COVID-19 And Funeral Etiquette...What Do We Do?

invisible my ass i can clearly see the chinks

No. I'm talking about the current COVID-19, a cocktail of SARS and HIV probably mixed up in a biolab somewhere which is wreaking havoc in Europe and about to in the US if isolation measures are not implemented fast.

I don't think anyone should be having funeral services at this time. They could always have a memorial service after this threat has passed. I had a friend who also passed away suddenly last week. (They still do not know the cause of her death). I did not attend her funeral, because of this virus threat. Sorry for you loss.
It's more important to stay safe and use caution.
I don't think anyone is going to be upset with you for not attending.

Cause of death is not the issue.
If I go to a large funeral gathering, I come in contact with all those people.
Some of the funeral mourners could have been exposed to the virus.
So that's the dilemma.
Not the dead person.
The live mourners who could be spreaders.

Especially after the bar gathering with 300 plus people, yeah.

Traditionally, after the Irish wake and funeral, we go back to the family house. All the mourners join us for some food and then we drink like crazed bastards and dance.
This will be an issue as far as spreading the virus.

One of my very close friends passed away last Friday, under mysterious circumstances. He called his girlfriend complaining of sudden and severe breathing problems, she immediately called 911 and emergency responders arrived within 18 mins. Unfortunately he was DOA. They were able to resuscitate him, but unfortunately he was pronounced brain dead upon arrival at the ER. He remained on life support for two days, but the plug was pulled Sunday. The hospital did press this issue because they needed the ICU bed for other patients that could be saved.

The doctors stated that his lungs had suddenly filled with fluid and he had drowned, but so far have only ruled out heart attack, and the coroners autopsy report is not yet in. We have no idea as of yet why this happened.

He was a huge fan of a popular local band here, never missed a set, there was a large gathering held at a bar on Sunday by the band that the majority of his friends attended, at least 300 people. Due to virus mitigation reasons we chose not to attend. Now all those same friends, as well as his family are planning to be at his funeral on Thursday. The possibility that someone, or even many people at this funeral have been exposed to the virus is pretty high IMO, especially after the bar gathering.

WTF were they thinking?

I'm middle-aged and have underlying health issues that put me in the high risk category for COVID-19, my mother and fiance's father are in their mid 70's and also have high risk health issues, and we see them every weekend to help with needs. None of us can afford to be exposed if at all possible.

He was an important and dear friend and we feel absolutely terrible, but it's pretty obvious that we cannot attend his funeral. As well we are pretty certain after speaking with other friends whom ARE attending that many will be upset with us for not being there. This is not an easy issue, in fact we're really struggling with it.

Neither MSM, nor POTUS' Team have spoke to the issue of funerals, and what mitigation factors should be at this point.

Your thoughts?

Tell them you are self quarantined due to possible exposure and ask that the service be carried via an internet AV app so you can "attend" remotely.

We do this a lot when folks live too far away to attend a funeral.

I think it's pretty typical for a B00lm3r to be upset that others aren't constantly falling all over themselves to kiss your ass, even though someone died. But it's YOUR VERY DEAR friend that died, so everyone's attention should be on you, yes? And how dare other people do things without first considering what effect they have on you!

If this virus isn't hype and does particularly Target oldies, then the world is going to be so lucky in about a year. Don't worry though, lol, I'm not that lucky.

Write a nice letter to the family. Enclose copies of any good photos you made of the person, and lots of love.

No funerals.

The person had what is commonly called a "white out". Often happens to people after flu or other weakening illnesses. Lost a healthy, 50-something, strong cousin to that a few years back. From OK to dead in a couple hours.

Terrible thing, that. Help the family as well as you can, from a distance.

I don't think anyone should be having funeral services at this time. They could always have a memorial service after this threat has passed. I had a friend who also passed away suddenly last week. (They still do not know the cause of her death). I did not attend her funeral, because of this virus threat. Sorry for you loss.
It's more important to stay safe and use caution.
I don't think anyone is going to be upset with you for not attending.

He was healthy as a horse with no recent illness. That had been posed by doctors and ruled out as well. As a medical professional myself, my first thought given there was no prior illness was that he possibly inhaled something that severely burned the lining of his lungs. This wasn't even hours, literally 30 minutes. Hoping to at least hear something in the next day or so.

We're offering as much help as we can give under the circumstances.

One of my very close friends passed away last Friday, under mysterious circumstances. He called his girlfriend complaining of sudden and severe breathing problems, she immediately called 911 and emergency responders arrived within 18 mins. Unfortunately he was DOA. They were able to resuscitate him, but unfortunately he was pronounced brain dead upon arrival at the ER. He remained on life support for two days, but the plug was pulled Sunday. The hospital did press this issue because they needed the ICU bed for other patients that could be saved.

The doctors stated that his lungs had suddenly filled with fluid and he had drowned, but so far have only ruled out heart attack, and the coroners autopsy report is not yet in. We have no idea as of yet why this happened.

He was a huge fan of a popular local band here, never missed a set, there was a large gathering held at a bar on Sunday by the band that the majority of his friends attended, at least 300 people. Due to virus mitigation reasons we chose not to attend. Now all those same friends, as well as his family are planning to be at his funeral on Thursday. The possibility that someone, or even many people at this funeral have been exposed to the virus is pretty high IMO, especially after the bar gathering.

WTF were they thinking?

I'm middle-aged and have underlying health issues that put me in the high risk category for COVID-19, my mother and fiance's father are in their mid 70's and also have high risk health issues, and we see them every weekend to help with needs. None of us can afford to be exposed if at all possible.

He was an important and dear friend and we feel absolutely terrible, but it's pretty obvious that we cannot attend his funeral. As well we are pretty certain after speaking with other friends whom ARE attending that many will be upset with us for not being there. This is not an easy issue, in fact we're really struggling with it.

Neither MSM, nor POTUS' Team have spoke to the issue of funerals, and what mitigation factors should be at this point.

Your thoughts?

Yeah my mom just died the same way OP's friend did and we're just having a small graveside service.

OP I'm so sorry for your loss, I'm sure your friend would understand.

My mom was the same way, fine one day, respiratory failure the next and gone. Happened so fast.

My thoughts. He’s not going to care if you go to his funeral. He won’t be there, just his empty meat sack. That being said, funerals are public gatherings and public gatherings spread the virus. Don’t go.

As far as burial, now his family has options. Soon, it’s going to be mass graves & incinerators.

If it was your funeral, would you want family & friends to risk their lives?

Your friend would likely not want to endanger his loved ones either.

I am sorry for yours & their loss.

Very, very few people will be faced with your dilemma because very, very few people in this country will die from Covid-19.

Mother just ended chemo for stage four pancreatic as it's no longer effective on her markers. Funeral is already planned, videos made, no hospice yet but they've been looking for when the time comes. So yeah, this kinda fucking sucks.