A York funeral director is offering to pay for services to be live streamed for families – to help grieving relatives say goodbye to their loved ones even if they are self-isolating.
It normally costs £62 for a service at York Crematorium to be broadcast online but Martin Rowley said his business will pay the fee for mourners.
He said funerals are going ahead as normal at this time, and there is no indication that they will be cancelled.
Mr Rowley said:
We have decided to do this so that there’s no need for families to have extra costs and it means that anyone who is vulnerable or self-isolating can at least watch the service.
We also have a small chapel of rest so if mourners felt they didn’t want to go to the crematorium, they are welcome to have the service here.
We will remain open for business because we are a small family-run firm.
He said he expects there to be an increase in calls for the live streaming of services, and that other funeral directors in York are offering a similar service.
Earlier this year Mr Rowley called for a funeral hardship fund to be created in response to the rising cost of burial and cremation fees.