Expected Death at Home - Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre

Preparing for an Expected Death at Home

The following information is intended for families to be familiar with the procedures to follow to facilitate the expected death of a loved one at home. Specific direction should be given to the family regarding the notification which must take place after the death occurs, and regarding the arrangements to be made for transportation of the deceased. If these directions are followed, the confusion that can occur if Police or Ambulances are called can be avoided.

When a death occurs at home with the following procedures in place, DO NOT CALL 911, Call the Funeral Home.


The following procedure is general practice when a death is to occur at home

The family meets with the family physician expressing a desire for the death to take place at home.
Advise that Memories Chapel will be the funeral home of choice.
The Physician will issue a "Letter of Anticipated Home Death" or "Notification of Expected Death at Home"
This letter is copied to the local or regional EMS, Funeral Home, OCME or RCMP, Physician File, Prominent Location in Patient's home (such as ERIK Kit)
At the time of the death, and after the family feels they are ready to have their loved transferred, a call to Memories Chapel should be made (available 24 hours a day)
Memories Chapel will attend at the home and transfer the deceased into our care.
Memories Chapel will advise the OCME and the Physician who will be responsible for completing the Medical Certificate of Death and the OCME.

Should the family call 911 in error, resuscitation efforts can be avoided if they produce the letter of expected death for Emergency Medical Services personnel and the funeral home can then be contacted.

For further information, please contact us or:
Office of The Chief Medical Examiner (OCME)
210 - 1 Wesley Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4C6
Phone: (204) 945 - 2088