SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — There has been a lot of word of mouth about delayed funeral ceremonies in the area the past two months with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
But what are the real numbers?
That may be hard to determine. But KELO.com News looked at a snapshot in time of obituaries to see how many funeral services have taken place or have been delayed to a date way beyond the death of the deceased or pushed off to some indeterminate time.
KELO.com NEWS looked at obituaries published in the April 8, 2020 “Sioux Falls Shopping News” and the April 8, 2020 “Argus Leader,” as found on their obituaries website.
- The findings:
There were a total of 33 obituaries between the two publications.
Seven services for the deceased were not postponed.
Seventeen were delayed.
Nine did not mention the final arrangements.
Based on this unscientific, one day look at obituaries in local newspapers, that puts the delayed/postponed funeral services at 52% of reported obituaries for today. If you take out the nine obituaries where they did not mention arrangements, the delayed/postponement rate for April 8, 2020 is 71%.
Interestingly, one of the biggest ads placed in the April 8, 2020 “Shopping News” was a full-page ad for the Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls.
The Tri-State region of South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa are under some form of anti-congregating orders to fight the spread of COVID-19, which has caused some funeral services to be delayed.
