[custom_adv] When a loved one dies, it’s natural to want to honor that person’s life with a gathering of friends and family. A funeral or memorial tribute provides family members and friends an environment to offer comfort, support to one another and share their thoughts and feelings about the life of the deceased. [custom_adv] Therefore, learning that you’re unable to have the type of gathering you would like to have because of the COVID-19 pandemic can be disappointing and even devastating news. [custom_adv] The importance of having a funeral to honor the deceased and giving loved ones an opportunity to celebrate that life and begin to grieve is unquestioned. Your funeral director is committed to providing you with the opportunity to say goodbye to your loved one and give other family members and friends the opportunity to do the same - even during these challenging times. [custom_adv] he unprecedented novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, however, requires funeral professionals to balance their long-held values with the need to: flatten the curve of the pandemic; protect the health of attendees, funeral home staff and clergy/celebrant; and reduce the potential for community spread and mass-fatalities. [custom_adv] Therefore, if you are planning a funeral during the current health crisis, regardless of the cause of death, your funeral director will likely be following the current guidance from the National Funeral Directors Association, the world’s largest funeral service association for funeral service professionals, and the CDC. [custom_adv] As many communities in the United States begin to reopen, the number of attendees allowed at large gatherings—including visitations and funerals— varies greatly from place to place. Regardless of whether that number of attendees is 10, 50 or more, however, the need to practice proper social distancing is critical for protecting the health of attendees, funeral home staff and the clergy/celebrants. [custom_adv] Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings. More risk: Smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear cloth face coverings, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county). [custom_adv] Medium-sized in-person gatherings that are adapted to allow individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and with attendees coming from outside the local area. Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area. [custom_adv] Your funeral director is here to help, whether you’re planning a small, family-only service or a larger gathering in the future. Regardless of your specific wishes, it is important to note that, to ensure your safety and the safety of funeral home staff, your funeral director will be taking additional precautions when helping you make arrangements. [custom_adv] When a loved one dies, it’s natural to want to honor that person’s life with a gathering of friends and family. A funeral or memorial tribute provides family members and friends an environment to offer comfort, support to one another and share their thoughts and feelings about the life of the deceased.
