Today,
it seems that our lives are so scheduled there is little leeway for an abrupt
need for time away. That’s why online funerals are becoming more popular, and
more accepted.
While
we might desire to attend a service in person, many times that isn’t an option,
but attending virtually permits others a chance to participate and mourn.
Attending
a service via a private webcast allows family and friends from far away the ability to see and hear the service in the privacy of their own homes. An online
funeral also lets the elderly, those in hospitals, or serving in the military,
an opportunity to still be a part of the remembrance service.
So
how does it work? A tiny unobtrusive camera mounted at the rear of the chapel
films the funeral service. The camera is linked to a computer with software
that allows the video to be streamed live. Those attending virtually sign
in with a password to attend the services. Memorial programs are available online, and a printed version
can be made later. When mourners arrive at the cemetery, GPS
can locate the gravesite, and others who wish to visit can use these coordinates
later.
One
caveat to a virtual funeral is that the service can be viewed at the attendee’s
convenience, not necessarily when it is actually being held. In fact,
research indicates that family and friends who physically attended the service also view it online, many watching numerous times. Death is a distracting and numbing event, but by recording
the service, family members can revisit it, giving them a chance to remember
happenings they might have missed. Funeral homes may
archive the service and make it accessible for viewing for up to six months. 
Most
people who have utilized webcast funerals expressed satisfaction at being able
to have those far away join the family at the funerals - making it a true family
experience. 
But
does this sound the death keel for funeral homes and traditional services? Most
funeral directors think not. After all, a funeral service is for remembering
and sharing. It is about the human experience, remembering the deceased and
supporting the loved ones left behind. 
A
virtual funeral just opens up another way for those who could not have attended
in person to also have closure, allowing “the
sorrows of one to become the sorrows of many.”
~ Joy
