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Live Streaming Funerals

10/18/2019

35 Comments

 
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by David Hagenbuch, founder of Mindful Marketing & author of Honorable Influence

What will you watch on TV tonight?  Maybe you’ll catch a movie on cable or stream season five of your favorite sitcom.  Or, maybe you’ll tune-in to Uncle Walter’s wake.  That’s right:  Some funeral homes now make it possible for mourners to stay home, thanks to live streaming of memorial services.
 
Live streaming has been around for more than 20 years, but it’s more recently that funeral homes have entered the virtual realm.  Some say the delay is due to the funeral industry being more conservative than most.  It also might be because those most in-tune with the newer technology tend to be the Netflix-watching younger generations, who probably aren’t the biggest drivers of demand for funeral services.
 
Every year in the United States, around 19,000 funeral directors conduct approximately 2.4 million memorial services, yet some estimate as few as 20% of funeral homes offer streaming services.  But, why does anyone want to watch the memorialization of someone they knew online?
 
The main reason is simple logistics.  As people find new jobs or move for other reasons, family members and friends are “increasingly scattered around the country—and the world,” making it hard to travel to far-away cities and towns for funerals.  Also, some people have health conditions or other constraints that make travel very difficult, if not impossible.
 
Our family appreciated live streaming firsthand recently, not for a funeral but for our son’s orchestra concert.  Given that he’s enrolled in college over 10 hours from home, it’s not possible for us to attend most performances, but we were able to watch the first concert of the fall in real-time, thanks to the school live streaming the event.
 
Still, a funeral is very different than a concert, a sports contest, or other audience-driven entertainment.  Should such a somber event be so widely shared?  Is it disrespectful to ‘digitize the deceased?’
 
Whether it’s a wedding or a wake, almost anything can be filmed tastelessly or tactfully.  Small ceiling-mounted cameras and wireless technology are some of the ways that videoing can happen unobtrusively.  Plus, in the age of social media and selfies, most people are pretty used to cameras and picture-taking.

Of course, a primary consideration in deciding whether to live stream a funeral should be the final wishes of the departed—Did they want/not want their last remembrances broadcast?  Short of any such directive, the decision lies with loved ones, who, in reality, are the ones the memorial service is truly for.     
 
For family members and/or close friends of the deceased, a funeral service is a very important part of the grieving process.  They’re the ones dealing most with shock, grief, and worry.  They also probably want to honor the memory of someone about whom they cared deeply.  Key questions, then, are:  What brings loved ones comfort and what helps them commemorate?
 
The most likely answer is other people.  When tragedy strikes or there’s an occasion to celebrate, we usually want to be with others.  It’s at those times that we really appreciate the presence of people.   
 
That need for social support reminds me of a funeral I attended last March.  A dear friend of mine, with whom I had served on a church leadership team, played basketball and softball, and socialized with our spouses, passed away suddenly at age 58.  I was shocked to hear the news and imagined that his wife and two children in their twenties were devastated.
 
Our careers had taken us to different parts of the state, but I wanted to attend his memorial service, even though it was on a weekday and about two hours away.  I drove to the church and reflected on my friends’ impactful life during what was a very moving service.  I also spoke briefly with his children and wife, giving her a hug and telling her how much I had appreciated her husband.
 

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A couple of months later, I received a handwritten note from her in which she said how happy she was that I was able to come to the service and how much it meant to see an old friend from a special time in their lives.  I had barely spoken with her at the funeral, so it seemed that just my being there made a big difference for her.
 
That experience makes me wonder whether live streaming funerals keeps people from being present at times when their presence is needed most?  I doubt there’s data to shed light on that question, so I’ll try to answer it based on the reading I’ve done in preparation for this piece.
 
Journalists who have spoken with funeral directors suggest that live streams are most important to those who are unable to attend funerals because of factors like distance, cost, and health issues.  No one mentions people who could attend services in person, choosing to watch live streams instead.
 
Such decision-making also resonates with my own experience.  When my friend passed away suddenly, I really wanted to be there, and thankfully I was able to.  I’m not sure if his memorial service was live streamed, but even if it was, my choice would not have changed.  I suspect most people feel similarly—For someone important to them, they would like to be there in person, if at all possible.
 
