(Newswire.net — November 17, 2020) —
The COVID-19 pandemic has been here with us for a while now and it seems like it will stay with us a while longer. While this pandemic is affecting the way we live our day to day lives, life seems to go on as usual. Babies are born every day and unfortunately, people are dying as well. Whether it is due to COVID 19 or some other cause, death is an unfortunate reality we need to face. When a loved one passes on, we need to mourn and give them a befitting farewell. How can you ensure this even during these hard times?
Understand The Regulations
The regulations on social gatherings (including funerals) are different depending on which country or state you live in. Find out what these regulations are and adhere to them. The last thing you want to do is stress the family not following the laid down regulations and the law catches up with you. With the regulations and legalities crystal clear, you will find it easy to plan the funeral. Ensure that you adhere to these regulations and you will have a fulfilling funeral.
Keep It Simple
Having a funeral for a loved one is very important. It is a chance for friends and family to celebrate the life of the dead. It is also a chance to grieve and let go of the deceased person. Never consider skipping the funeral no matter how hard the planning may seem. Instead, plan a simple funeral with just a few friends and family in attendance.
A simple funeral will give family the support they need from the community and friends. This helps them heal better from the pain caused by the death. Limit the number of people attending the funeral to the number allowed by the government. When choosing who to attend, start with close family members like parents, children and siblings followed by extended family like uncles. Do not forget close friends. Just a small gathering is what you need to plan a funeral during this pandemic period.
Outdoor Locations are Better for Social Distancing
Social distancing is the norm. The World Health Organization recommends that people should stay at least 6 feet apart. Why should you adhere to this? The health of the ones you love is compromised by close contact. You cannot really tell who is infected by Covid 19 and who is not. Keeping physical distance reduces the chances of infection significantly.
Although it is possible for social distancing to be practiced in an indoor area, outside is much safer. It is well-ventilated and the space is not as limited as indoors. Choose to hold the funeral service in an open place to avoid spreading Corona Virus.
Online Streaming for People to Attend Virtually
You must have heard of people attending weddings virtually via live streaming. Well, funerals can use this as well. Plan to have a videographer who can capture all the moments and create a live stream that people can watch from elsewhere. This will help relatives who live far away, those in quarantine and anyone else who may not be able to attend.
With this option, you will be beating two birds with one stone. You reduce the number of people attending the funeral physically and allow others to be part of it too. You can easily find a company that will help you with live streaming because this technology is not new. It has been used long before CoronaVirus hit and now it is gaining more popularity.
Body Viewing Should Not Be Skipped
You may think that it is a good idea to stop family members from viewing the body so as to avoid crowding near the casket. Actually, all you need to do is prevent crowding. Allow close family to view the body because this is their last chance to say goodbye and for them to confirm that their loved one is really gone. How can you ensure safe body viewing?
The first thing on your list should be a private viewing for immediate family members. They should be allowed to mourn their loved one and viewing is part of it. Allow family members to go near the casket and have a look at the body for a short while. This should be done one at a time and everybody should be discouraged from touching the casket, especially if the death is due to Covid 19.
Another option is to perform viewing by car procession. Find a good memorial monument company that can plan this and more people will be able to view the body and pay their last respects. How is this carried out? The casket is placed in a strategic place then the people drive in, have a look at the body and leave.
Postpone The Memorial Service
A memorial service gives the bereaved an opportunity to celebrate the life of their loved one and pray. They also get to remember the good times with the person. While this is an important part of funeral programs, Covid 19 regulations are tight and it is best to postpone. Note that it is not being skipped but just postponed. Remember that there are many people from all over who would wish to attend the memorial service. This is not advisable during this pandemic. It is better to postpone than do a small memorial service. You may schedule it for later when the numbers go down and the regulations are less strict. This way you can celebrate that well-lived life as much as you would want to.
A short service at the graveside is sufficient to lay a loved one to rest. If cremation is the preferred option, the body may be cremated and the ashes preserved so the urn is displayed on the day of the service.
Seek The Services Of A Funeral Director
Planning a funeral as a family without the help of professionals is hard and time-consuming. Seek the services of funeral directors and they will help you arrange everything. They understand the rules and regulations in place and will help your family adhere to them.
What should you look for in a Cincinnati memorial monument company? Look for a mix of experience and value. A company that has a good reputation is likely to give you good services. An experienced one will give you options so you can choose what works for your family.
Find Alternative Ways for Friend to Show Sympathy
The traditional way to show sympathy is through hugging and embracing. This is not safe during this pandemic and should be avoided completely. The bereaved are allowed to cry as much as they want but other ways of showing sympathy should be adopted. It may be through phone calls, someone standing as close as social distancing allows and encouraging smiles from friends. Contact should be avoided in all stages of the funeral planning.
It is good to inform the people who will be attending about the contact restrictions. You may send out a text message earlier or include in it the obituary. This way, everyone will come in mentally prepared on how the funeral is going to be carried out.
Bottom Line
Losing a family member has never been easy and during this pandemic period it is even harder. Gather your strength and plan an unforgettable funeral that adheres to the regulations. Get a funeral director to help you with the planning so as to avoid stress and give the deceased a befitting sendoff.