Grieving the loss of a loved one is hard enough in the best of times, but with current gathering and travel restrictions, it can be even more difficult.

A huge part of finding peace and closure comes from the encouragement of family and friends, but now, many of those support structures are no longer there.

James Murdock, owner and director of the Moose Jaw Funeral Home, says that even with outdoor funeral services, the numbers are still restricted. 

"A graveside service right now may be ranging anywhere from that twenty-five up to maybe fifty mark...the days of large services, well, that may not be happening for quite a while."

Murdock says that families who live far apart are having to choose between being together or being safe.

"A lot of families are torn because some folks, due to interprovincial travel being discouraged, are staying away for fear of jeopardizing their health or that of their loved ones."

For these and other reasons, it can be hard to bereaved families to find the closure that they need. Murdock sees this problem most evident in the ban on social gatherings following funeral services.

"That's the time when you are receiving a hug from a friend or that meaningful handshake. You know, where laughter is occurring and where tears are being shared while people reminisce. That is something that I think a lot of families are struggling with right now but it just can't happen."

Just as many people are choosing to postpone weddings and other significant ceremonies right now, so too are some families choosing to wait before celebrating the lives of their loved ones.