Coronavirus Funeral Guide

Update:  03.16.20

Worcester Memorial Park Operations Update 03.16.20

Until further notice:

Our grounds are always open for visitation to the graves.  We just ask everyone to practice social distancing, by not parking close to each other, and if someone is visiting in the area, to please wait for them to finish paying their respects until you exit your vehicle to do the same.

Office is running on a limited basis to the public from 10am to 3pm Mon-Thurs, 10am to 2pm Friday, 9am-1pm Saturday, and Sundays 10am-noon.  And additional requests and appointments can be worked through by calling the office.  All currently booked appointments outside these times are still intact.  We are generally a low traffic area, but we ask if we have people in the office, to wait in your vehicles until they finish their business and we direct you in.  We will continue our diligent cleaning and disinfecting to ensure everyone’s safety and security.

Funeral ceremonies are still being conducted as normal, and we hope to continue this as we understand how important they are.

We are also continuing our concierge planning services at no charge to help families who wish to have larger Celebrations of Life when appropriate.  Please call or email for more information.

If you plan on visiting the park or our offices, we ask you call prior to arrival to confirm this information is up to date.

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Special Guide to Funerals and Cemeteries During the Coronavirus including Flu Season
From Worcester County Memorial Park

Funerals are a very important ceremony to help comfort each other during our worst possible days.  This should not change due to the Coronavirus or Flu Season.  They help us acknowledge that someone has died and share in grief and support. Honoring and remembering the life helps start the healing process and lets us say goodbye.  Please read and share these tips so we can continue providing a strong support system that binds us all together.

Clean your hands often;

We have bathrooms fully stocked with soap and cleaning supplies.  They are bleached and sprayed with Lysol multiple times per day.

Avoid close contact;

When at funeral services during any flu or cold season it is important to be there for the family to show your support and help them on their worst days and time of need.  But be conscientious of respecting personal space and follow some social distance space.  They will appreciate that you are there more than anything.

 

Take steps to protect others;

Stay home if you’re sick.  We are in the process of setting up a video sharing application that will allow those not able to attend to feel like they are part of the service from their own homes.  A funeral is an important goodbye to our loved ones and friends.

 

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow;

We are now providing hand sanitizers and wipes at our services so you feel safe and comfortable to share in the ceremonies.

 

Clean and disinfect;

We are constantly wiping all surfaces with bleach, spraying disinfectant, providing cleaning supplies throughout our grounds and office and bathrooms to ensure your safety.

 

Special Procedures and Notes;

For any families wishing to wait until future times to hold services and celebrations of life, we are now extending our funeral concierge services at no cost.  We can gather names, phone numbers, and emails of those who would like to attend future services and directly send off an announcement of the date and time when the service is scheduled. Hoping to take the stress off the families.  For those wishing to do small or no family burials right now with a future celebration of life and/or service we offer a video taping of the initial burial ceremony for those who cannot attend.

Worcester Memorial Park fully understands how important the funeral ritual is in grief, acceptance, expression and support.  We encourage you to reach out whenever someone you love passes or that of a friend.  Some ways to help beyond attending the funeral are:  Help with meals, Help around the house, Watch children, Care for pets, Make condolence calls, Send sympathy cards, Drop food off at the door.  Your expression of sympathy and support can take on any form you like, and the person or families receiving it will be greatly appreciative to not feel alone at this time of need.

 

Our newest family service counselor came from the paramedic field and he wanted to offer his experience with a memory that will last him forever.  This is a message from Luis Mateo Sr.

“As a paramedic, I one day asked a woman with end-stage cancer what was something I could help her pray for.  Her answer… “Not to be alone”  This woman was on the verge of dying and all she wanted was to feel like she wasn’t alone.  At the core of humanity we have the desire to be in the presence of someone who understands and cares about how we think and feel; someone who is empathetic.  The passing of a loved one is most likely the hardest time in a person’s life.  Therefore, being empathetic and offering your condolences to someone during that time is very important.  The feeling of not being alone is incomparable in times of loss and despair.

So be a friend today and be present in the lives of those who have lost someone.  If not in person then send a message, send a card, send some flowers.  Because today it could be their loved ones and tomorrow it could be ours.  Let’s stick together and support each other!

Please share this message so those who need it don’t get left alone during this time of need.

Sincerely,

Brian Killelea
General Manager
Worcester County Memorial Park
Paxton, MA
www.wcmp.org

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