How to Remember a Loved One at a Funeral After COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant devastation throughout the United States and all over the world. With nearly 250,000 people and counting dead in America alone from the virus, there are many people who have had to plan funerals this year who were not expecting to have to do so. What’s more, funerals after COVID-19 in Chicago, IL often do not look like traditional funerals—they must be set up to comply with local health codes and pandemic restrictions to avoid becoming superspreader events.

That being said, a COVID-19 funeral does not have to be a solitary affair. There are still some alternative ways you can memorialize your loved one, even if you are not all able to be at an actual funeral in person.

Here are a few ideas of ways you can get creative with a COVID-19 funeral in Chicago, IL and still honor the memory of your loved one while working around pandemic-related restrictions.

Hosting virtual funerals or memorials

There are a variety of options you can explore for conducting some kind of ceremony or memorial virtually.

If you belong to a church or other religious institution, you can see what kind of support the church offers for setting up these kinds of events. Perhaps you can even use some of the church facilities, and conduct a service as normal and have it livestreamed to guests.

If you’re interested in setting up your own style of memorial or service, you can do so more informally using platforms like Zoom, Skype or Google Meet. You can take turns sharing memories or tributes, delivering eulogies, reading poems or Bible verses or sharing personal stories. It can be as formal or informal as you want—you can have a script or outline for the event, or you can just use it as a space for people to come and go as they please and talk and visit with loved ones.

You also have the option with these types of platforms to record whatever type of memorial or service you create, allowing you to share it later with people who could not attend.

Drive-by vigils

Another option that has been popular for people during the COVID-19 pandemic is to hold a drive-by vigil. You might consider setting up some candles and a display in a front window, or in your front yard, and encourage people to drive by and pay their respects from their vehicles. You might consider having a large box set up in front to collect cards or other items people may wish to share. While it may not be the same as gathering in person, seeing the stream of vehicles passing by is a great reminder of how many lives your loved one touched.

Perform small acts of remembrance

Even if you completely forgo the larger group celebrations or livestreamed memorials, there are still small acts of remembrance you may find meaningful. Plant something in your garden or in a pot in their memory, spread their ashes somewhere meaningful or take up some sort of devotional or daily task to make you think of them each day.

For more information about Chicago funerals after COVID-19 and some creative options you might consider, contact Marik-Baken Funeral Services Ltd. today.

Categorised in: Funeral Planning

This post was written by Writer