Changes for funeral services among COVID-19 protocols

Their chapel is set up to have 240 people but is now limited to no more than 15 people at a service.

He says smaller services have been held immediately for families.

With larger services postponed to a later date.

“So they’re kind of breaking it up. They’re doing something very immediate to deal with their needs in that respect and then knowing that their hope is they’ll be doing something in a broader sense that they can accommodate friends later on,” Davis said.

Saamis Memorial also offers and have done live-streaming of services and recordings upon request.

Davis says burials can still happen when following the new protocols.

“We’ve had services of that nature as well, both with casket and cremation burials. Again, it’s a matter of limiting the number of people that are there even though we are outside it’s still about social distancing and keeping those numbers down and providing that absolute safety of the family and our staff.”

Davis says when people come to the funeral home to make arrangements, they could have up to six family members at times.

But now it’s a limit of two while physical distancing.

There’s also regular sanitizing and cleaning at the funeral home.

He says families have been understanding of the many protocols.

“With regards to how we handle transfers and things of that nature, we have protocols of course that we follow when we’re going in the hospital we follow their protocols and as well when we go in nursing home residences they have additional protocols we have to follow as well.”

Davis adds they have also seen a change in how condolences are sent.

Typically families can receive up to 50 sympathy cards at a service.

Now he says online condolences have gone up dramatically.

by Chantal Wagner

Changes for funeral services among COVID-19 protocols

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