How to Plan a Virtual Funeral

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused individuals, families and businesses to change almost every aspect of their routines, practices and methods. Amidst a national health crisis such as a pandemic, people continue to die unexpectedly, pass away from chronic illnesses and lose the battle against the coronavirus. With restrictions in place to limit the size of in-person gatherings, many have opted to host virtual funerals in Phillipsburg, NJ.

What is a virtual funeral?

With a virtual funeral, you give people the opportunity to celebrate the deceased’s life while mourning the loss and coping with grief. Like any video conference you’ve participated in this year, a virtual funeral takes place online, eliminating concerns about wearing masks and social distancing.

A virtual funeral allows you to livestream comments from your chosen officiant (priest, rabbi, etc.), then open the call up to remarks from family members and friends. It’s easy to incorporate videos and music into a virtual funeral to engage attendees. While it sounds simple, the concept is still new, and many people wonder how to plan a virtual funeral in Phillipsburg, NJ.

Planning a virtual funeral

When it comes time to make arrangements for your loved one’s virtual funeral, you want to start by inviting people. Be sure to include the information about attending the online event. Sending out an evite works the best, but a simple email with instructions also gets the job done.

Since funerals traditionally take place in person, you want to provide as many details as possible when you invite guests to the virtual funeral you’re hosting. Let them know if there will be time to share their thoughts about the deceased. Ask attendees to test their technology prior to the funeral or sign on 10 minutes before to make sure everything works as it should.

Next, create a list of people you’d like to speak at the funeral and get in touch with them to request they prepare some words ahead of time. If the deceased wanted a pastor, rabbi, imam or other religious leader to oversee the ceremony, contact this person with the virtual funeral details.

You’ll want to set up a place online for attendees to connect before and after the funeral. Private Facebook groups work really well because members can easily add their memories, videos and pictures of the departed. If you collect enough of these beforehand, you might consider creating a brief slideshow to share during the virtual funeral. Include a link to this group in the evite and remind attendees about it during the memorial.

Consult the funeral director you’re working with for suggestions. Traditionally, memorial services take place in person, so this format is new for everyone. However, most funeral directors have spent the last six months familiarizing themselves with setting up these gatherings online.

There’s never a good time to lose someone you love. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual funerals in Phillipsburg, NJ give mourners a safe way to grieve while connecting with others experiencing the same emotions.

Feel free to get in touch with us if you have questions about how to host a virtual funeral in Phillipsburg, NJ, and how to properly memorialize your loved one afterwards.

Categorised in: Funeral Planning