Number of mourners allowed at Sheffield funerals restricted to maximum of five

A number of changes have been made to Sheffield’s cemeteries and crematoria services due to national guidance on social distancing, as the coronavirus lockdown continues.
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Sheffield Council says that with immediate effect, the number of mourners who will be allowed at any funeral service (chapel, cremation, burials and graveside services) will now be restricted to a maximum of five people.

Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure at Sheffield City Council, said: “In line with government guidance, we must advise that families restrict attendance at funerals to a maximum of five. I know this will be very hard and upsetting for people but we must all do everything we can to protect everyone from the spread of this virus.

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“We are working on being able to webcast services free of charge where possible but we currently don’t have this facility. We encourage mourners to consider holding ‘celebrations of life’ for deceased loved ones later in the year.”

Grenoside Crematorium. Picture: Marie CaleyGrenoside Crematorium. Picture: Marie Caley
Grenoside Crematorium. Picture: Marie Caley

Anyone who is self-isolating should not attend a funeral, and those in vulnerable groups such as people with underlying health conditions and pregnant women should consider staying at home as per Government guidelines.

Cllr Lea added: “We continue to monitor all of the guidance regarding coronavirus very closely. We have to make extremely difficult decisions in terms of the services we provide to ensure that the health and well-being of the public, council staff, partners and those we work closely with, is protected.

“We have had no choice but to introduce a number of changes to the cemeteries and crematoria services provided by the council. We fully recognise the impact of these changes and we apologise for any discomfort or distress this may cause.

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“Please be assured that we will constantly review how we deliver our cemeteries and crematoria services in line with national guidance. We will make changes as appropriate and will also remain in contact with funeral directors to keep them informed of any service changes.

“The death of a loved one is extremely distressing at any time; I understand that these new restrictions will make the grieving process even more difficult but we must prioritise protecting the vulnerable and our NHS services in every way possible.”

Mourners are asked to respect the two metre social distance rule at the graveside.

Those wishing to backfill the grave, both mourners and funeral directors, must also ensure they follow Government guidance on social distancing, remaining at least two metres away from staff to ensure everyone’s safety. The funeral director or family must also bring their own spades for the backfilling of a grave.

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In addition to restricting the number of mourners attending funerals, the council says it has also had to restrict other services.

These include a temporary suspension of the burial of ashes, scattering of ashes and temporary closure of the halls of remembrance.

Anyone with queries relating to a funeral service should direct these through their chosen funeral director who will work closely with the council’s cemeteries and crematoria service.