Coronavirus Notice

Moment of Death

When our funeral home is notified that a death has occurred and has been requested to transfer your loved one from the place of death The Maple Funeral Home & Crematory will treat all places of death and persons present as potentially infectious. Prior to our dispatch medical status questions will be asked to the in-charge medical staff or surviving family members. Upon our arrival, we will treat the environment as infectious and YOU will treat us as infectious. We will be maintaining and executing social distancing and will require all people present to do the same. After applying a topical disinfectant, we will transfer your loved one to the funeral home.

Funerals Immediate Need and Pre-arrangements

Prior to making arrangements at our funeral home, we will be asking our families to provide much of the needed information to us over the phone. A funeral director will gather the pertinent information during a phone conference and you will be advised what to gather and bring to the funeral home. An appointment will be made with the legal next-of-kin and the arrangement conference will be restricted to a maximum of 3 family members in total. Although our facilities are maintained clean and are disinfected after each use, by doing this we reduce face to face contact and significantly reduce potential exposures as advised by the CDC and Department of Public Health.

Visitations and Funeral

We are taking every precaution to ensure our staff and facilities are kept safe. In accordance with the guidelines by the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health, President Trump’s directive, and the Governor’s executive order, we can only permit 50 people at a time in the funeral home to pay their respects. All in attendance will be required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. All non-immediate family who are invited to attend funeral home visitations will also conform to the safe number protocol. Churches and Cemeteries are instituting their own set of guidelines per CDC regarding funerals. The great many of them are also reserving attendance to only 50 people. To obtain specific up-to-date church and cemetery procedures, please contact them directly.

The Maple Funeral Home & Crematory will prepare an obituary on our website for everyone's services. Our funeral home encourages all family members and friends to view/sign the posted online obituary at https://www.themaplefuneralhome.com/obituaries/. This will allow everyone the opportunity to express your sympathy and support to the bereaved. We also recommend adding photos to the online obituary notice. These postings will also allow family and friends to share in the moment as you gather whether in spirit or in-person to honor loved ones.

Further COVID-19 Virus Clarifications

Given the many questions we are asked daily regarding Visitations and Funerals, it is important to clarify our current protocols. The Maple Funeral Home & Crematory has adopted the following procedures and policies per CDC and Public Health Department guidelines as of February 15, 2021, and these policies are in effect until further notice: *Please understand that these measures are designed out of love and care for all those in attendance, our funeral home staff, our community, and those that are most vulnerable at this time.

Visitations and Wakes at the Funeral Home

Visitation and Wakes with viewings will only be conducted when the body has been
embalmed.
Visitation and Wakes can proceed with immediate family members, but should not exceed
more than 50 people in attendance at any given time.
It is strongly recommended that no one from the most vulnerable population attend.
Wearing a mask is required and Social distancing (six feet) should be observed with attendees
to sit or stand apart.
Care should be taken to provide comfort to the bereaved without physical contact.
No consumption or sharing of food on-premises to prevent cross-contamination.

Funerals

Funerals can proceed but should not exceed more than 50 people.
Services can be arranged to take place at the funeral home.
It is strongly recommended that no one from a vulnerable population attend
Wearing a mask is required and Social distancing (six feet) should be observed with attendees
to sit apart.
Care should be taken to provide comfort to the bereaved without physical contact.

Cemetery Committal

The committal of the body at all cemeteries can be done please refer to each cemeteries guidelines. Wearing a mask is required and Social distancing (six feet) should still be observed with attendees to stand apart.