VERSAILLES, Ky. —While the pandemic restricts large gatherings, virtual funerals are becoming the new normal for those mourning the loss of a loved one.  

"Once we kind of found out that, to start, we were going to have to have private family services and limit those services to 10 immediate family members, that was really hard on us, because that came upon us to have to tell these families who have lost someone that this is what we can do," said Leigh Ann Lewis, funeral director of Blackburn and Ward in Versailles. 

Restricted by health and safety guidelines, funeral homes like Lewis's had to think outside the box to help families in their time of need. 

"A virtual funeral or celebration of life is, is when we've met with families to arrange the funerals, which are having to be private, we've always given the family options, things that they could do," said Lewis. "We could webcast, we could video it. And now, with Facebook, Facebook Live, streaming services live has been kind of the norm for us right now."

Guidelines and restrictions have been in place since mid-March, prohibiting public funerals, visitations or graveside services as well as limiting such services to no more than 10 people. 

While the restrictions have forced funeral homes to think creatively, they have also been painful for those sending off their loved one. 

"Well, there was some apprehension, but in my mind, I knew that things were different, and I kind of ... I wish that it could have been the traditional funeral, but I knew it couldn't be, so I had to program myself to realize that there's going to be some changes," said David Greene, a father mourning the loss of his son. 

Greene was also forced to decide who could attend the limited in-person service, only compounding the pain her already felt. 

"I think you just have to program yourself to realize that things are different, and you have to really just kind of compartmentalize your feelings about the situation as you go forward," Greene said. 

"I think it is kind of hard on families right now, who are struggling, going through the grief process, having to social distance themselves," said Lewis.