Dealing with the dead: Photos reveal the harrowing reality for 4 funeral home directors in Harlem as COVID-19 deaths soar

Natalie ColarossiApr 25, 2020, 18:06 IST

Alisha Narvaez, 36, the manager and Nicole Warring, 33, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, carry a deceased person into the basement area, where bodies are stored and prepared for funeral servicesAndrew Kelly/REUTERS

Undertakers at the International Funeral & Cremation Service in Harlem, New York, have been dealing with a horrifying number of dead bodies from COVID-19.
Death counts have gotten so high that the morticians have had to turn bodies away. "You see tons of body bags and tons of people and they're labeled COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19. It's like a horror show," resident funeral director Nicole Warring told Reuters.
As New York City remains the worst-hit area for coronavirus infections and fatalities in the US, morticians brace for a lasting struggle on how to deal with an influx of the dead.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The coronavirus pandemic has created a harrowing reality for funeral directors as infection rates continue to rise and death counts have already overwhelmed many health systems.

In New York City — the epicenter of the outbreak in the US — the situation can feel like a nightmare.

Four women who work at the International Funeral & Cremation Service in Harlem, New York, have been dealing with this troubling reality since the pandemic began.

The situation has become so grim that the morticians have been forced to turn families away. Lily Sage Weinrieb, a resident funeral director at the business, told Reuters' Andrew Kelly and Clare Baldwin that not being able to carry out people's wishes when they die goes against their entire philosophy.

"That's our thing," she said. "You want six limos and you want them painted pink? Yes. Now, we're like: You want a cremation? I'm sorry, no. You want a burial and you already have a plot and everything? Sorry, no. We don't have any room."

But a lack of space isn't the only thing the women are dealing with. Handling such a high volume of infected bodies means risking their lives daily, forcing some of the women to send their family members to live with relatives.

"It's traumatizing for everyone," Warring told Reuters. "No mortuary school can prepare you for what we're seeing now."

These photos from Reuters show what its like for Alisha Narvaez, Jenny Adames, Nicole Warring, and Lily Sage Weinrieb – four women working at a funeral home in New York City amid the pandemic.

Read the original article on Insider

She used the same sentiment when discussing the business as a whole, telling Reuters that it's important not to let emotions get in the way, since time is highly sensitive. "Limit your compassion, please, because we gotta move onto the next one," she said. "There's no time to stop."

She used the same sentiment when discussing the business as a whole, telling Reuters that it's important not to let emotions get in the way, since time is highly sensitive. "Limit your compassion, please, because we gotta move onto the next one," she said. "There's no time to stop."

Since they were family, Adames took care of their bodies herself. "I'm not the emotional type, to tell you the truth," she told Reuters. "I don't want to sound heartless but it's a job. It's what I do."

Alisha Narvaez, 36, the manager and Jenny Adames, 36, a Funeral Service Coordinator at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, transport the casket of Adames's aunt, who was a suspected COVID-19 victim. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Since they were family, Adames took care of their bodies herself. "I'm not the emotional type, to tell you the truth," she told Reuters. "I don't want to sound heartless but it's a job. It's what I do."

In early April, Adames' grandfather died from the coronavirus. Just one week later, her aunt died — and though it wasn't confirmed, her death was suspected to be from the coronavirus, as well.

Jenny Adames, 36, a Funeral Service Coordinator at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, applies makeup to her aunt, a suspected COVID-19 victim, with the assistance of her cousin Vanessa Fernandez. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

In early April, Adames' grandfather died from the coronavirus. Just one week later, her aunt died — and though it wasn't confirmed, her death was suspected to be from the coronavirus, as well.

Family members are required to bring their own protective masks and gloves during services.

Nicole Warring, 33, and Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, remove a deceased person from a funeral service vehicle. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Additionally, the funeral home still allows viewings for COVID-19 victims. But to maintain social distancing, only 10 people are able to gather at a time. To accompany large families, the funeral home offers viewing sessions.

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, tends to the casket spray of a suspected COVID-19 victim Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Additionally, the funeral home still allows viewings for COVID-19 victims. But to maintain social distancing, only 10 people are able to gather at a time. To accompany large families, the funeral home offers viewing sessions.

For cremated victims, Weinrieb offers families a chance to pour their ashes into an urn and say parting words. Adames has offered families her personal phone number in case they need someone to talk to.

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, speaks with people trying to help their friend find an available space to conduct a funeral service for a diseased family member Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

For cremated victims, Weinrieb offers families a chance to pour their ashes into an urn and say parting words. Adames has offered families her personal phone number in case they need someone to talk to.

But the women are still working to ensure that families receive closure from COVID-19 deaths. Since most victims die alone and their families are told to quarantine after, the women work to find ways to let them say goodbye.

Rosary beads are seen placed in the hands of a deceased person, who was a suspected COVID-19 victim, following her viewing service at International Funeral & Cremation Services Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

But the women are still working to ensure that families receive closure from COVID-19 deaths. Since most victims die alone and their families are told to quarantine after, the women work to find ways to let them say goodbye.

Funeral suppliers have also informed them that they're running out of caskets and urns. Rather than giving people a full catalog to pick from a variety of caskets, the directors have simply been asking families what color they want.

