The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has changed the way that all of us live and work. Facing the loss of a loved one at any time is a hardship; at times like this, it can be even harder. We’ve had to balance our priorities. We’re here to provide you with memorial services befitting your loved one, and we must ensure the health and safety of our community. In light of this, we’ve made several changes to our practices.
Communication with you and your family will happen over the phone. We can arrange for conference calls so multiple family members can speak with us at once. These phone calls can be recorded, and the recordings can be disseminated to all relevant parties.
At this time, we can only hold private funerals: this means that fewer than ten people can be in attendance. In many cases, far more than ten people would like to attend the service, so we’ve begun to offer live streaming and recording services. While we know this isn’t what most people have in mind when it comes to memorial services, it is a way to stay together virtually when it’s impossible to do so physically.
The recordings and live stream will be available on a private, invite only channel. You’ll be given a link that you can distribute to friends and family who want access to the recording or the live stream.
Following the advice of public health officials, we will not be holding receptions at this time. Large gatherings encourage the spread of the virus. Consider creating a virtual reception over FaceTime, Skype, or another video chat app.
We understand if these accommodations don’t suit you; these are necessary changes in a strange time. You can opt to defer the memorial service until public health officials give the okay for larger public gatherings, as long as your loved one has been embalmed or cremated. We can’t say exactly how long the ban on public gatherings will remain. We will continue to shelter your loved one, at no extra charge, until the ban is lifted and the memorial service can continue as planned.
Our team has always been diligent about health and safety; we’re taking extra precautions and diligently sanitizing. We’re especially focused on high-touch areas like doorknobs and desks.
These are uncertain, unprecedented times. We’re here for you. You can get in touch with us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, online, over the phone, or in person. We will continue to offer cost effective funerals in Winnipeg so that everyone can get the memorial they deserve, regardless of financial circumstances.
Should you have any questions or concerns, get in touch with us. Above all else, be safe. Take care of yourself. We’ve always understood the power of leaning on your community in times of need; even though we must be physically distant, we can still support each other emotionally.
