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Planning a funeral isn't easy for mourners at the best of times. The current health crisis is adding even more challenges.
"It’s kind of impacted us on two different fronts. The way we’re dealing with the families and then also the way we do our internal processes and protocols," TJ Fluehr, owner of TJ Fluehr Funeral Home, said.
Fluehr sees firsthand how painful it is when people lose someone important to them.
"People are doing online obituaries, having videos that are posted to those obituaries so that people can feel some sort of connection to their loved one," he said.
He says people are showing services live on social media, too, but not being allowed physical contact with others during these tough times really hurts.
"After we come out of this and we’re able to get together in larger groups we’ll have families that are able to have memorial services," he said.
Fluehr says keeping distance is one of the hardest things for mourners.
"Some people find comfort in a handshake and hug," he said, "or even just to put your hand one someone's shoulder and say 'I understand.'"
As a funeral director, Fluehr says he likes to do the same to comfort the families and can’t right now.
They also use what he calls "universal precautions," when they know they’re coming in contact with someone with a contagious disease.