By Denise Maguire
Warren Hills Memorial Home
Maguire-Scala Funeral Home

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of everyone all over the world.  With social distancing and stay at home requirements, it has been very difficult for most.  Celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, showers and weddings are being postponed or canceled all together. 

But what about funerals? 

Public visitations are not permitted at this time and cemeteries are following their own rules and policies – and they differ vastly.  Most cemeteries allow up to 10 people to gather at the gravesite, but some are prohibiting anyone except for funeral home staff on their property. Still others have suspended operations altogether.  

Military honors will not be conducted until further notice, per the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

For many, the funeral provides some closure; for others it just starts the grieving process.  As a funeral director, it is upsetting that we cannot permit large family gatherings.  Family and friends providing hugs and handshakes are comforting when someone dies. Many families are now forced to delay memorial gatherings.

But there are ways we can all still be there for each other. 

Each funeral home is different in how they approach the current situation. Our family owned funeral home still permits private family time with their loved one in limited numbers. We also provide memorial video tributes to the family and place the video on our web page for others to view.  A condolence to the family may also be left on our web page.

Web-casting a funeral and church services are now also being offered.  This may seem cold to some but during this pandemic it allows families to still have a service. 

The important thing to remember is a simple phone call or card in the mail to let those grieving know they are in your thoughts are very important. While a Facebook message is nice, sometimes personalizing it with a phone call or card is nicer.

There are many other things we can do to show we care and even help ourselves grieve.  Why not go outside (while adhering to the social distancing requirements) and choose a project to do in that person’s honor? Choose a stretch of road and pick up litter and send a photo to the family letting them know you did this in memory of their loved one. Plant some flowers in their honor. Be creative. This also is a great way to involve children. Children cannot always express their grief; think about what a frightening time this must be for them.  

We are all in this together and when someone dies, it is important to still reach out to the family even when they are not permitted to have a traditional funeral service. 

Warren Hills Memorial Home in Washington Borough and Maguire-Scala Funeral Home in Hackettstown are both owned by the Maguire family