Since the coronavirus pandemic hit New York, The Evergreens Cemetery has been handling three times its usual workload — with up to 10 burials a day.
But gravedigger Juan Manon says he won’t stop until every soul is laid to rest.
“I will keep lifting my shovel until I have no more power left,” the 64-year-old Brooklynite told The Post.
“I have seen my father, my brother and my sister die so I understand what this means on a personal level. I put myself in their position and know it is the time to give them the respect they deserve.”
Six days a week, Manon punches in at the cemetery on the Brooklyn-Queens border — which covers 225 acres and houses over half a million dead New Yorkers — at 6:53 a.m. so he doesn’t risk being late for his 7 a.m. shift.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Manon has rarely called out sick in the 24 years he’s been working and credits his strong work ethic with guiding him through the crisis.
“I am here to help in the way I can,” Manon said in Spanish.
“When I came to this country I never imagined working in a cemetery but I am here for them because they were always there for me,” he said of his workplace.
While nothing has prepared him for the crush of coronavirus deaths, the Brooklyn cemetery has hired additional workers to manage the increased workload.
“It’s heartbreaking but we all need to remain calm and deal with everyone, one by one, because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” Manon said.
Manon said he still treats each burial with the utmost respect, even as the numbers pile up.
The day before grieving kin arrive to bid a final farewell to their loved ones, he checks the excavation site to make sure everything is in order.
“We make sure the depth is correct, and everything is safe and reinforced. We want everything ready for the families,” Manon said.
During the service, every minute is treated as sacred.
“They are watching every movement, from the time when that casket is taken out of the hearse to when it is lowered into the ground,” Manon said.
“We operate the machines very slowly, we make sure not to rush … When the priest offers their last rites, we all stand very quietly to one side away from the families,” he continued.
“I know this is truly a family’s last time to say goodbye.”
Manon feels safe coming to work — the cemetery’s management has changed safety guidelines to protect workers from getting infected and gives them a mask and disposable gloves each day.
He changes out of his uniform before clocking out to make sure he’s not bringing the virus home.
“I feel secure with how I am protected and know I can easily get sick going to the supermarket or pharmacy. We are taking all the necessary precautions,” Manon said.
Julie Bose, president of The Evergreens Cemetery, said Manon has played a critical role in ensuring operations run smoothly despite the extra work.
“He’s emblematic of all the gravediggers who have literally come in at their own personal sacrifice and risk to themselves,” Bose told The Post.
“And they are all working hard to make the process a little bit easier and lighter for all these families.”
Manon hopes the grieving can walk away with a small measure of comfort knowing their loved one was handled with proper care and concern.
“Everything is done with each family in mind. When the grave is covered, we place seeds on the ground so new grass can grow,” Manon said.
“Ultimately, we hope the respect we show them gives them peace.”
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