Death Away From Home

Death Away From Home

A death away from home is unexpected, but it does happen. Handling funeral arrangements can be complicated and stressful, but knowing what to do in this situation can help family members responsible for making arrangements.

The first step is to contact a funeral director in the town in which you permanently reside. They can advise you on the best course of action for dealing with this situation.

Death inside the United States

When a death occurs within the United States, the family has the option to transport the body back to the home state or town. This typically involves using two funeral homes. The first funeral home, located at the place of death, will collect and prepare the body for transport. The second funeral home, in the home state or town, will receive the body and conduct any services the family wishes to hold.

Death outside the United States

When a death occurs outside of the United States, the family can arrange to have the body returned. Preparation and shipment will be done according to the laws and customs of the country where the death occurred. While embalming isn’t widely practiced in some countries, other methods are available to prepare the body for shipment. The family also has the option to bury the deceased in the country where the death occurred or have the remains cremated and returned to the United States via mail or air services.