COVID 19 GUIDELINES UPDATE

Dear Families, 

Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 148 on Friday, May 22, 2020 raising the limit of individuals allowed at outdoor gatherings from 10 to 25. Social distancing guidelines remain in place. 

Indoor gatherings, including funerals, remain limited to 10 people at this time. 

The new executive order includes a number of provisions that those gathering outside must meet in order to comply with existing restrictions. Among those provisions are the following: 

All those gathering must remain outdoors at all times unless they are using restrooms. 

Tarps and tents are permitted only for protection from foul weather or for shade. 

All attendees must remain six feet apart, with the exception of immediate family, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners. 

There may be no contact among attendees, with the exception of immediate family, caretakers, household members or romantic partners. 

Face coverings must be worn when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, except if the covering compromises an individual’s health or the person is under two years of age. 

Those hosting the event should demarcate six feet of spacing in the gathering area to indicate proper social distancing. This can be done through the placement of cones, flags or other markings. 

Only single seating should be provided, except for immediate family or household members, and should be placed six feet apart. 

Any physical items should not be shared by attendees, with the exception of family or household members. 

 While the governor stated during his briefing that the increase was aimed at expanding the number of people gathering for recreational purposes, some cemeteries may begin increasing the number of individuals permitted at the grave. Every cemetery, however, can impose whatever restrictions are deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of staff and visitors. 

 Funeral homes should contact cemeteries to ascertain their attendance rules for burial and interment services. 

We will do our utmost to assist our friends and families through their grief which has been compounded by these necessary restrictions. 

Next-of-kin, those not subject to quarantine, may make arrangements either in the funeral home or by telephone or other communication with the funeral home. 

Please understand that we are at the start of a new norm, and so we do not fully know when the true surge of COVID-19 spread will be felt in each of our lives. 

Please know we are here to help and will be updating our website as new information is available.  Additional information may be found at cdc.gov/coronavirus and nj.gov/health. Our sympathies go out to all families at this difficult time. We wish you all well and we are here for you in your greatest time of need. 

Thank you,

We are proud to be the first Caribbean, West Indian, Hispanic Family Owned and Operated funeral home, in the State of New Jersey. The families of our community turn to us, because we give every funeral the Cultural and Traditional respect it deserves. We believe that every funeral service should be truly memorable, flawlessly planned, and correct to the smallest detail. By giving our best, we provide real comfort to the families we serve.

Whether you’re faced with planning a funeral or memorial service, or would like to discuss your own advance arrangements, you can count on the utmost in compassionate and personal attention… this is what makes our funeral home special.

Mgr, Justin Theodorou, NJ Lic 4970