Your Choice Of Funeral Director

Whether death occurs naturally or accidentally, it’s important to remember that you are always free to use your preferred funeral director. While in coronial cases the coroner will appoint a government-contracted funeral director, their sole job is to transfer the deceased from the place of death to the John Tonge Centre in Brisbane city. After this, the family is free to begin arrangements.

Please remember that our job is to take some of the burden of making funeral arrangements away from you at a time when you least feel like tending to details. Our staff are highly professional, experienced and always sensitive to your grief. Call us on (07) 3851 7800 and let us guide you through the funeral arrangements.