Live streaming funerals is almost certainly a win-win:  The opportunity to watch from afar doesn’t dissuade people from attending but gives those who can’t travel the ability to also experience a very meaningful moment.  Even when it involves death, digital technology can deliver “Mindful Marketing.”


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35 Comments
Schylar Turpel
10/30/2019 09:59:23 pm

I found this blog post extremely interesting to read. However, I have a hard time finding live streaming a funeral to be mindful. I understand that FaceTime has allowed people to capture meaningful moments from across the world in concerts, graduations, baptisms, and more, but for some reason the idea of live streaming a funeral makes me very uncomfortable. I am young and get roped in with the digital age youth but I personally do not know if I would be comfortable FaceTiming someone at a funeral. I think technology has allowed us to experience moments that were not possible before but I feel that they still cannot replace the comfort and joy of true physical presence. While I understand that sometimes this may not be an option, I think that funerals are places where technology should not be present in any regard out of respect for the dead. Perhaps my mind would change if I were placed in a situation where a loved one wanted to be present at a funeral but could not be, or if I were unable to be present but wanted to be.

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Madelyn Davis
10/31/2019 12:13:46 am

This blog post is very interesting, and it brought to light something I have never thought about before. In certain situations, I think it might be appropriate to live stream a funeral service, or simply just video tape it, for someone who cannot make it. Other than that, I do not think live streaming a funeral is an appropriate way to celebrate someone's life because of how impersonal it is.

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Jensen Crenshaw
10/31/2019 04:24:37 am

This blog post was incredibly interesting, especially considering that the topic that Hagenbuch wrote on was one that I had never considered- the concept of live streaming a memorial or funeral service. Within our increasingly digitized world, I am not at all surprised that this is now becoming a more normalized phenomenon. I appreciated the way that Hagenbuch addressed both the upsides and downsides to live streaming such an important event. From noticing the ways in which it allows for more people to gain closure and feel connected with the grieving process if they are unable to physically attend, to potentially allowing for a leeway for some individuals to use as an excuse for not physically showing up. Hagenbuch eventually concludes that it is in fact a mindful marketing strategy because this will not inhibit someone from doing the more ethically and socially responsible thing of showing up to the service, but it will instead encourage and foster freedom to actually stay connected with important moments.

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Annie Bristow link
10/31/2019 10:31:44 pm

After reading the introductory paragraph, I was shocked by the fact that funerals have live streaming options. It seems to take away the deeply personal aspects of the death of a loved one if it is live-streamed on the internet. However, as this blog post continues I am more convinced of the positive effect it can have on loved ones who are not able to make the service due to various uncontrollable circumstances. I for one understand that due to my classes I may not be able to skip them if they had lived far away; although live-streaming is not ideal, it is a better alternative than to not be present at all. From a Christian perspective, living and being supported by others in the community is an important aspect of life. I would personally try everything in my power to be present at the funeral, because the actual support you receive from attending is incomparable to online streaming.

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Luke Nichols
11/2/2019 02:28:24 pm

I was unaware before reading this blog that some funeral services were held on a livestream. I was really surprised when I first read this and I wanted to see what was said about the topic. I would definitely agree that lifestreaming funerals could be a good idea for those who are not able to make it to the funeral, whether that be because of cost or health reasons. However, I also do think that if someone is able to make it to the funeral, they should be there physically by all means. Being there physically means a lot more to the family of the one who passed away, as was mentioned in the blog. However, livestream is a great alternative to someone who cannot make it to the funeral under any circumstance.

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Marcos Mazariegos
11/3/2019 05:48:41 pm

I find this blogpost great because it exemplifies introducing modern technology in order to advance and add to an already existing industry. Although using livestreaming as a service for funeral homes may at first have struck me as a strange, maybe disrespectful use of the technology, I can definitely see the advantages of it and how it may serve families in a positive way rather than be disrespectful.

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Tyler P
11/3/2019 09:31:12 pm

I had no idea that funeral services were broadcasting funerals. Me personally I do not like the idea. I think if people really cared for the person, then they would show up. It just gives people an excuse to not show up. When people are hurting, I think being there in person would be better than a phone call. The only reason for live streaming to be okay for me is when someone can't make it because they live so far away.

