Final Arrangements

2 SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 Final Arrangements SPECIAL SECTION By Mark Halsall O ur province has fared better than most others in Canada in terms of the number of reported cases of COVID-19. But for most Mani- tobans, there are few aspects of daily life that haven't been touched in some way by the global pandemic. For those who have lost a loved one recently, the impact of COVID-19 has been particularly acute. Kevin Sweryd, funeral director for Bardal Funeral Home and Crematorium in Winnipeg and a director with Manitoba Funeral Service Association (MFSA), says the biggest adjust- ment for those making funeral arrangements has been coping with the new size restrictions for public gatherings. "With families, limiting gatherings…for funerals is very hard," he says. "If you have a husband and a wife and they have two children and each of those two chil- dren have two grandchildren, you're suddenly (over the limit) very quickly and you have to decide who's coming and who's not." As MFSA president Michael Gibbens points out, it's not only family members but also close friends of the deceased who are often left out from memorial services. "It's a tough thing for them as well," he says. Funeral services themselves have also changed. Those in attendance are required to follow social distancing guidelines and funeral home staff wear personal protective equip- ment and take other precautions to ensure the health and safety of participants. Sweryd says having to avoid close contact with others during such a difficult time is a hard thing for mourners and funeral profes- sionals alike. "For the 30 years that I've been a funeral director, when somebody walks in the door, you shake their hand," he says. "Our job is a ministry of comfort, really. We're here to comfort people, and it feels very awkward to have to do this from 10 feet away." Sweryd says another unfortunate conse- quence of COVID-19 is that his funeral home no longer hosts post-service receptions. "One of the biggest parts of the whole funeral process is actually the reception after- wards where you get to visit with your friends, shake hands, hug somebody, talk about what the person who's passed away meant to you," he says. "That's often one of the most healing times of the whole endeavour, and now that's something we can't do at all." Both Sweryd and Gibbens note that many funeral homes are now offering live streaming of funeral services, which enables mourners to virtually attend a funeral online or watch it at a later time. "A lot of families are utilizing their own techniques as well," says Gibbens, adding that many people are also now opting to make funeral arrangements either over the phone or through online platforms. Because of the pandemic, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people choosing to delay funeral services for their loved ones as well. "Most funeral homes that I've been in con- tact with have been offering a gathering at a later time at no additional cost to the family," Gibbens says. "We have a lot of services that are on hold right now," Sweryd adds. "I think the best advice I can give is, is talk to the funeral direc- tors about your options. Don't feel like you're under any pressure because you do have time to make the decisions. You might not realize as a family what is possible in terms of delaying or having a smaller service or doing a digital service streamed online." Sweryd and Gibbens believe the COVID-19 pandemic will likely lead to some fundamen- tal changes in the funeral industry in future. "I think this virus has caused us to re- examine a lot of things," Sweryd says. He thinks two possible implications could be fewer people choosing to do funeral services or perhaps opting to have things done digit- ally as an alternative. He also agrees with Gibbens' view that the pandemic has helped to underscore the tremendous value and importance of friends and family joining together after the death of a loved one. As a result, they believe the need for funeral services will no doubt persist but the traditional ways of doing them will shift. "It's going to be changing the profession in a lot of ways because we're going to have to be more creative, just as we have had to be with our response to COVID-19," Gib- bens says. Quality care at affordable rates with your family at the center. Locally Owned. Family Run. No Up-Selling. Cremation. Celebration of Life Memorials. Traditional Burials. 204-295-5408 IntegrityFuneralPlanning.com 50 Princess Street, Winnipeg, MB Simple Cremation: $1,395 TEL: 204-782-3541 www.kilcollinscremationservice.com Direct Cremation $1095 "We offer more than just cremation." Arrangements can be made in the comfort and convenience of your home. Wide variety of urns, cremation containers, caskets, personalization items and stationery packages available. Serving Families in Winnipeg & surrounding areas for over 33 years. Peter Kilcollins President & Managing Director Member of Manitoba Funeral Service Association Funeral Service Assoc. of Canada National Funeral Directors Association Prices subject to change. SOBERING Funeral Chapel & Crematorium CANADIAN INDEPENDENT Serving Beausejour & Northeastern Manitoba On-Call 24 Hours On-Site State of the Art Crematorium 268-3510 or MB Toll Free 1-877-776-2220 www.soberingfuneralchapel.com "Honouring Life" These changing times COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on funeral arrangements PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY Funeral director Kevin Sweryd says one of the biggest changes to making funeral arrangements during the recent pandemic has been restrictions on the sizes of public gatherings. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY Michael Gibbens says one of the consequences of social distancing requirements related to the pandemic is that a growing number of families are choosing to livestream services for those who cannot be present. "Our job is a ministry of comfort, really. We're here to comfort people, and it feels very awkward to have to do this from 10 feet away." – Kevin Sweryd, Manitoba Funeral Service Association

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