COVID-19 Protocols for Visitors and Interments

Jewish Memorial Gardens – COVID-19 Protocol Update – July 16, 2021

Important Information for Funerals & Unveilings

• Families are reminded that we are still in a time of pandemic.  As we are now in Stage 4 of the reopening and our gatherings are outdoors, we permit a maximum of 25 guests (including Clergy) for both Funerals and Unveilings. 

• Guests will be asked to review a screening form to determine whether they may attend the service. 

• Physical distancing of 2 metres (6 feet) must be always maintained for those not part of the same household. 

• Face masks or coverings must be properly worn during Funerals and Unveilings. 

• Attendees must be double vaccinated.  Exceptions to this must be preapproved by Jewish Memorial Gardens at least 24 hours before the service. 

• A list of attendees and contact information must be submitted to Jewish Memorial Gardens before the beginning of the service. The family must designate someone to check off the list.

• Services should be kept as short as possible, and guests are not to congregate before or after.

• No washing cups or water will be provided at our outdoor hand washing stations. Visitors should bring their own water for ritual hand washing.

• For Funerals and Unveilings, hand sanitizer is to be provided for the attendees by the family.

• Unveilings must be scheduled in advance with Jewish Memorial Gardens to ensure that only one is conducted at any one time.

Interments & Funerals

1. We require the Funeral Chapel and family to notify the Cemetery if someone has died from COVID-19 or is strongly suspected to have died from COVID-19. His/her burial will be carried out with only Clergy and Cemetery and Funeral Chapel staff in attendance. To be clear: anyone exposed to that deceased person may not attend the graveside service, and they will not be permitted on our cemetery grounds. Failure to comply with this directive will result in immediate summonsing of the police as a public and health emergency situation, and criminal charges shall be laid.
2. The only exception to paragraph 1 will be in the case of a particular family member or representative(s) of the bereaved family presenting the Funeral Chapel and the Cemetery administration with a letter signed by an Ontario licensed physician, who was involved in the care of the Deceased leading up to his/her death, which certifies that the proposed attendee is not someone who has a quarantine obligation pursuant to the Government of Ontario or other legislative COVID-19 protocols.
3. The Funeral Chapel must prepare a deceased person who has died of COVID-19, or is strongly suspected to have died of COVID-19, with the required protocols.
4. JMG will generate a funeral notice without a time of burial.
5. The family is asked not to advertise in any way the time of burial.
6. Funeral directors/assistants shall wait until the casket is lowered and cemetery staff have removed the lowering device and have created a social distance of at least 2 metres (6 feet) from the grave before allowing individuals to approach the grave.
7. Funeral directors/assistants will direct families to create a social distance at graveside of at least 2 metres (6 feet) from one another and will use best efforts to remind families during the service. At all times, visitors and funeral chapel staff must always remain at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from cemetery staff. 
8. Only 2 shovels will be provided in order to enable the attending Clergy and one representative family member (please consult with your Clergy to determine who that should be according to Halacha) to throw earth onto the casket. Once the top surface of only the casket is covered with a layer of earth, attendees will be expected to complete the service, return to their vehicles, and leave the cemetery. At this time, the cemetery staff will complete the filling of the grave. There is to be no passing of shovels.  We are expecting that the total attendance time within the cemetery grounds for any graveside funeral will be 30 minutes or less.
9. All pallbearers must wear rubber/latex disposable gloves and anyone who handles the cemetery’s shovels must also be wearing such gloves.

General Information for All Cemetery Visits

• Those in quarantine or suffering from COVID-19-like symptoms may not attend the cemetery.
• The public washrooms will only be open during Funeral services.
• Visitation to the cemeteries is at your own risk.  Jewish Memorial Gardens (JMG) will not be liable for any sickness caused due to visitation.

Under provincial law, The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (B.A.O.) has provided cemeteries the right to control access and to limit numbers. Jewish Memorial Gardens reserves the right to close the cemeteries in the interest of public safety. We thank you in advance for your cooperation with this latest protocol revision.

Revised: July 16, 2021