The head of a nonprofit Bridgeport cemetery says the pandemic has created a host of problems for the industry.

Donald Edwards, head of Lakeview Cemetery, says there is no financial benefit to seeing a 500% increase in business over the last six weeks.

 

He says employees have to deal with an enormous amount of grief as they work to comfort hundreds of families.

"It's very hard because we are a nonprofit organization," Edwards says. "We are just following the people, helping the people grieve at this time and it's very hard for us also because we have to see this up close and personal every day."

Edwards says there is also an increased amount of risk involved for workers handling the remains of people who died from COVID-19.

He says some of those affected may need counseling and will carry the pain of the experience as long as they live.