Restrictions are having a big impact on funerals

WHEN it comes to the death of a loved one there are no rules of guidelines to the levels of grief and stress people feel resulting from the fact that a person who was a major part of their life is no longer with them.

The emotions that the loss of a loved one creates and invokes in the bereaved are wide-ranging.

In the current climate, with restrictions imposed by Covid-19, those emotions and the sense of loss and grief are compounded even further.

With social distancing in place the number of people allowed to attend a funeral service has been greatly reduced and this can add to the loss experienced by those left behind.

With that in mind the role of undertakers and funeral directors has never been more important and in some ways that role has changed slightly to take into account the new regulations and restrictions as they are best positioned to advise people as to what the best course of action to take is when it comes to deciding who can attend the funeral service and the burial.

Every death in Ireland must be recorded and registered at the General Register Office.

A relative by blood, marriage or civil partnership should register the death, however, you do not need to be ‘next-of-kin’.

It’s also very important to register a death as soon as possible and no later than three months after the person has passed away.

In ordinary circumstances the person registering the death has to do it in person, however, this requirement has been suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Your undertaker will be able to advise you on the course of action to take to register the death and remember these are people who fully understand your grief and the enormity of the event that has taken place in your life.

If someone dies during the current Covid-19 pandemic but their death is not related to the virus, a registered medical practitioner such as a doctor, nurse or paramedic will complete and sign part 1 of the Death Notification Form (DNF). They will include (to the best of their knowledge) what they believe is the cause of death.

Holding a funeral service during the current pandemic is a lot different, in some ways, to holding a service in ordinary circumstances and the practicalities of dealing with the loss of someone in the Covid-19 era is different to what it was before the pandemic hit.

The current restrictions on travel and social gatherings have a big impact on religious ceremonies and it doesn’t matter whether the person passed away from Covid-19 or not.

Again, that’s where the professionalism of funeral directors comes into its own. They have the expertise, skills and most importantly the empathy to ensure that the funeral service will be carried out in a manner that is befitting the respect and dignity due to your loved one who has passed away.

There are some practical steps to take when it comes to arranging a funeral.

The HSE has issued clear guidance and guidelines to all funeral directors with regard to what needs to take place to ensure the funeral service adheres to the most up-todate regulations.

The undertaker or funeral director will ensure that your loved one’s remains are handled with care and dignity and this fact along can bring great peace of mind to relatives and friends trying to deal with the loss.

It’s advised that where possible funeral arrangements are conducted over the phone in the current circumstances.

However, your funeral director will facilitate you in every way possible to ensure that the overall process of arranging the funeral, holding the service, and laying your loved one’s remains to rest is as stress-free and dignified as possible.

This will give you some peace of mind knowing that people are aware that the person has passed away. The details of the funeral arrangements are not currently included in the death notice but this information can be shared with those close to the person who passed away.

However, websites like www.rip.ie do offer a facility for people to pay their respects and this can provide great comfort to the bereaved.

Funerals are not easy, however, with the advice and support of your undertaker or funeral director you will be able to pay due respect to someone very close to you and take comfort from knowing their final journey was carried out with the respect, care and dignity that they deserved.