COVID-19 MEASURES AND CHECK-IN

At Penrose Funeral Care, we're committed to ensuring the safety of our team, client families and the community. We are a "COVID Safe Registered Business".

We all need to do our part and, following advice from the "My Service" NSW Government, we have made significant changes to our day-to-day operational practices.

Our team work on the front line and we’re taking the following steps to not only ensure their safety, but also the safety of the range of people we interact with each and every day.  Here are the steps we're taking. 

Arrangement and conduct of funeral services
Given what’s happening in our world, we’ve had to make changes to how we plan, arrange and conduct funerals.

We are limiting social contact between the Penrose Funeral team and our client families. Our funeral consultants will organise funeral documentation and arrangement instructions at arms length, via email or phone, rather than in the usual face-to-face meeting.

Given this, if you’re seeking to arrange a funeral, please email us at admin@penrosefunerals.com.au  or call us on (02) 6382 5998, (Young) and (02) 6343 2226 (Grenfell) rather than visiting us at our office to make arrangements.

Venues
Attendance at venues – including places of worship, non-denomination chapels or graveside – will be limited to 300 people whilst adhering to the 4m2 distance between people, if an inside or outside venue cannot adhere 4m2 thenit must reduce it's numbers accordingly.  You are required by the NSW Goverment to check-in to all venues via the COVID Safe Check-in app tool available from My Service NSW.

Alternate ways to ‘attend’ a service
Alternate arrangements that will give mourners (other than immediate family members) an opportunity to grieve, such as holding a memorial service after the crisis period has passed or making a video recording of the service to share, are available. We are also offering to live stream the funeral services for people to watch online.

Newspaper notices
To manage attendees, we’ll be asking our families to invite attendees personally and suggesting publishing only a memorial notice.

Limiting social contact
If you’re holding a small service for immediate family, we ask that you refrain from social contact.

We understand that these measures are difficult during times of grief, where a hug, kiss on the cheek or simply a touch on the shoulder is the most natural way to show care and support.

However, we ask that personal contact be kept to a minimum during services to minimise the risk of exposure for everyone in attendance.

People who should not attend
Anyone who has returned from overseas in the last 14 days will not be permitted to attend a funeral service.

Equally, those who have come into contact with a diagnosed person cannot attend.

Tribute slideshows

During this period, we need to change our service regarding the compilation of tribute slideshows.

If you are able to email photos through to us, we can certainly compile the slideshow. However, we will no longer be handling hard copy photos.

Of course, you can also compile the slideshow yourself and then provide it to us to play on the day.

Viewings
Being conscious of the wellbeing of our client families and team, please ask our team for details.

Care and attention
The team at Penrose Funerals will always take the time to understand what you need. Our client families are our priority. We do, however, need to approach each arrangement on a case by case basis, as we seek to meet your needs and comply with government guidelines.  Guidelines are changing frequently, so we all need to be aware that we must be flexible. We are living in changing times and, as such, need to be flexible.
 

Clergy, celebrants and stakeholders
This is a tough time for all of us. The Penrose Funerals team will be reaching out to all of you.

Aged care facilities, local clergy and celebrants are all an integral part of the care and support we provide to our local families.

We will continue to communicate with you, so we’re all on the same page and understand our respective roles during these times of crisis.
 

Thank you for your support and understanding
We are acutely aware of our role as funeral directors and we thank you for your support and understanding.
 

Penrose Funerals is committed to caring for our local community.

If you have any questions, please contact our team on (02) 6382 5998 or (02) 6343 2226.

Cristy Houghton