Schuyler Hill Funeral Home sees high demand during coronavirus pandemic

Although coronavirus-related deaths in New York are starting to decline, funeral homes are trying their best to keep up with the demand.

News 12 Staff

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May 1, 2020, 1:25 AM

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Updated 1,695 days ago

Although coronavirus-related deaths in New York are starting to decline, funeral homes are trying their best to keep up with the demand.

Jackie McQuade runs Schuyler Hill Funeral Home with her family in the Bronx. She says she's had one day off in the last month and a half but says she’s not worried about herself.

"I'm more worried about my families and getting my job done because that's what matters right now,” said McQuade.

Busy days in the past meant two to three services a day, but now she says it’s eight. Their numbers could be even higher, but they say they don’t want to take on more than they can handle.

The community-based funeral home is serving families of the community first, leaving them forced to say no to others.

"I understand their devastation and if we do things, we do it the right away, so if we can't do it the right way, we have to turn people away,” said McQuade.

Sisto Funeral Home in the Bronx is turning away families and says their services are much more limited these days.

"And one of the biggest things now is the time frame in which things are taking place. Usually, we get to dictate or the family gets to dictate when things will take place. Cemeteries are so backlogged that we're into the middle of May for burials and the end of May for cremations,” said John Sisto from Sisto Funeral Home.

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