Burials increased by 15% and cremations jumped 10% so far this year compared with 2020 at five cemetery sites overseen by The Catholic Cemeteries, likely driven by postponed committal services at the height of the pandemic, said Joan Gecik, executive director.

The impact of COVID-19 also continues, including the delta variant driving up recent infection rates, Gecik said. People concerned about gathering indoors are making reservations for summer 2022 for burials of loved ones cremated this fall so they can be together outside in greater safety and numbers, she said.

Because of the pandemic, Catholic Cemeteries’ annual Mass of Remembrance will not be held this December, she said. “Usually, we get over 200 people attending,” Gecik said, making it difficult to socially distance to help prevent spread of the virus.

However, a prayerful video with music displaying submitted names of people who have died in the last year can be viewed on the website at catholic-cemeteries.org.

People currently are asked to wear facial coverings and social distance indoors at all sites of The Catholic Cemeteries: Calvary in St. Paul, Gethsemane in New Hope, Resurrection in Mendota Heights, and St. Anthony’s and St. Mary’s, both in Minneapolis. Staff also wear masks, Gecik said.

“We have a high concern for safety for anyone coming to our cemeteries, including our employees,” she said.

“It is still going on,” Gecik said of the pandemic, citing one of her sisters contracting COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. Her own family also has been impacted by funeral and burial precautions, she said. When her brother died last year at this time, the family couldn’t gather as they would have liked. At the gravesite service and burial, she and her siblings were grouped separately by household.

The Catholic Cemeteries has gone through various levels of safety protocols through the pandemic, Gecik said. The organization follows recommendations of The Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health, as well as any government or archdiocesan directives, she said.

The pandemic has been difficult and stressful for families already grieving the loss of loved ones, Gecik said. Families seeking guidance from Catholic Cemeteries have often met with family service counselors online through Zoom video or other means, she said.

Cemetery staff also have been impacted by the extra requirements and concerns prompted by the pandemic, she said. “It’s kind of like being super sensitive to everything that is going on all the time,” Gecik said. “And that is how it was daily during (the height of) COVID.”

BURIAL INCREASES

The five sites of The Catholic Cemeteries have seen an increase of burials and cremations since 2019, driven in part by postponed committal services during the pandemic. The numbers:

2019 — 1,019 burials; 47% cremation rate

2020 — 1,035 burials; 44% cremation rate

2021 — 1,187 burials; 54% cremation rate