Restricted numbers at funerals

[waltzingparrot]

My friend is devastated that she is burying her father with just her DB and their partners present.

In a strange way, I thought maybe such an intimate gathering with just his darling children might make it very special. I would love to reassure her that although, not as wished, it will be ok. It is being live streamed.
He was so loved that there will be many watching.

Any celebrants here that have found the family's experience was good, despite the restriction?

If the main people are there you dont need a crowd

I've just watched my Db's cremation, only 8 in attendance all well spaced apart into households. I am glad I was able to watch it live and sin along to the music! When restrictions are lifted we will have a tree planting for him which will be packed I'm sure.

As a family, we all want direct cremations. No mourners at the crematorium and a celebration of life service in our church at a later date, so this new rule isn't a shock to any of us, but I can totally see why people do find it upsetting. I would suggest to your friend that, once the country is back to normal, they organise a memorial service /celebration/get together just to remember her Dad. The day they choose to do this won't matter, the act will be the important thing. It's what we expect as a society

In my city (top 10 in England, for scale) all funerals will be direct cremation until further notice.

My grandma used to say that funerals are for the living. Never a truer word said, especially now. Plan a wake and celebrate life xx

Yes I thought a celebration of life at some future date would be something helpful to suggest to her.

I'm a celebrant and we are doing the bed we can within constraints. Webcast, posted copies at a later date. All my meetings are by other means and we all stay far apart. Very hard when you naturally want to comfort someone but physically being in the crem by no means implied your thoughts aren't there and you will hold that person in your heart forever. There is no reason to put the living in jeopardy to honour the dead.

We buried my father a few months ago and the support of friends and the wider community really did help us. I feel for people in this position. Very sad, if necessary.