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, wheels a deceased person to be prepared for a viewing service the following day. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Funeral suppliers have also informed them that they're running out of caskets and urns. Rather than giving people a full catalog to pick from a variety of caskets, the directors have simply been asking families what color they want.

It's unclear whether or not the bodies of the dead are contagious, but the women use a variety of protective equipment to keep themselves safe. However, they have run into situations where they've run of gloves or faced shortages.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is hung in the prep room at International Funeral & Cremation Services Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

It's unclear whether or not the bodies of the dead are contagious, but the women use a variety of protective equipment to keep themselves safe. However, they have run into situations where they've run of gloves or faced shortages.

And after Nicole Warring's boyfriend contracted the virus, she had to take a week off of work for anxiety-related heart palpitations. Luckily he recovered, but she still fears the possibility of infecting her 10-year old son.

Nicole Warring, 33, and Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, both of whom are Resident Funeral Directors at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, work in the basement where bodies are stored and prepared for funeral services, during the coronavirus disease Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

And after Nicole Warring's boyfriend contracted the virus, she had to take a week off of work for anxiety-related heart palpitations. Luckily he recovered, but she still fears the possibility of infecting her 10-year old son.

Lily Sage Weinrieb was forced to move out of a house she shared with friends in Philadelphia to avoid possibly spreading the virus. She now lives with her parents, but says she ends up sleeping in the chapel of the funeral home multiple nights a week.

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, stretches during a night shift, while waiting to transfer a deceased person, during the coronavirus disease outbreak. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Lily Sage Weinrieb was forced to move out of a house she shared with friends in Philadelphia to avoid possibly spreading the virus. She now lives with her parents, but says she ends up sleeping in the chapel of the funeral home multiple nights a week.

To protect her daughter, Alisha Narvaez showers at the funeral home after she performs embalmings and before she leaves work each day. Once she gets home she removes her clothes in the hallway and immediately takes another shower, in addition to disinfecting everything. "I gotta make sure I keep healthy just not to harm her," she told Reuters. "Although she's been in quarantine for several weeks, every day I come home from work is Day Zero for her."

Alisha Narvaez, 36, the manager at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, poses for a photo in her personal protective equipment, before embalming a deceased person. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

To protect her daughter, Alisha Narvaez showers at the funeral home after she performs embalmings and before she leaves work each day. Once she gets home she removes her clothes in the hallway and immediately takes another shower, in addition to disinfecting everything. "I gotta make sure I keep healthy just not to harm her," she told Reuters. "Although she's been in quarantine for several weeks, every day I come home from work is Day Zero for her."

Adames sent her daughter to live with her mother to keep her safe, a decision that she says "broke her heart." "She needs her mom. She don't need Jenny the funeral director."

Jenny Adames, 36, a Funeral Service Coordinator at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, speaks on her phone that features an image of her daughter who is currently in quarantine at her grandmother's house Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Adames sent her daughter to live with her mother to keep her safe, a decision that she says "broke her heart." "She needs her mom. She don't need Jenny the funeral director."

In some cases, the women have been forced to send their children to live with other relatives to avoid getting infected.

The body bag of a COVID-19 victim, is labeled in the prep room of International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

But a lack of time and space isn't the only issue the women are dealing with. Constantly exposing themselves to infected bodies has made them fear for their own lives.

Alisha Narvaez, 36, the manager at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, stands in front of a row of deceased people stored inside cardboard boxes that are assigned to be cremated. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

But the women are desperately trying to buy time in order to keep up with death rates. "I really couldn't do anything and that broke my heart," Adames said. "It's not that we are turning you away. We just need to buy time."

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, and Nicole Warring, 33, both of whom are Resident Funeral Directors at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, take phone calls in the office at the funeral home. Andrew Kelly/ REUTERS

But the women are desperately trying to buy time in order to keep up with death rates. "I really couldn't do anything and that broke my heart," Adames said. "It's not that we are turning you away. We just need to buy time."

Jenny Adames recalled the first time she cried from being forced to turn a body away. A man called her at least four times in one day, begging to help him care for a friend who died in his nursing home. "I need help," he said. "I don't know what to do. I don't want to leave him to be thrown in a potter's field. Please, you gotta help me Jenny."

Jenny Adames, 36, a Funeral Service Coordinator at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, sits inside the chapel at the funeral home where she works, following a viewing service. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Jenny Adames recalled the first time she cried from being forced to turn a body away. A man called her at least four times in one day, begging to help him care for a friend who died in his nursing home. "I need help," he said. "I don't know what to do. I don't want to leave him to be thrown in a potter's field. Please, you gotta help me Jenny."

In some cases, the women have been forced to turn families away. Weinrieb told Reuters, "We're being told that we're heroes for being on the front lines of this but I feel like I'm failing families every day."

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, pauses for few moments after taking a phone call next to the casket of a suspected COVID-19 victim Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

In some cases, the women have been forced to turn families away. Weinrieb told Reuters, "We're being told that we're heroes for being on the front lines of this but I feel like I'm failing families every day."

