Local funeral homes adjust to virus limits
Death does not and will not wait for the coronavirus pandemic to conclude.
Late week, Gov. Tom Wolf re-issued his statewide mitigation plans, which include social distancing and the closure of “non-life-sustaining” businesses. And on Monday, enforcement of those orders went into effect.
In a list released by the governor's office, “death care service” may continue operations, but many of the county's funeral directors are cautiously moving forward with funeral plans.
Keri Raisley runs the Raisley Funeral Home in Prospect. She also serves as secretary and treasurer of the Butler County Funeral Directors Association.
Raisley said local funeral directors are accommodating families by having small ceremonies with just the immediate family.
“We are having to do things we've never seen in the past, and we're trying to adapt quickly,” Raisley said.
According to the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, visitation and services at funeral homes should adhere to the limitation of having no more than 10 people.
“Our sympathies go out to anyone who has experienced a loss, and now has the burden of grief during this uncertain time,” David Peake Jr., president of the state association of funeral directors, said in a news release last week.
Raisley said most of the funeral homes in the county's association are offering a free public memorial services after the coronavirus scare concludes.
“We're hoping that this is a temporary adjustment to what's going on, but we feel the importance of a family gathering will be (important),” Raisley said. “There's still an importance to the gathering of friends and family.”Tom Martin, a director at Martin Funeral Home, said he has received mostly positive feedback from the limited viewing and ceremonies.“I've not had any negative feedback from people,” Martin said. “I think everybody understands.”Martin said a funeral and its services are in an intimate setting where people want to console others, and this is achieved in a number of personal ways that would break many of the new social distancing standards.“People innately want to hug you. They want to shake your hands. They want to console you,” Martin said. “It's a hard thing to ask someone not to do (that).”Martin said he hopes the pandemic passes quickly so that people can have a proper chance to grieve.“The passing of a loved one is one of the most difficult things someone goes through in their life,” Martin said. “To not be able to grieve in the way we as people have become accustomed to is very difficult.”Pat Boylan, a funeral director for Boylan Funeral Home and Cremation Centers, said the governor's policies are forcing funeral directors to make changes.“We have different stations for hand cleansing and so forth,” he said.He said the governor's policy has also affected satellite businesses associated with the death industry, such as florists, but he has been lucky to this point.Boylan said people are driven to support those in need, and he believes people will find different ways to offer condolences.“These people will probably be receiving cards and condolences in the mail,” Boylan said.Raisley said being surrounded by loved ones is an important part of the grieving process and funeral directors want to be helpful.“We're all in this together,” she said. “We all stand united. We all understand the importance.”Martin said many local funeral directors are committed to helping the people in need.“We can't just close and wait for this to pass,” Martin said. “We are there to help people.”
