In this press release that we found on the PR Newswire, funeral home operator Foundation Partners Group has announced that it is ready to serve America during the potential surge wave of COVID-19 across the country.  Quoting from the release, “Foundation Partners Group , operator of more than 135 funeral homes, cremation centers and cemeteries across the U.S., is prepared with the experience, resources, and technology to safely care for grieving families during this unprecedented outbreak.

The following is a quote attributed to Foundation Partners Group President and CEO Robert Bukala.  “Federal and state governments have designated our businesses as essential critical infrastructure and each one of our locations across 20 states remains open and ready to provide service for their community.  Our team of more than 1,400 highly-trained funeral professionals are experienced in dealing with public health emergencies from viruses to natural disasters.”

In a letter to Foundation Partner firms, Bukala outlined the steps his company is taking to keep employees, customers and communities safe.  They include:

• Online tools, like screen sharing and video chats ,that allow families to make arrangements from the comfort of their homes, keeping both families and employees safe without sacrificing service levels.
• Live webcasting of services from funeral homes, churches and cemeteries where attendance is limited to no more than 10 people, allowing extended families and friends to participate and pay their respects.
• Increased frequency of deep cleaning and disinfecting all facilities, both backroom care centers and customer-facing areas.
• Daily online meetings to review updates from the Centers for Disease Control, assess evolving local guidelines, and share best practices and creative solutions.
• Special employee surge teams ready to assist local teams with arrangements and decedent care in cities hardest hit by the virus.

The release also states that “Foundation Partners Group has the scale, expertise, and flexibility to shift personnel from one location to another if a funeral director becomes ill or requires quarantine because of COVID-19 exposure.”

More news from the funeral profession:

• Fire erupts from crematorium at Stamford Funeral Home.  Connecticut Post.
• Paris Cemetery nearing full capacity from coronavirus:  “There are more deaths than we can bury”.  Haaretz.
• Obituary – William J. McCorkle.  Beloit (WI) Daily News.
• Caring legacy:  New owners plan to continue Turner Funeral Home as family business.  Ellwood (PA) City Ledger
• Kirsksville funeral director weighs in on embalming COVID-19 victims.  Video and story.  KTVO 3

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