Warring told Reuters what it's like like to retrieve bodies from hospitals. "You have 20 other funeral directors ahead of you that have to get bodies out," she said. "You see tons of body bags and tons of people and they're labeled COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19. It's like a horror show."

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, retrieves a deceased person from a morgue in a hospital Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Warring told Reuters what it's like like to retrieve bodies from hospitals. "You have 20 other funeral directors ahead of you that have to get bodies out," she said. "You see tons of body bags and tons of people and they're labeled COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19. It's like a horror show."

When Reuters' Andrew Kelly visited, there were 48 dead bodies in the basement of International Funeral & Cremation Service, but the situation is so strained that the funeral directors said it will take weeks or months for the bodies to be cremated, embalmed, or buried.

Alisha Narvaez, 36, the manager at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, dresses in her personal protective equipment (PPE) before embalming a deceased person, during the coronavirus disease Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

When Reuters' Andrew Kelly visited, there were 48 dead bodies in the basement of International Funeral & Cremation Service, but the situation is so strained that the funeral directors said it will take weeks or months for the bodies to be cremated, embalmed, or buried.

More than 16,000 people have died in New York City from the coronavirus — but the city only has four crematories. The virus outbreak has severely overwhelmed funeral homes and crematories as "deathcare workers" struggle to keep up with an influx of dead bodies.

Lily Sage Weinrieb, 25, a Resident Funeral Director at International Funeral & Cremation Services, a funeral home in Harlem, positions a diseased person in the basement prep area, where bodies are stored and prepared for funeral services. Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

More than 16,000 people have died in New York City from the coronavirus — but the city only has four crematories. The virus outbreak has severely overwhelmed funeral homes and crematories as "deathcare workers" struggle to keep up with an influx of dead bodies.

We compared 3 of the most popular online plant shops — here's how their shipping and return policies and plant care advice stack up

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Dealing with the dead: Photos reveal the harrowing reality for 4 funeral home directors in Harlem as COVID-19 deaths soar

She used the same sentiment when discussing the business as a whole, telling Reuters that it's important not to let emotions get in the way, since time is highly sensitive. "Limit your compassion, please, because we gotta move onto the next one," she said. "There's no time to stop."

Since they were family, Adames took care of their bodies herself. "I'm not the emotional type, to tell you the truth," she told Reuters. "I don't want to sound heartless but it's a job. It's what I do."

In early April, Adames' grandfather died from the coronavirus. Just one week later, her aunt died — and though it wasn't confirmed, her death was suspected to be from the coronavirus, as well.

Family members are required to bring their own protective masks and gloves during services.

Additionally, the funeral home still allows viewings for COVID-19 victims. But to maintain social distancing, only 10 people are able to gather at a time. To accompany large families, the funeral home offers viewing sessions.

For cremated victims, Weinrieb offers families a chance to pour their ashes into an urn and say parting words. Adames has offered families her personal phone number in case they need someone to talk to.

But the women are still working to ensure that families receive closure from COVID-19 deaths. Since most victims die alone and their families are told to quarantine after, the women work to find ways to let them say goodbye.

Funeral suppliers have also informed them that they're running out of caskets and urns. Rather than giving people a full catalog to pick from a variety of caskets, the directors have simply been asking families what color they want.

It's unclear whether or not the bodies of the dead are contagious, but the women use a variety of protective equipment to keep themselves safe. However, they have run into situations where they've run of gloves or faced shortages.

And after Nicole Warring's boyfriend contracted the virus, she had to take a week off of work for anxiety-related heart palpitations. Luckily he recovered, but she still fears the possibility of infecting her 10-year old son.

Lily Sage Weinrieb was forced to move out of a house she shared with friends in Philadelphia to avoid possibly spreading the virus. She now lives with her parents, but says she ends up sleeping in the chapel of the funeral home multiple nights a week.

Adames sent her daughter to live with her mother to keep her safe, a decision that she says "broke her heart." "She needs her mom. She don't need Jenny the funeral director."

In some cases, the women have been forced to send their children to live with other relatives to avoid getting infected.

But a lack of time and space isn't the only issue the women are dealing with. Constantly exposing themselves to infected bodies has made them fear for their own lives.

But the women are desperately trying to buy time in order to keep up with death rates. "I really couldn't do anything and that broke my heart," Adames said. "It's not that we are turning you away. We just need to buy time."

In some cases, the women have been forced to turn families away. Weinrieb told Reuters, "We're being told that we're heroes for being on the front lines of this but I feel like I'm failing families every day."

Warring told Reuters what it's like like to retrieve bodies from hospitals. "You have 20 other funeral directors ahead of you that have to get bodies out," she said. "You see tons of body bags and tons of people and they're labeled COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19. It's like a horror show."

When Reuters' Andrew Kelly visited, there were 48 dead bodies in the basement of International Funeral & Cremation Service, but the situation is so strained that the funeral directors said it will take weeks or months for the bodies to be cremated, embalmed, or buried.

More than 16,000 people have died in New York City from the coronavirus — but the city only has four crematories. The virus outbreak has severely overwhelmed funeral homes and crematories as "deathcare workers" struggle to keep up with an influx of dead bodies.