FUNERAL restrictions have been tough on funeral homes, but even tougher on grieving families.
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Tamworth's Burke and Douglas Funerals general manager Paul Brooks looks forward to a lift in COVID-19 restrictions for funeral numbers, from 10 now to up to 30 outside as of today.
Helping a bereaved family through grief in the midst of a global pandemic had been a struggle, Mr Brooks said, but families had been understanding.
"It was difficult with the limited numbers because we couldn't always sit down face-to-face with the family, but we got around that with video conferences," Mr Brooks said.
"We have offered to defer the funeral until later down the track, but we haven't had many people take up that option.
"People have struggled with it, when you think the average funeral has about 70 to 80 people, to say you can only have 10 is tough."
With the office mostly closed, staff have made more house calls and contact with families than usual to help support them through grief.
... when you think the average funeral has about 70 to 80 people, to say you can only have 10 is tough.
- Paul Brooks
There have been changes to the seating arrangements to ensure the 1.5m social distancing rules are enforced - but that's not all that has been different.
Names are now printed in the memorial books instead of signed, and Burke and Douglas go the extra mile to save commemorative social media comments about the deceased and print those in the book too.
Churches have not been holding services, so instead funerals are held at the grave site or Lincoln Grove Memorial Gardens with pall bearers on hold for the coffin.
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One positive for families has been to rewatch the taped services that can go by in a blur at the time, Mr Brooks said.
"There seems to have been some compassion there from the federal government because a wedding can be rescheduled but a funeral can't," he said.
"The families we have looked after have been wonderful, as difficult as it has been."
At Shaun Hamilton Funerals, venue logistics, hand-sanitiser and single use pens have been introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19.
It's the end of the service that has changed the most, operations manager Shaun Hamilton said.
"For those attending, at the end of the service is very different with the current regulations, with family members dispersing and going their own ways rather than gathering for refreshments at another location," he said.
"Some families found being restricted to 10 mourners very difficult, particularly if there is a large immediate family."
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