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Kenneth Jung
11/4/2019 02:54:08 pm

This blog was very interesting to me because I experienced a handful of funerals whether it be for my loved ones and for people I know. But I honesty had no idea that "live streaming" funerals for someone who is not a celebrity was allowed in general because it can be seen as "disrespectful" to some especially the ones who are grieving. However, at the same time I also think that live streaming a funeral from different social media accounts isn't really a bad idea after all since live recordings can track who is watching at the moment and can allow viewers who cannot physically make it to the funeral/viewing to still pay their respect by commenting in the live feed. Therefore, utilizing this technology in this already digitalized world can be beneficial for those who cannot physically attend the funeral, as they can still pay respect online. But that should not stop everyone from physically attending as being there in person is the ideal way.

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Isabela Middlebrook
11/4/2019 11:45:54 pm

This blog was very interesting to me because it was something I have never seen before. I have only been to one funeral in my life and I never would have thought to live stream it. I understand in some circumstances that might be okay, like if some people can not attend or are over sees but other than that it seems disrespectful. I think funerals are a very sensitive time to be with loved ones and friends so live stream such an event is not something I would agree with.

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Christos Stefanos
11/5/2019 02:12:17 pm

At first, I was shocked that there was such a thing to livestream a funeral! Then as I kept reading upon how it can be extremely difficult for people to make the event and therefore watch from the livestream so they don't miss it. However, I believe this leads to people making excuses not to come by then concluding that they will watch the livestream. I believe funerals should be attended in person rather on a TV screen. Overall this blog was very well written for it introduced me to livestream funerals and was very persuasive o the benefits of livestream.

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Mark Stanford
11/5/2019 02:15:41 pm

This blog was a very interesting read for me. Personally I do not like the idea of live streaming funerals. I feel like a funeral is for celebrating the life of someone you care about and I feel like you cannot do that by watching a live stream. I feel like people will justify not showing up by saying they will watch the stream of it and I think that is disrespectful to the family of the person who passed.

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Hannah Edwards
11/5/2019 07:47:46 pm

I thought this blog post was very interesting because I had no idea about live streaming funerals before reading through this. To be completely honest, my first reaction to the topic at hand was surprise and a little bit disturbed. At first, the whole concept of filming a funeral seems weird to me, but the more I read through the blog post the more I realized the benefits of live streaming funerals. I definitely learned a lot about a topic that I had no idea existed!

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Samuel Kwon
11/5/2019 07:52:26 pm

The idea of live streaming a funeral is an interesting concept. It is understandable when a family member lives on the other side of the planet and that they can’t make it due to financial situations or time. I still feel like it is way more important and respectful to physically attend the funeral and be there for the family of the deceased. Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different so I am not against live streaming.

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Aaron Hulkkonen
11/5/2019 08:36:58 pm

When I first read the title of this article, I thought it was clickbait. I could not believe that funerals were live streamed. After reading the article, I definitely gained some insight and my opinion changed. At first I felt it was disrespectful to live stream a person's wake. I now think that live streaming a funeral can allow for many more people to be a part of the service. Often times, people are not able to make funerals from the distance they live from the service. This allows for people to be apart of the mourning process if they are not able to make it to the funeral.

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Zach Hall link
11/5/2019 08:46:47 pm

This article was very captivating because I had never before thought that live-streaming funerals was actually a thing. I do understand the perspective of the author, and there were some excellent points being made. I personally believe that funerals shouldn't be live-streamed. I feel like funerals are a very special moment and if they were live-streamed, several people would not show up. In my opinion, funerals are an occasion should be experienced in real life, and not over the TV.

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Mark Foreman
11/5/2019 09:23:41 pm

As I read this blog, my mind kept jumping from side to side of this argument. At first I thought that live streaming funerals could be a win for everyone, because it gives a chance for those struggling with money or those lack the ability to travel to the funeral to view the service. As I read a little deeper, however, I began to notice from what you mention just how important it is to be around people in the process of grieving. To not be around people who can comfort you and share memories with you can mean losing quite a lot. On the flip side, there will always be people who cannot make the service for one reason or another, and it would be great to have this available for them. But then again, I for one have been guilty of not putting in the effort to go somewhere because I knew I could just view it online. Today’s laziness could become the downfall to our connection as humans, but I have faith that we can have the respect for each other to not put our own timelines and money ahead of spending time with one another.

