Call us on 01 4167700 24 hour serviceFirst Steps

Few, if any, can ever be adequately prepared for the emotional stress which arises on the death of a loved one. It is precisely at that time that you need the services of professionals who understand what you are going through and who can discreetly handle all the necessary funeral arrangements with compassion and caring support.

As one of Ireland's longest established Funeral Directors, Fanagans provides reassurance that even the smallest detail will be attended to and that every individual requirement will be carried out in a dignified manner.

Many of our client families are arranging a funeral for the first time and their initial concern is what to do first. This will depend on where the death has occurred and what are the circumstances. The most common scenarios are outlined here;

When someone dies at home

If the death was expected the deceased will have been attended to by their GP recently. The initial call should be made to this doctor who will be required to visit the home to confirm that death has occurred.

If calling the GP out-of-hours you may be directed to contact a locum doctor. The locum will visit the home to confirm death has occurred. Your GP should then be contacted the following morning and advised that death has occurred. Once death has been confirmed (by GP or locum) you should contact Fanagans on 01 416 7700 to begin to make funeral arrangements.

If the death is unexpected the first call should be made to the deceased's GP who attended during their most recent illness. The GP may advise the family to contact their nearest Garda Station as the Gardai may wish to refer the death to the Coroner (see section on sudden deaths below).

For any death at home the family may also wish to contact a Minister of their faith.

When someone dies in hospital, hospice or nursing home

Normally a doctor will be in attendance or called by the nursing team to confirm that death has occurred. The doctor or hospital staff will advise the family if a post mortem examination will be required (see below), but in most cases this will not be necessary and you should contact Fanagans on 01 416 7700 to make funeral arrangements.

When someone dies suddenly

Sudden deaths, wherever they occur, should be reported to An Garda Siochána, who will in turn will refer the death to The Coroner, who having assessed the facts surrounding the death, may issue instructions for a post-mortem examination (or autopsy) to take place. This is an examination carried out by a pathologist to establish the medical cause of death. When an autopsy is required there will normally be a delay of 1 to 2 days (or longer if death occurs at a weekend or bank holiday) before proceeding with funeral arrangements. More information is available on the Dublin City Coroners website here.

When the death has been reported you should contact Fanagans on 01 416 7700 to make funeral arrangements.

Unique Person - Unique Funeral - Your Choice

Every person is unique, so every funeral should be too. Our aim is to ensure that the final tribute is a true reflection of your wishes or those of your family or, indeed, the deceased. Funerals vary by way of:

• Burial or Cremation
• Religious / Non Religious service
• Coffin selection
• Obituary notice wording
• Music selection
• Funeral Flowers
• Funeral service booklets
• Transportation
• Catering

Each of the above options are outlined in more detail under 'Funeral Arrangements'.