Planning a funeral or memorial service for a deceased loved one is never easy. But it is even more challenging today with regulations and precautions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s how to hold a wonderful service to memorialize and honor your loved one while keeping you and your family safe. 

How to Plan a Funeral During COVID-19 

1. Understand Limitations 

Ensure you abide by local, state, and federal mandates. Some municipalities may suggest extra precautions if the transmission rate is high in your area or, more so, if your loved one passed away from COVID-19. The funeral director can help you protect your family, the funeral home staff, and the community by ensuring all guests practice social-distancing and wear masks. 

2. Think About Streaming 

In-person funerals and memorial services are the traditional options and provide an intimate experience. However, during COVID-19, it may be challenging to host an in-person event due to social-distancing measures.

Consider inviting a few immediate loved ones to attend the service in-person and streaming it so people can also attend virtually. Zoom®, FaceTime®, and Google Hangouts® are options your family members and friends can utilize to be involved in the service from home. 

3. Appoint a Healthy Family Member to Coordinate 

When you call to make arrangements with a funeral director, they might ask you if you feel ill or have been exposed to COVID-19. They may also ask that you communicate via telephone or video calls the majority of the time.

There might be a limit to the number of people you can invite to the funeral or memorial service. Appoint one or two healthy family members who have not been exposed to the virus to coordinate with the funeral director and attend in-person meetings.

If you’ve recently lost a family member, turn to the compassionate, experienced professionals at A Natural State Funeral Service in Jacksonville, AR. Their team is devoted to helping families through every step of the process, from cremations and burial services to funeral planning and memorial ceremonies. Call (501) 982-3400 to discuss your needs with a caring staff member, or visit their website to learn more about how they can help your family.