Farwell Funeral Home in Nashua is one of several local business altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – Funeral homes throughout the world have changed the way that traditional viewings and burials are conducted under current COVID-19 guidelines.

The concern about funerals is not that of the bodies of the people who die from COVID-19 will transmit the virus. The Centers for Disease Control says there is “currently no known risk associated with being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of COVID-19,” though it advises against kissing, washing or shrouding the bodies. The risk is that services to remember the deceased will become sites of transmission for the virus due to close contact between mourners.

Dana Farwell, of Farwell Funeral Home, 18 Lock St., Nashua, said gatherings of loved ones have been eliminated with the exception of the immediate family.

“Last week, we had a family, who planned a larger viewing with family and friends but limited the viewing,” he said. “And they had planned a reception following the service, but that was canceled due to the coronavirus.”

Farwell recently lost his father, Charles Farwell, a fixture in the community for decades.

Rochette Funeral Home and Creamation Services is adjusting policies to adhere to the CDC guidelines to fight the spread of coronavirus. Courtesy photo

“He passed away on Thursday night,” he said. “So, unfortunately, as well-known as he was, we had a private ceremony on Saturday. There were 12 of us.”

Farwell admitted that grieving in fewer numbers is hard for loved ones, who rely on the kindness of friends and acquaintances during their time of need.

“It’s hard for people, everyone wants to do something, and you’re restricted,” he said. “No one wants to put someone else in jeopardy or at risk.”

Following the White House and Gov. Chris Sununu’s guidance to limit gathers to 10 people through the end of the month, the National Association of Funeral services is advising its members to consider limiting memorial services to immediate family. Some have even considered livestreaming.

Bob MacIntosh of Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St., Nashua, shared that funerals have essentially become private.

“We have one coming up, and the new mandate of 10 people to a gathering, we’re limited to one staff member and the family in private,” MacIntosh said. “Certainly, there are no funeral masses. If we’re able to get a priest, he’ll come in and do a private service.”

Davis has made simple adjustments, having hand sanitizer throughout the funeral home as well as doing as much as possible with families online.

“Instead of coming in, funeral homes and families are opting to handle matters online,” MacIntosh continued. “Or, we’ll do it over the phone and drop off the documents. We’re trying to do everything we can.”

At Rochette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 21 Kinsley St., Nashua, Kallandra Kapala said with regard to making arrangements, their home has been very adaptable.

“We are still allowing families to come in and sit down with us one-on-one to make arrangements,” she said. “The comfort is there for that. But we are offering telephone and email arrangements as well. We’ve adapted ‘docusign’ so they can feel comfortable getting all the necessary paperwork done, and as we’ve let folks know that we’re trying to do the right thing right now.”

As for services, Rochette Funeral Home & Cremation Services has been following state and federal guidelines, limited families to 10 people in the funeral home. Additionally, one of the owners is a justice of the peace, who can provide assistance in lieu of a minister.

Kapala also shared that with current conditions, people are faced with finding a new way to grieve. She added that even as a funeral director, “we are a hugging firm.”

“We like to comfort our families the best that we can,” she said. “At this time, we have obviously stopped those acts. And again, sitting with families, we’re not telling them how to grieve, but educating them, suggesting that less contact with one another while we’re in the building is better.”

Gretchen Heald-Brooks, of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St. Milford, said some services have been rescheduled. She noted as well that the new gathering limits greatly affects those who want to attend and pay their respects at wakes and funerals.

“With the numbers of gathering limited to 10, we’re going to do our best to adhere to that,” she said. “But to be very honest, there are going to be instances when there are more than 10 at a funeral, and I’m not going to say to a child, ‘you can’t be here for your parents.'”

Heald-Brooks said the funeral home is maintaining social distancing in the building and in the chapel. There is more spacing between chairs and many people are having graveside services since those memorials can be outside.

“And then with cremation, you have that flexibility to have something at a later date,” she said. “People have been doing that the last week or two.”

Many people have been reaching out to funeral homes, to determine if services have been canceled. Heald-Brooks said they plan on updating their website with new information.

“It’s hard though,” she said. “There’s so much new information coming in daily.”

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