Funeral homes work to provide comfort to families, prevent spread of virus

Funeral home directors right now are faced with the challenge of comforting a family while keeping them safe while they morn.

Funeral home directors right now are faced with the challenge during the coronavirus pandemic of comforting a family while keeping everyone safe while mourning.

Wtva's chelsea brown spoke with one funeral home director in chickasaw county about how the process of getting ready for a funeral is a bit different now because of the coronavirus.

Here at memorial funeral home in houston, they have had a dozen funerals for coronavirus victims. stacey parker funeral director and embalmer told me how he keeps not only himself safe but others around him while embalming.

"we're taught in school to treat everybody as if they have a communal disease" stacey parker is the funeral director and embalmer at memorial funeral home in houston.

Parker uses a lot of disinfectants and soap to prepare the body for a funeral.

"the disinfectants, germicidal, and then preservation is last."

When handling a person who died from coronavirus parker is extra careful.

"i'm always using disinfectants prior to and after the fact.

They are set up for us to protect us and to protect the people."

Parker always uses full protective gear while handling someone who has died from coronavirus.

"and that is my job to make sure everyone is protected.

I'm gonna feel liable if i don't" after the embalming process parker says most of the risk is gone to catch the disease but it is not gone completely "potential infected and they will pass it on, after i get through with my embalming process, in my opinion, i will have cut that 75% out."

Many families who come in for funerals with loved ones who have died from the coronavirus are nervous about the possibility of spreading the disease.

"covid side of it has been a humbling experience."

Parker encourages those who attend funerals to wear masks and social distance while at the funeral and/ or graveside.

Parker says there is less visitations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Live in houston, chelsea brown, wtva 9