BOZEMAN, Mont. – Irene Dahl has a favorite motto: “Whatever the family needs.”
She is the funeral director at Dahl Funeral and Cremation Service. She always wants to accommodate those grieving as best she can.
This year, it’s been difficult.
Some families have held ceremonies with smaller numbers and social distancing. Some have broadcasted funerals electronically. Others have postponed services. But for how long? It’s already been nine months since the pandemic hit the United States.
The coronavirus has stolen from people. Memories. Gatherings. Lives. Dahl has seen it firsthand. It’s heartbreaking.
“I’d be lying to you if I told you they weren’t struggling with it. It’s been really hard,” Dahl said. “To not be able to give them a hug, … it’s a struggle.”
As the calendar flips to 2021, there’s hope, with vaccines on the way. But this has been a challenging year. Everyone’s been forced to adjust. For some, it’s small — like wearing a mask while grocery shopping. For others, it’s big — like not being able to hug loved ones during life’s most precious moments.
Dahl takes solace in knowing how her coworkers have adapted. They’ve had to. That’s what COVID-19 has taught them.
At first, Dahl and the staff were scared. When handling bodies, they didn’t know if the virus could spread from the deceased.
Dahl has had to drive to other states about five times to pick up people who just died. Fewer passengers are flying into Bozeman’s airport, so companies have used smaller planes that don’t have enough cargo space to take extra bodies.
The staff members have had to learn new safety methods. Instead of filling out paperwork in person, they’ve used electronic signatures. Luckily, Dahl said, the funeral home was remodeled a few years ago, so people could spread out farther at services with limited attendance.
They’ve also looked for joy in the little things. Like sharing a laugh in their weekly meetings.
“The silver lining is it’s taught us a lot about ourselves,” Dahl said, “and how we can be flexible and resilient.”
But with growth comes pain, and there’s been a lot of that too.
