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Funeral Homes Rely On Virtual Tools Amid COVID-19 Restrictions

The Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. KERI BROWN/WFDD

Federal health guidelines and state restrictions limiting the size of gatherings are impacting the way we're saying goodbye to our loved ones.

Handshakes and hugs are commonplace in the funeral service business. But social distancing requirements are flipping that model. Most arrangements are made by phone, email, or using other online applications.  When families do come to the building, their visits are staggered.

“The community has been patient and understanding, but it's a challenge and a difficult time in someone's life,” says James Haire, a manager with Hayworth-Miller Funeral Homes and Crematory in Winston-Salem.

Many funeral homes have also stopped public visitations. Instead, they're offering smaller graveside services of ten people or less.

“Family members across the country that typically travel in, they may not do that now and they may not be afforded that opportunity," says Haire. “So we are very sensitive to that and that's why we are trying to honor these individuals by offering a memorial service at a later time, whether that's at our chapel or at a church.”

Haire says some families are also opting to stream graveside services on Facebook Live or post them to other social media sites, so more people have a chance to say their goodbyes.

*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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