Funerals - live streaming

This seemed to become available from Covid times, when numbers were limited. We viewed a family members funeral this way, when we were not allowed to attend.

A friend was buried today and the Mass was live streamed, as are all our services both daily and at weekends.
It meant that family in the USA, and England, who were unable to travel, could be part of it.
The priest also welcomed those, who were watching it online, which made it a more personal experience.

When I shielded for two years during the pandemic, live streaming allowed me to be part of my parish community.

I think it is an excellent facility.

We had to live-screen DH’s funeral during lockdown. Some people who had waited in the Crematorium car park to see him arrive, watched it there on laptops/phones etc.
I heard from colleagues in other countries, as far away as Australia who had viewed it (it was available for 7 days).

I, too, think it’s an excellent development.

I think it’s a good thing, but recall watching a friend’s funeral during Covid.

At the end, after the congregation had filed out, it still filmed the widow and her three teenage children saying their final sad goodbyes at the coffin. I felt like a voyeur at that point, and although I assume the family had wanted it filmed to the end, it just seemed ‘wrong’ somehow.

To me, it should have stopped earlier.

Yes, the camera should be static and not moving around.
I think it is a good idea but there are people who find funerals on-line and then hack the details. This happened when we live-streamed my brothers funeral to family around the world.
The video was hacked and they were trying to charge people to watch it. Not nice, but who would want to pay for that?

Well in a way it’s a good thing but then soon there ll be no one attending they ll all be at home and another slip on the rung if the ladder of isolation

The camera in my church is fixed, so that only the altar is visible.
No voyeurism here.

Despite livestreaming, there must have been at least five hundred mourners at the funeral I attended yesterday, which must have been very comforting for the family. That is not a rare occurrence in our parish.

I disagree with the comment: but then soon there ll be no one attending they ll all be at home and another slip on the rung if the ladder of isolation,
I suspect one's religion would impact on this. The numbers at funerals may partly depend on the fact that my parish is a Catholic one and Catholics show their respect for the deceased and family, by attending in person if possible.
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Even if there are few mourners and there are no surviving family members, our daily worshippers attend, dressed ropriately to show their respect and support.
Funeral dates are sent out by WhatsApp and posted on the parish website by me, to inform as many as possible.

I was very grateful to be able to watch a dear cousin's service that took place in Cape Town, via live streaming. I think it is a very good option.

We attended the funeral of a good friend in person, the chapel was full, but many more mourners stood or sat outside watching the service on their phones, and mingled afterwards as we proceeded to the wake. If anything, it is inclusive.

We were able to watch the funeral of a close friend in UK as my husband was not well enough to travel. It was a great comfort and as Retread said it's inclusive..

They live streamed my cousin’s funeral and I was grateful to be able to watch the service as I couldn’t attend. However, without wishing to be in any way disrespectful to anyone whose loved ones’ funerals were live streamed, I found it slightly uncomfortable and voyeuristic, as if I was a stranger watching instead of a member of the family. I didn’t get any comfort from it. If I had been there, with people I knew and grew up with, it would have been different.

We were able to watch my aunt's funeral on Dad's television via a link that my cousin sent me.
We didn't watch it live but at a time and day that worked best for Dad (94, with vascular dementia).

Taking him would have involved two days off work for us, travelling and an overnight hotel stay.
Last time we visited it was hard work and very confusing for Dad being away from home, so this way meant he didn't have to miss the ceremony.

It was very thoughtful of my cousin to include this option, she said she knew there would be people who wouldn't be able to attend in person.

We have 'attended' quite a few funerals in this way when we have been unable to attend in person.

It is often possible to rewatch if you want to. We went to Bill's funeral in person and rewatched it when we got home.

A great thing to come out of Covid.

DH’s funeral was in the day of a major storm. We were already live streaming the memorial service for those too far away or too unwell tto attend and it meant that a number of his former colleagues were still able to join us thanks to very efficient DD who emailed the link the previous day when the weather forecast made it obvious that travel would be difficult. I have a copy of the recording and have watched it several times.

There are ways to set up livestreaming, so that the congregation is not visible, just the celebrant and service viewed.
That way it is not voyeuristic.

I did this when my brother-in-law died. It was tastefully done, just the funeral and not those attending. I found it very comforting to watch this as I could not attend in person.

Streaming the mass has been such a huge blessing for me.

I used to be a frequent attender of morning mass but then my husband became ill, covid hit us, so our church began streaming the mass and it was hugely popular. I now manage to attend Sunday mass but daily is more difficult for me so streaming is my go to.

It’s so professional carried out and focused on the Altar and priest especially at funeral services not the congregation.

It allows me to spend time with my friends as they’re still able to attend personally which I really miss and keeps me sane in times of stress.

I’m very grateful for this opportunity to still feel connected to our Blessed Lord and my congregation.

Stretched I have watched a couple of friend’s funerals on Livestream. That’s progress !.

I think if I couldn’t attend a funeral due to illness or other factors I would find this a lovely way to be a part of this.

BlueBelle

Well in a way it’s a good thing but then soon there ll be no one attending they ll all be at home and another slip on the rung if the ladder of isolation

I don’t think so BlueBelle I would have dearly loved to have been at my friend’s funeral yesterday, the live streaming was very much second best for me but it was an unexpected bonus.

I agree Jane43 if it had been at all possible we would have gone to the funeral.

I was away on holiday last year (Isle of Wight) when my nephew died, so I saw his funeral online like that. It's a very good idea for people who are away or who are housebound for some reason.

An uncle and aunt have died in recent years. Both funerals were live streamed so relatives could watch in Australia. My sister lives in Australia and when her best friend from school died last year in Norway, she was able to watch the funeral live.