Joseph Ressler

Janet and Paul Allen attend the Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster virtual service at their home in Strasburg, Pa., on March 29, 2020. "The church has not closed. The church has been in fact more open than ever. The building is closed, but the building is not the church. It’s the people," said Janet.

Paul and Janet Allen watch the news on TV most nights at their home in Strasburg, Pa., on April 9, 2020.

Paul Allen washes his hands in the kitchen while his wife Janet Allen pulls down her mask to dry her tears immediately after a veterinarian came to their home to euthanize their dog who was suffering from complications of old age in Strasburg, Pa., on April 13, 2020. With COVID-19 safety rules, a home visit was the only way for the family to be with the dog in her last moments. "The masks are good at soaking up the tears," said Janet.

Paul Allen comforts his wife Janet as she gets emotional during the Easter Sunday service of the Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster at their home in Strasburg, Pa., on April 12, 2020. The congregation joined together on Zoom. "I do miss the personal interaction, though, and singing," said Janet.  "It’s not the same as being live and being there."

Janet and Paul Allen attend the Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster virtual service on Zoom at their home in Strasburg, Pa., on August 2, 2020. "Rather than just being an outside observer of what’s going on, we’re pulled in to some extent, by participating in the rituals they have," said Janet.

Janet Allen talks on the phone with her son, who has been hospitalized in a psychiatric ward for eight months, at her home in Strasburg, Pa., on Nov. 14, 2020.

Paul and Janet Allen break bread and drink wine at dinner to celebrate Maundy Thursday at their home in Strasburg, Pa., on April 9, 2020. The Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster provided materials for them to follow prayers on their own.

Paul and Janet Allen get on the phone after Easter dinner with other family members on a Facebook video call in Strasburg, Pa., on April 12, 2020. "It did not feel like an Easter dinner," said Janet. "With respect to having everyone gathered around breaking bread together, being able to have that intimate time… the intimacy is missing."

Paul Allen picks English muffins out of the sparse selection of bread at Weis Markets in Willow Street, Pa., on March 15, 2020.

Janet and Paul Allen read the obituaries in the newspaper, including a piece for a peer of Paul’s son from the same day program, who died with COVID-19, at their home in Strasburg, Pa., on Dec. 20, 2020. Paul’s son Cory Allen was waiting for COVID test results after other individuals tested positive at his group home for disabled adults.

Paul and Janet Allen embrace immediately after coming home from a stressful shopping trip where almost everyone at the local market was not wearing a mask in Strasburg, Pa., on Dec. 19, 2020.