Funeral directors throughout the UK have reflected on an ‘overwhelming’ experience during the peak of lockdown. As COVID-19 swept across the country, they faced a dramatically increased volume of work and were confronted with profound existential questions such as, ‘How long do we have left?’
In the midst of the pandemic, many of these professionals, who traditionally work behind the scenes of our society’s end-of-life rituals, were forced into the spotlight. Their work became more urgent, more essential, and exceptionally challenging.
Besides the surge in demand, funeral directors also had to navigate a drastically altered landscape of regulations and restrictions. Changes in how services could be conducted, new health and safety guidelines, and limitations on the number of attendees left many grappling with how to provide quality care and comfort to the bereaved in previously unimaginable circumstances.
“No one could have prepared us for this,” one funeral director said. “I’ve always seen my job as helping people to say their goodbyes in the way that they need to. And suddenly, all the ways they might have wanted to say goodbye were off the table.”
Several directors have spoken candidly about the mental and emotional toll the pandemic has taken. “It’s not just a job, it’s a vocation,” said another funeral director. “We care about the families we work with, and it’s devastating to see so many people not having the goodbye they would have wanted.”
As restrictions lift and the UK slowly begins to emerge from lockdown, funeral directors are now cautiously optimistic, but they also acknowledge that the impact of the pandemic on their profession will be long-lasting. However, they remain committed to providing dignified, respectful services amidst whatever challenges may still lie ahead.
Last modified: March 24, 2025
