Generally family will contract with a mortuary or crematorium. They will pick up the body and move it to a facility where it can be properly stored. They also prepare the body for the cremation or burial.
Transporting The Body
The deceased body must be moved to a morgue where the body can be properly stored and/or prepared for burial: a crematorium in the case of cremation. If the family has an arrangement with a mortuary or funeral home, they are notified at the time of death (usually by the hospital or hospice), and they will come to retrieve the body and process the necessary paperwork.
Complete Death Paperwork
The mortuary or crematorium also completes any remaining death paperwork.
Order Death Certificate
The mortuary or crematorium also orders death certificates for the family.
Preparing The Body
The retrieved body is brought to where it will be prepared. In our example, a burial with private family viewing was arranged. The mortuary prepares the body for viewing.
Persons That Die At Home
If a person chooses to die at home, a similar process is followed. The organization contracted with to prepare the body will retrieve the body (sometimes from the home, or if the body has been moved to a state or county morgue, from the morgue).