Coronavirus Impact: Crystal Funeral Home Changes Operations
The global coronavirus pandemic is changing how Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel in Crystal operates.
“What we’re doing more than anything is limiting everything as much as we can,” explained William McReavy, President of Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels.
He says the highest priority is keeping staff and the families they serve safe. They are being meticulous about social distancing and disinfecting the funeral home as much as possible. Private viewings are limited to no more than ten people.
Coronavirus limits the number of guests at funerals
“What we’re doing is trying to have private services family only—many of them are graveside services, outside at the cemetery,” explained McReavy.
Some families are deciding to hold off on funeral services until after the coronavirus outbreak. But what happens at that later date? Bill McReavy expects that to be a tough time too.
“We’re concerned about a tsunami effect of when all of a sudden when this clears up, everybody wants their service at the same time,” he said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said funerals should be limited to a small number of mourners physically present and streamed online for everyone else.
For more on the local coronavirus impact, click here.
