The current COVID-19 pandemic has made saying farewell to lost loved ones and friends even more heart-wrenching.

Although death care services are considered “essential” and are permitted by Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to continue physical operations, large gatherings of any kind are forbidden.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has mandated funeral directors to delay funerals or limit funerals to 10 people or less. These directives align with what is recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Funeral Directors Association and the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association.

The commonwealth’s health department also advises funeral directors to “encourage families to restrict burial services to only immediate family members and to refrain from physical interactions at these events.”

The directive also suggests funeral directors to encourage families to have memorial services to celebrate their loved one after social distancing restrictions are lifted.

A cautionary tale of what could happen without such guidelines can be found in Albany, Ga.

CNN recently reported a late February funeral and another in early March turned the community into a coronavirus hot spot.

Lehigh Valley-based funeral homes are adapting to this new reality while still working to maintain a balance between comforting and protecting their clients, as well as shielding staff from the COVID-19 threat.

“Funeral services are being limited to no more than 10 people in attendance. This includes clergy and funeral home staff,” said Vice President Michael Kulik of Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Homes which has two facilities, one in Emmaus and a second in Allentown.

“We have spread out our chairs in our viewing parlors in order to accommodate six feet of social distancing as we really don’t want to take any chances.

“We are also following similar precautions with our staff so we can remain healthy and not spread the virus to our families at home, in addition to the families that we serve.”

As of March 30, the Pennsylvania Department of State has temporarily waived the rule for funeral service practitioners to bury recently departed individuals within 10 days.

Directors are still encouraged to do so, but will be granted an extension of up to 30 days, where appropriate.

“Most families have opted for the private graveside service and we have had no requests so far, for an extension,” Kulik said.

Funeral Director Aaron Schisler said memorial services following the PFDA guidelines are available at Schisler Funeral Home in Northampton, as well as their three other locations including the Bartholomew-Schisler Funeral Home in Nazareth, Campton Funeral Home in Palmerton, and Miller Funeral Home in Lehighton.

“If the families choose a traditional burial now, with the traditional format, they realize they are keeping that to a minimum of 10 people,” Schisler said. “There is still the potential for a more involved celebration of life event down the road, once these restrictions are released.

“That will be difficult for these families to have to revisit these emotions again.”

In addition to following the NFDA guidelines, Robert Nester tries to keep mourners between six to 10 feet apart at the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home in New Tripoli.

“We have people at the doors, working the doors so you don’t have to touch doorknobs.”

Nester provides hand sanitizer stations both inside and at graveside services.

“It’s an awkward time,” said Nester, about discouraging close contact between those who are grieving. “A lot of people at a service like to come up to a person and hug them, get close to them and kiss them.”

Nester estimates they have enough personal protective equipment to carry them through until the end of May and he has been sharing his supplies with friends in the funeral business.

Funeral Director Matthew Stephens from Stephens Funeral Home, Allentown, also commented.

“My heart just goes out to the families that are unable to plan celebrations for their loved ones and have the support of their friends and their community in order to go through the entire grieving process in the way we are so accustomed to.”

Stephens discussed clients who opt for a traditional casket and burial service at this time.

“We have been utilizing Zoom as a piece of technology in order to broadcast the services to those family and friends who cannot be available for the services,” he explained, adding families who opt for cremation have all been postponing services.

Stephens is confident they have enough PPE supplies at this point, having restocked when he “saw this coming down the road.”

Funeral Director Erin Heintzelman said they are adhering to the NFDA guidelines for memorial services at the Heintzelman Funeral Home in Schnecksville, their Hellertown location, and at grave sites.

“There are three main aspects to a funeral: psychological, spiritual and social,” Heintzelman said. “Families we are serving are now bereft of the social aspect.

“We are livestreaming and recording every event and then publishing it on our website so those not in attendance can be a part of it from the comfort of their homes.

“Proper personal protective equipment is worn immediately upon entering a hospital, nursing facility or home of a decedent.

Heintzelman said there is increased caution in preparing the deceased for embalming and cremation.

The shelves are well stocked for the present, Heintzelman said.

“We do have concerns about our PPE stock, in that there is not a set date for this pandemic to end,” Heintzelman said.

PFDA President David Peake is equally concerned.

“We are in the same position as a lot of first responders and hospitals,” Peake said. “We are scrambling to get as many PPEs that we can get our hands on. A lot of PPEs aren’t around or don’t exist at this point.”

While awaiting restocking help from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Peake has advised funeral homes to band together and share supplies during the crisis.