The saddest aspect of the pandemic, almost too serious and depressing to write about, is the inability of relatives to be with loved ones dying in hospital, or even in care homes.
Strict funeral rules add to the misery, limited to thirty mourners, social distancing, short services with little or no singing and no receptions.
It seems incongruous but funerals can even be conducted via the internet.
Funeral directors have had to adapt to the changed circumstances, with every detail of their service designed to retain the dignity while safeguarding the mourners.
They are worried that they can be blamed if rules are broken by families as happened recently when nearly 150 mourners turned up for a funeral in Hertfordshire. The police fined the funeral directors £10,000.
The National Association of funeral Directors said it was ‘utterly ridiculous’ for members to risk penalties and that families may be asked to pay the penalties if they broke the rules.
The cost of funerals - average £3,000 to £4,000 - is being reduced now, affecting the industry.
One compensation for them and bereaved families is that there will be a spate of memorial services when lockdown ends so we can remember with love and pride those who died during this relentless pandemic.
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