Planning A Memorial Service During COVID-19

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Planning a memorial service can be challenging at the best of times. Aside from the organizational aspects of preparing for the service, there's also the emotional impact of what the service represents. COVID-19 presents additional difficulties in arranging a memorial service. What would traditionally be an occasion for family and friends to come together to bid a loving farewell needs to be modified to reflect the fact that it's not possible for everyone to actually come together. But your loved one still needs a fitting tribute. How can you hold a memorial service that honors your loved one while still adhering to COVID-19 precautions?

Local Restrictions 

There are limits on the number of people who can gather together, but these precise numbers can be different, depending on the jurisdiction where the memorial service will be held. Given that these restrictions are regularly being reevaluated, the number of people permitted to congregate can change at short notice. It's a good idea to ask your funeral director about this, as they would be familiar with the current applicable rules. 

Those Who Can't Be There

Even though a number of mourners might wish to be physically present at the service, those restrictions can place a cap on the number of people you can invite. It can be helpful to cite this restriction to avoid offense to those mourners who might not be invited. And then there are those who might be invited but opt not to attend out of caution. In any event, there will be those who wish to be part of the memorial service but who will not actually be physically present. 

Together with Technology

Talk to your funeral home about whether they offer live streaming. This allows anyone to be a part of the proceedings, from wherever in the world they might be. It's far easier when a funeral home provides this service instead of having to set it up yourself. A dedicated stream with its own unique web address is best. This is a more personalized approach, and all you need to do is send a link to everyone who wishes to observe the memorial service. The stream is simply a live recording of the service, which might alternate between cameras to provide the best angle of the speaker when multiple cameras have been installed. Ideally, the stream should be archived to allow mourners to watch it at a later stage. This can be helpful for family members and friends located in different timezones. 

It might feel like COVID-19 is adding to your grief since the pandemic has made it impossible for everyone to come together for a memorial. But technology can fill the gap, and a live-streamed memorial allows everyone to be a part of the service, even when you can't all be physically together.

Reach out to a professional for more information about memorial services


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