Changes had to be made in many ways when it comes to grieving the passing of a loved one, but with particular precautions in place, the employees of Altmeyer’s Funeral Homes continue comforting families at locations in the Wheeling area.
Gene Fahey, vice president and general manager for Altmeyer’s, explained how self-distancing, technology, and constant cleaning have allowed him and his staff to welcome the grievers safely during a most sorrowful time.
“Regardless of what is going on in the outside world, deaths will continue to occur not related to this pandemic,” he said. “Grief is still very real, and servicing grieving families and their needs is extremely important.
“With that said, there have been some major changes in the services that families are requesting. We have found that both in cremation and burial disposition, families are still desiring and needing services so that they can begin their grieving process. Most of the visitations, or spending time with the deceased for closure is occurring privately instead of publicly, and that continues on with the religious service and interment,” Fahey explained. “We have seen more online condolences than ever as friends and relatives wish to share in their grief. We have the ability to live stream funeral services for those who would have otherwise attended. Many families plan on still having a life celebration when it is safe to gather again as a community.”
Precautions
The incorporated precautions at each of Altmeyer’s four local locations have provided safe environments for families seeking closure following the death of a loved one.
“Social distancing is extremely important to our staff. As an obvious essential business, keeping our employees safe as well as their families is critical,” Fahey said. “We are following the guidelines as to no more than 10 people in a room at a particular time.
“Fortunately, we have many rooms at each of our locations, so we have the ability to accommodate any size family while staying within the guidelines,” he continued. “Families are also very aware of what is needed for everyone to remain safe and have been extremely cooperative.”
For members of the Catholic Church, though, changes had to be made with how the traditional celebration of Mass takes place once Bishop Mark Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston suspended worship inside churches like St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Wheeling. Bishop Brennan did announce that Holy Week services will be televised on Holy Thursday (7 p.m.), Good Friday (7 p.m.), and Easter Sunday (10:30 a.m.) on WTRFFDT/ABC.
Celebration of Life
Funeral Masses, however, remain suspended per the Bishop’s order.
“The funeral Mass is an extremely important ritual for Catholics. Not having the ability to have a Mass has been difficult for some but understood by all.,” Fahey explained. “If the person is Catholic, we make a request to the Pastor to have a private service at the funeral home for the deceased while keeping within the guidelines of social distancing.
“If burial is to take place, we then go to the cemetery where we have an outdoor private committal service, once again practicing social distancing,” he said. “Most families desire to arrange a memorial Mass for their loved one when this crisis is over so that they may have the opportunity to worship with one another and pray together as a faith community for the person who has died.”
Although some things have changed because of several safety measures, Fahey believes he and his staff members have consoled the grieving with the same high standards adopted long ago by Altmeyer’s, a business that was founded more than a century ago.
“This community has done a remarkable job of self-enforcement,” Fahey said. “The families who have lost someone are keenly aware of what is going on in the world, and they do not want to put their own family at risk in receiving friends into close proximity of themselves. It has become an unwritten understanding that even through grief, we must still protect each other.”
