Digital solutions have become an increasingly prevalent and popular way for us to connect during life’s most important and significant moments. As the world around us evolves and develops, so does our approach to togetherness and tradition – and this is certainly true of funerals. In many cases, elements considered traditional are no longer considered essential and families look for new ways to grieve together.
Live streaming at funerals is one factor that has transformed the way that families and friends can come together to mourn and celebrate life – a modern solution to togetherness even where circumstances separate us or prevent attending the celebration of life in person.
Read on for a few reasons why live streaming has become so popular a feature in modern funerals, bridging the gap between technology and tradition.
Accessibility
The live streaming of events is far from a new concept but its application as an additional feature in funerals rose in prevalence most notably during the height of the COVID pandemic, where restrictions prevented attendance at funerals and/or the congregation of people to celebrate the life of the loved one that they lost. But while restrictions have lifted, live streaming remains a popular choice for a lot of families.
Accessibility is one important factor as to why. There are so many reasons why people may be unable to attend a funeral in person – from being unwell or incapacitated for any reason, to living abroad or far away, or simply the busy commitments and stresses of everyday life. Being able to access a live feed online and experience the ceremony in real time remotely offers a viable solution for those not able to join in person but still wishing to say their goodbyes, offer condolences and pay their respects – no matter where they are in the world or personal circumstances preventing their physical attendance.
Freedom
The approach to traditional elements in funerals is changing in many ways, over and above the addition of live streaming. More and more we find that families are looking for ways to celebrate their loved one’s life in more personal ways, free of unwanted features and elements that are not meaningful to them.
Many are looking for non-traditional and/or non-religious options, and more than ever, people are opting for alternatives – simply, the freedom to choose what’s best for them. Being able, in many cases, to include a live stream alongside whatever celebration of life will be taking place means that families need not compromise on the funeral or ceremony they want – or feel pressured into elements they do not want.
In many cases, a live stream may also offer an opportunity for a greener and more cost-effective solution to saying goodbye. The ability to participate remotely (and therefore less pressure to attend in person) may reduce the need for people to spend time and money on travel, especially from long distances, saving on costs and potential carbon emissions; an increasingly important factor for many.
Memories
A live stream, where recorded, also offers the ability to preserve the occasion, allowing you to keep the footage to watch back at a later point. This may be an opportunity to share the ceremony with those unable to attend either remotely or in person the first time around, but also allows you and your family to watch again as and when you may wish to.
Perhaps the stress of the event, or the pressure of a need to ‘hold it together’ for those around you, meant you were unable to experience the occasion as you might wish to at the time. Maybe for whatever reason, you felt unable to say your goodbyes on the day. Or possibly you wish to watch the funeral again as part of your own personal grief journey. Whatever your reasons for wishing to do so, recording of the live stream gives you the opportunity to rewatch and experience the funeral occasion again, a chance to ‘feel your feelings’ in your own time and in the comfort and safety of your own space.
Advice for Funeral Live Streams
There are a number of ways for a funeral to be live streamed, which includes arranging this yourself if you wish to, and feel able to do so, perhaps on public platforms such as Facebook or YouTube – though this can come with its pitfalls. Not only may they not offer as private, secure or reliable a connection as you might wish for, unless you have the knowledge and experience, but this may also prevent your full participation and attention at the funeral itself.
If a live stream is of interest, we would suggest speaking to your funeral director about the options they can offer or who they might recommend for delivering this. Not only will this mean the task is ‘off your plate’ and need not be a worry for you on the day, but this will help to guarantee the quality of the stream and footage, and potential challenges such as poor connectivity, acoustics, feed security etc can be tested and mitigated in advance.
What’s more, this may help to offer additional peace of mind during an already stressful time, knowing that the stream has been set up and shared by a trustworthy source, and that access to it is as restricted. It’s as important as ever to be vigilant online and unfortunately, with the increase of funeral live streams comes the increasing risk of online scams, such as via fraudulent links or requests for payment in order to view the stream. The only genuine viewing link is the one provided directly to you from your funeral arranger or chosen supplier – and there should never be a cost for viewers to join the stream. Read more about funeral live streams, and advice for staying safe and secure, on the NAFD website.
Our team of compassionate funeral arrangers are here to support you in your time of need following the loss of someone close to you and can offer guidance on any and all aspects of funeral planning, including options for live streaming.
Please feel free to visit your local branch of Hunnaball Family Funeral Group to speak to the friendly team members whenever you’re ready, or get in touch with us with any questions you may have on 01206 760049 or admin@hunnaball.co.uk
