An online funeral is a virtual gathering of friends and family to memorialize, reminisce, and share in the celebration of a loved one’s life. This type of memorial is becoming an increasingly popular way to honor a loved one following their passing. And with that increase in popularity come questions about what you can expect from the online funeral experience. In this article, we provide insight into the technological and ceremonial aspects of online funerals.
What Technology is Needed for an Online Funeral?
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to attend an online funeral. With help from a celebration of life planner, like Lighten, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to host an online funeral either. At Lighten, we utilize the Zoom platform to conduct online funerals. Zoom is seen as advantageous to hosting an online funeral because many people, in the post-COVID era especially, are already familiar with Zoom; whether they used it for work, school, community gatherings, or gatherings with friends and family. However, whether you have previous experience or not with Zoom, the platform is a very user-friendly way to bring attendees together for a celebration of their loved one. The next question after whether or not you need to be tech-savvy might be, what technology is involved in attending an online funeral?
- Device – The only necessary technology to attend an online funeral is either a computer, tablet, or mobile phone. Zoom can be accessed through any of these three devices. If you do not have access to the Zoom platform, you can also call into the ceremony using a Zoom-generated phone number.
- Webcam – Having a webcam would allow you to be seen by others during the gathering. Despite being physically distanced, seeing and being seen by attendees helps promote a feeling of togetherness during the ceremony. You do not, however, need a webcam to participate in an online funeral. Zoom will create a placeholder image in the virtual gathering and you can simply view and listen from your end.
- Microphone – As with a webcam, a microphone is not a necessity to attend an online funeral. You may simply listen in on the ceremony and celebrate your loved one quietly. Some families choose to incorporate a video reel of memories shared by their friends and family into the online funeral. So, even if you don’t have access to a microphone at the time of the gathering, there is a potential opportunity for your sentiments to be shared through pre-recorded video.
Attending or being the host of an online gathering to honor the life and legacy of your loved one can be a user-friendly experience, requiring minimal technological knowledge or equipment.
What is the Memorial Program Like?
An online funeral is not at all like your office Zoom meeting. The virtual gatherings that Lighten collaborates on and facilitates are carefully crafted events that are personalized to the unique identity of your loved one. This means there are decisions made about what components will be included, the order of them, and how they can be customized to reflect the personality and traditions of your loved one.
The program for an online funeral can include many things, such as photo slideshows, readings from the loved ones favorite books/poems/passages, music that is tied to the loved one’s interests or life milestones, pre-recorded segments, and memorial tributes from family and friends. The tone for the program can also be a reflection of your loved one, depending on whether the ceremony aspects are quiet, meaningful reflections or joyous, celebratory components. Finally, the format of an online funeral may also be customized according to family traditions, religious values, and cultural traditions. In short, the memorial program for an online funeral is not one-size-fits-all, rather, a deeply personalized event for your loved one.
Planning an Online Funeral
If you are planning an online funeral, Lighten has many resources to assist with your research into ideas and topics or begin curating a ceremony for your loved one. If you are looking for personalized guidance, reach out to Lighten.