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Samuel Kim
11/5/2019 10:40:42 pm

I don't really know what to categorize this but it does seem more mindful than not. A lot of times when I want to something with my friends, we have to plan it a couple weeks in advance simply because we are too busy to be able to do it spontaneously as we did in the past. How much busier will we be once we are that much older? I think that when I think of that, it makes it that much easier to think of it as mindful. I would rather have people show up to my funeral but it really depends on them.

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Jeffrey David Sarwono
11/6/2019 01:00:44 am

This blog post is very interesting, I have never heard of and seen a live stream of a funeral. It might be because I am from Indonesia and our technology is not as advanced (we do have live stream though), or maybe we are still very conservative. In my personal opinion, if a loved one of mine or even myself did pass away, I do not mind sharing a live stream of the funeral. I agree to what the blog says that it is mindful because it gives an opportunity to those who can’t come to at least sympathize and pay their respects through watching the livestream. I think that if they choose not to come and livestream instead even if they are able to come, it is their choice. It still doesn’t change the fact that way more people that cannot be there to be able to at least watch it live. I agree that this is mindful.

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Ian Lam
11/6/2019 02:05:41 am

I think that yes although live streaming funerals is very efficient and can allow relatives or friends to "attend" a funeral and say their last goodbyes to someone that they have lost. It is also important to have the permission of those who are hosting the funeral and close families on whether they think live streaming to everyone would be respectful for them and the deceased, even though we live in an age where cameras and the internet are widely used and accessible.

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Cy J Bryan
11/6/2019 02:16:43 am

The blog post was very fascinating. The title immediately pulled me in and focused my attention. I was really happy with the way the argument was presented by adequately discussing both sides, both the pros and the cons. The articles, also, ended in a resolution and a decision regarding the matter of whether or not funerals should be live streamed. I think the placing of personal experience into the article was valuable but might have a tendency to detract from the data of the article itself. It might also be difficult to make personal examples for every single one of the articles that are posted. Overall, it was a fantastic article that was a fascinating read.

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Janice
11/7/2019 01:57:25 pm

My first impression after reading the title of the blog is that it is very inappropriate to live stream someone’s funeral. First off, I didn’t even know that there’s a service to live stream funerals. But after reading the blog, I can see how it can bring advantages and be useful. But I think it is only appropriate if someone couldn’t make it to the funeral for health conditions, cost, and distance factors.

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James Ramos
11/8/2019 01:46:05 am

Before I read the whole post I immediately thought that this idea was pretty weird that someone would even think of streaming someone’s funeral. After I read it I kind of agree but only if the family member was really far away would this idea really be appropriate. The main issue I have with this is that it interferes with the families’ privacy.

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Devin Morrill
12/7/2019 01:11:20 pm

I think that this is a great thing to do for funerals. Yes, I do think it will be more meaningful to the departed's family if people attended the funeral in person, but live-streaming is another great alternative. I was in a situation freshman year, where one of my friends who I played soccer with back home passed away. I really wanted to go back and attend the funeral but it was around finals time and it was a seven hour drive. My parents finally advised me to stay at college, but I still texted a buch of my other friends to ask how it went. If I would've had the option to watch a live stream I would've felt better that so everyone would know I was doing my best to show my support.

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Sara Chimariya link
12/8/2019 01:55:01 am

I was really shocked and hard to believe while reading “Live Streaming Funerals” options in this article. I would not agree on this even I discover such huge numbers of positives impact by giving the live video to friends and family who were not ready to make it to the memorial service because of their wellbeing reason or any circumstances. But honestly, I don’t’ think live streaming funeral service would be the best idea because being their physically implies a great deal to the family who just misfortune their one of the relatives. I would try my best to be present in the service but if I can’t make it for any circumstance, I would not watch their memorial service since watching on the internet can’t help the family as being there physically. Personally, I do not like the idea and l would not allow anyone to take live streaming of my family members' funerals service, even for emergency reasons. First, it's effectively extremely miserable time which I would not have any desire to see or would not let anybody see how all relatives are doing in funeral service. You just can’t help or give any comfort to the family members who are broke in peace by watching memorial online or calling them. I don’t think this is mindful marketing.

