A notice to our families

Starke, Florida – Helm - Gallagher Funeral Home & Cremation Services remains committed and prepared to safely care for the families it serves during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Whenever possible, Helm - Gallagher Funeral Home & Cremation Services will continue to enable families to participate in the rituals that are most important to them. 

And according to the CDC, at this time, there is no known risk associated with being in the same room at a funeral or visitation service with the body of someone who died of confirmed or suspected COVID-19; however, federal, state and local public health guidance may impact the size of gathering a family is able to plan. Depending on a family’s preferences, their loved one can be safely embalmed. Families may chose either burial or cremation as usual. 

“At Helm - Gallagher Funeral Home & Cremation Services, we recognize our responsibility to protect the health of those we are privileged to serve,” said Joe Gallagher, Owner. “We will continue to guide families, as we always have, in ways they can meaningfully commemorate the life of their loved one, while adhering to the guidance issued by federal, state and local public health officials.”

Gallagher continued: “Our staff remains vigilant about cleaning our facilities and ensuring we’re all following recommended healthy habits, such as staying home when sick, washing our hands, and covering coughs and sneezes. The CDC and our state and local public health officials have offered a lot of helpful guidance for businesses on this topic, which we continue to follow.”

A member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Helm - Gallagher Funeral Home & Cremation Services regularly receives information via NFDA from the CDC, Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies about the evolution of COVID-19 in the United States. NFDA continues to lead the conversation with federal officials about the role of funeral service as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the staff of Helm - Gallagher Funeral Home & Cremation Services can be of assistance, please contact us at (904) 284-9696 or [email protected].