Penrose Funerals - Important Information About Coronavirus Measures

Last updated: 31 March 2020

At Penrose Funerals, we're committed to ensuring the safety of our team, client families and the community. Here are the steps we're taking.

 We’re living in unprecedented times. Every day, more countries are going into lockdown and new measures are being put in place in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus.

We all need to do our part and, following advice from the Australian Government Department of Health, we’re making significant changes to our day-to-day operational practices.

Our team work on the front line and we’re taking the following steps to not only ensure their safety, but also the safety of the range of people we interact with each and every day. If we are able to flatten the curve through social distancing and vigilant hand washing and hygiene, the restrictions on socialising may be lifted sooner.

Arrangement and conduct of funeral services

Given what’s happening in our world, we’ve had to make changes to how we plan, arrange and conduct funerals.

We are limiting social contact between the Daniel Woods Funerals Care Funeral team and our client families. Our funeral consultants will organise funeral documentation and arrangement instructions at arms length, via email or phone, rather than in the usual face-to-face meeting.

Given this, if you’re seeking to arrange a funeral, please call us on (02) 6382 5998, rather than visiting us at our office to make arrangements.

Venues

Attendance at venues – including places of worship, non-denomination chapels (our Eloeura Chapel) or graveside – will be limited to 10 mourners. We must adhere to the social distancing requirements and must allow for 4m2 distance between people.

Alternate ways to ‘attend’ a service

Alternate arrangements that will give mourners (other than immediate family members) an opportunity to grieve, such as holding a memorial service after the crisis period has passed, live streaming the service and/or a video recording of the service to share later are all available.

For those who do not want to hold a remote funeral, it may be best to have the burial or creation take place soon after the death and let loved ones know that the funeral service will be held in the future.   At that time, a memorial service may be held to truly allow everyone the chance to grieve together as a community. (Keep offering condolences with a card or flowers at this time).

Newspaper notices

To manage attendees, we’ll be asking our families to invite attendees personally and suggesting publishing only a memorial notice.

Limiting social contact

If you’re holding a small service for immediate family, we ask that you refrain from social contact.

We understand that these measures are difficult during times of grief, where a hug, kiss on the cheek or simply a touch on the shoulder is the most natural way to show care and support.

However, we ask that personal contact be kept to a minimum during services to minimise the risk of exposure for everyone in attendance.

People who should not attend

Anyone who has returned from overseas in the last 14 days will not be permitted to attend a funeral service.

Equally, those who have come into contact with a diagnosed person cannot attend.

Tribute slideshows

During this period, we need to change our service regarding the compilation of tribute slideshows.

If you are able to email photos through to us, we can certainly compile the slideshow. However, we will no longer be handling hard copy photos.

Of course, you can also compile the slideshow yourself and then provide it to us to play on the day.

Care and attention

The team at Penrose Funerals will always take the time to understand what you need. Our client families are our priority. We do, however, need to approach each arrangement on a case by case basis, as we seek to meet your needs and comply with government guidelines.  Guidelines are changing frequently, so we all need to be aware that we must be flexible. We are living in changing times and, as such, need to be flexible.

Clergy, celebrants and stakeholders

This is a tough time for all of us. The Penrose Funerals team will be reaching out to all of you.

Aged care facilities, local clergy and celebrants are all an integral part of the care and support we provide to our local families.

We will continue to communicate with you, so we’re all on the same page and understand our respective roles during these times of crisis.

Thank you for your support and understanding

We are acutely aware of our role as funeral directors and we thank you for your support and understanding.

Daniel Woods Funeral Care is committed to caring for our local community.

If you have any questions, please contact our team on (02) 6382 5998