Funeral directors to limit attendance at wakes, delay funerals

ALBERTON – New directives Tuesday from Prince Edward Island’s Chief Health Officer concerning wakes and funerals were not unexpected admits John MacIsaac, secretary-treasurer of the P.E.I. Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association.

Dr. Heather Morrison has advised that funerals should be cancelled or rescheduled while Prince Edward Island works to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID19) and that wakes at funeral homes be restricted to immediate family only, with no more than 20 people in attendance.

MacIsaac said the Funeral Services Association of Canada has been working with members over the past 15 years to prepare a pandemic plan.

“So far, we’re basically seeing what we were told would happen at those times, that mass gatherings would be shut down, funerals would be delayed or postponed – everything to try to prevent social contact as much as possible,” MacIsaac said.

“Just a small gathering for the very immediate family to come in and have some time with the (deceased) person,” said MacIsaac of what funeral homes will be able to provide while the restriction is in place.

MacIsaac said funeral directors will be advising families on the “new norm” for social distancing, in an environment where handshakes and hugs had always been a big part of visiting hours.

“I think people will heed the warnings because people are really scared,” said David Smith, operator of Rooney Funeral Home in Alberton.

“I don’t think people will mind one little bit.”

Smith said he heard Tuesday from a couple who had decided against attending a wake Monday night because of their concerns over the coronavirus.

He expects the restriction will be upsetting to some families.

“You can’t buck the Department of Health. It’s just one of those things we will have to get through and hope for the best and just hope not too many people pass away.”

MacIsaac said he started noticing a drop in attendance at wakes late last week as concerns over the virus ramped up.

He said staff are diligent about sanitizing surfaces before and after visitations and there are hand sanitizers available.

“We’ll certainly be speaking with the families beforehand and following the guidelines and trying to maintain the social distancing,” MacIsaac reported.

Concerning funerals, MacIsaac said they are sometimes delayed anyway until family members can arrive from out of province or out of country, and, at this time of year many burials are delayed until springtime.