It is common to feel a sense of urgency following the death of a loved one. The urgency will force you to visit your loved one one last time and say goodbye to them in the presence of their loving family. In the event that family members live nearby or in close geographic proximity, planning a visitation, a wake, and the funeral service will allow them to say their last goodbyes.
For those who have moved away from their hometowns, whether for family, work, or travel, there may be less opportunity to make the trip due to limitations such as inability to travel, budget constraints, or even illness. The ability to live stream funerals allows people who live away to attend a funeral without actually being present in the flesh.
The purpose of this guide is to provide information on how funeral services can be live streamed, including what is needed to make it happen and what the benefits are.
Why would you want to live stream a funeral?
Funerals are such personal and private events that it may seem odd to post them on the web for far-flung individuals to view. Streaming a service live may seem foreign, but it is not as new as one might think. This service has been offered by many funeral homes since the early 2000s, but it was called webcasting or remote viewing then.
Many families want a way to stay in touch during this time of grief with loved ones who live abroad or on the other side of the country. You may want to live stream a funeral for the following reasons:
Convenience
Allowing frail or ill elderly individuals who might be unable to travel safely to attend a funeral service.
Distance
Providing friends and family members who live away with the opportunity to watch the service.
Short Notice
For those who cannot travel on short notice, a burial can be live streamed if it must be performed within 24-48 hours for medical or religious reasons.
Lack of Space
In the case of a loved one who passed away who was well-known to the public or to an organisation, live streaming may be a good way for strangers to pay their respects without overwhelming the funeral home. Additionally, the family can keep their in-house funeral feeling tight-knit and intimate.
Memories
In a funeral, there are often so many people sharing their stories and sharing their grief that it can be impossible to process everything. So with live streaming videos you can watch the service back and take it all in.
We are also able to give family members a USB or CD to be able to re-watch the livestream if they can’t make the actual funeral.
Streaming funeral services is becoming increasingly popular as it offers the only option for those living far away or having health-related, financial, or temporal barriers to attending funeral services in person.
If you want to live stream your loved one’s funeral, please feel free to contact us today for more details.