Personal stories of bereavement during the pandemic

Coronavirus has forced us to change every aspect of our lives including the way we grieve our loved ones. While funerals are still going ahead, under current restrictions, there must be no more than ten people in attendance. We have been asked to end the familiar customs and traditions that help us let go of those we have lost. These days, families say their goodbyes over Facetime and mourners tune in to funeral mass over Zoom. Following an open call, readers of The Irish Times have been sending in their personal experiences of bereavement during this pandemic. In this episode, we invited those who contributed, to share their story. Contributions from: Berna Brennan, Martin Osbourne, Geraldine Eskinazi, Emma O'Grady, Sarah Judge, Louise O'Connor and Brendan Hayes