Funeral Guidance for Individuals and Families
Grieving the loss of a loved one
Grief is a normal response to losing someone important to you. When a loved
one dies, it is important for friends and family to be able to share stories
and memories of the person and how they influenced their lives. Because of the
COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, “stay at home orders,” and limits to
gatherings have affected the ability of friends and family to come together in
person and grieve in typical ways. This is true regardless of whether the
person’s death was due to COVID-19 or some other cause.
Fortunately, most people understand that hosting gatherings now could be
dangerous to those who would want to participate. Family and friends are
finding alternate ways to connect, support each other, and grieve after their
loss. They understand the need to possibly plan for additional memorial
services when COVID-19-related restrictions are lifted.
Take actions to help you cope with the loss of a loved one
Grief is a universal emotion, but no two people experience grief in exactly
the same way. Some actions you can take to help you cope with feelings of
grief while practicing social distancing and honoring your loved one include:

Invite people to call you, or host conference calls with family members and friends to stay connected.
Ask family and friends to share stories and pictures with you via phone, video chat, email, text message, photo sharing apps, social media, or mailed letters.
Create a virtual memory book, blog, or webpage to remember your loved one, and ask family and friends to contribute their memories and stories.
Coordinate a date and time for family and friends to honor your loved one by reciting a selected poem, spiritual reading, or prayer from within their own households. Some cultures practice a prolonged mourning period with multiple observances, so hosting virtual events now and in-person events later may be in keeping with these practices.
Seek spiritual support from faith-based organizations, including religious leaders and congregations, if applicable. People who are not part of a faith tradition or religious community can seek support from other trusted community leaders and friends.
Use grief counseling services, support groups, or hotlines, especially those that can be offered over the phone or online, or seek support from a mental healthcare provider.
Read books about grief and loss. If you have children, read age-appropriate books with them and talk with them about how they are feeling.
Take part in an activity that has significance to you and the loved one you have lost, such as planting flowers or a tree or preparing a favorite meal, in memory of your loved one.
Review additional information from CDC on loss and grief, and ways to cope with stress and anxiety.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family and close friends of a person who
died of COVID-19 may experience stigma, such as people avoiding them or
rejecting them. Stigma hurts everyone by creating fear or anger toward other
people. Some people may avoid contact with you, your family members, and
friends when they would normally reach out to you. You can help stop stigma
related to COVID-19 by knowing the
facts and sharing them with extended family, friends, and others in your
community.
Practice social distancing while making funeral arrangements

Consider having virtual or phone meetings instead of in-person meetings with funeral home staff, cemetery staff, clergy or officiants, and others to plan funeral arrangements.
If you need to meet in person, follow everyday preventive actions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, such as wearing a cloth face covering, social distancing, washing your hands often, and covering coughs and sneezes.
Do not attend in-person meetings if you are sick, might have been exposed to COVID-19, or have higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Discuss options for making changes to traditional funeral plans

Discuss your cultural or religious traditions and the funeral wishes of the deceased, if applicable, with family members and the people you are working with (funeral home staff, clergy, or officiants). 
Identify any potential concerns and determine options to make changes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Preserve traditional practices when it is possible to safely do so, and identify whether modified or new practices could satisfy the needs and values of you and your loved one.


Consider whether it would be acceptable to hold modified funeral arrangements by limiting attendance to a small number of immediate family members and friends shortly after the time of death. Consider holding additional memorial services in the future when social distancing guidelines are less restrictive. 
When you are making decisions about who should attend, consider how emotionally difficult social distancing practices might be for attendees (such as keeping at least 6 feet apart and not hugging other attendees who do not live in their household).


Ask the people you are working with (funeral home staff, clergy, or officiant) about resources they may be able to provide, such as: 
Virtual funeral services, visitations, and memorial tributes by online video streaming or recorded video. Consider potential issues with virtual attendees’ access to technology and high-speed internet, as well as how any technological difficulties during the service could impact the event.
Online guestbooks or memory books that invite people to share stories, notes of condolence, or photos.
Assistance with sharing details about the plan for funeral services and visitations with extended family and friends, including how to compassionately communicate any changes to traditional practices and the reasons they are necessary.