COVID-19 impacts  mourning  traditions  

People are saying goodbye to their loved ones differently due to the pandemic. 

Losing your loved one is hard at any time, but the coronavirus pandemic has made it harder to celebrate the life of your loved ones, people say.   

Jerome Brannagan, a retiree who worked with the police department for 33 years, lost his mother on Feb. 10 due to COPD breathing disorder. He said it was challenging to celebrate the life of his mother due to COVID-19.   

“Pre COVID, to celebrate the life of my mother we would have had a room filled with many family and friends and that would…put everybody’s heart at peace,” said Brannagan. The lack of funeral home visitation was particularly hard. “These people would physically be here in that room supporting my father and the rest of my family, but because of COVID we did not do that.”   

People who serve families in mourning, such as conducting funeral services, have new health care measures.   

Brian Parent, the founder and managing director at Families First funeral home and tribute centre, said visitation has required significant changes.   

“Pre COVID, they come to funerals for visitation, now if they want to come, they actually have to go online and make an appointment right on our website, or call us to make an appointment for them,” said Parent.  

He also said that it was important that the team who are working with the funeral service learn more about technology in order to facilitate the mourning rituals. 

“We have learned to use platforms certainly such as Zoom, Skype and we live cast through our YouTube channel to allow friends and families who are unable to be here and to be a part of the service,” said Parent.  

Funeral service providers help bereaved families navigate the new measures.  

“I am very grateful to them, Brian Parent and his staff, for their responsibilities in continuing to keep our physical distance,” said Brannagan.