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Emma Stratton
12/10/2019 05:37:05 pm

This article brought up a lot of interesting points. Prior, I had never thought about live streaming someone's funeral and I did not know it was an actual thing. It makes sense, if this was my last resort, I would rather live stream a funeral than not attend it at all. I think this method of attendance is not nearly as intimate and personal as attending the event in person. In reflecting on my own experiences with funeral services, I can remember growing up and my parents skipping a couple of services to stay home with my siblings and I. I think this would be a way that parents who do not feel comfortable with taking a young child to a funeral service could still “attend” virtually.

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Timothy Maaba
12/10/2019 09:47:01 pm

This article came as a surprise, because i was unaware that people could watch a live stream funeral service from their home. It is understandable that its tough to attend a funeral service, if someone is at a far location. Considering the fact of inconvenience whilst traveling especially for an unexpected death. At the same time traveling may even be too costly(unaffordable) for someone that lives far away. Streaming may be extremely convenient however, i do believe it is better to be present in the service as a way to pay someone their respects instead of being absent.

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Abby Ruth
12/12/2019 09:20:09 pm

This article was personally very interesting to me; last December I had the misfortune to unexpectedly lose my grandfather, to whom I was very close, while I was studying abroad in France. If my family had live-streamed the funeral, I would have felt as if I were part of it rather than an ocean away. In addition, my grandfather had friends across the entirety of the continental United States and throughout Central America from his days as a missionary, and with live-streaming, these friends would have been able to mourn with the family.

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David Miller
1/13/2020 02:12:00 am

This certainly is an interesting topic. Even though I am in the "right age" group to probably enjoy this more than others, I still don't really approve of this idea. It is very strange to me and I don't think I would ever like to "attend" a funeral online. I can see why it would work for people who are far away, but at that point why go at all? I know that I don't exactly have a lot of experience with funerals but I feel that being there is the actual experience. Even with all of this in mind however, I still believe that this is mindful. Unless the deceased person specifically disagreed for their funeral to be not livestreamed, I really don't think that this is a huge problem. I just feel that it will never be a "good enough" idea or work well enough for it to truly catch on.

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Joe Vera
2/27/2020 10:46:38 am

I understand that some people who aren't able to make it would like to be present in a way for the funeral. But I hesitate to consider what they're doing as being present. The point of having the funeral is for those who knew the diseased to give they're support to the family and say they're final farewells to they're loved one. Coming together to mourn and celebrate the person's life. But the disconnect of not being they're in person may be too much in this case. I feel it trivializes the funeral and makes it more like entertainment.

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Franklin White link
7/2/2020 01:31:59 pm

I like how funeral homes are live streaming the services to people who cannot make the long-distance trip to be there. I think this is especially helpful right now while everyone is social distancing. I hope that no one I know passes away because of COVID-19 but if it happens I'll help their loved ones plan a live stream funeral so people can still mourn.

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Best 8k TVs on the Market link
9/30/2020 10:37:39 am

After reading the introductory paragraph, I was shocked by the fact that funerals have live streaming options. It seems to take away the deeply personal aspects of the death of a loved one if it is live-streamed on the internet. However, as this blog post continues I am more convinced of the positive effect it can have on loved ones who are not able to make the service due to various uncontrollable circumstances. I for one understand that due to my classes I may not be able to skip them if they had lived far away; although live-streaming is not ideal, it is a better alternative than to not be present at all. From a Christian perspective, living and being supported by others in the community is an important aspect of life. I would personally try everything in my power to be present at the funeral, because the actual support you receive from attending is incomparable to online streaming.

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Shaylee Packer link
2/1/2021 08:59:47 am

It was mentioned that for family members and friends, a funeral is very important for closure. During this pandemic, it has been very hard for everyone to meet in person for funerals. Is there a way to figure out which funerals offer broadcasting and which ones do not?

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Jeff Carbine link
1/5/2022 10:23:42 am

I never knew that some funeral homes now make it possible for mourners to stay home, thanks to live streaming of memorial services. I never thought that it would be like this, it is an intriguing article to read and I will also share this with my aunt. Thank you for the information about Funeral Live Stream Company.

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Darryn Carroll link
3/9/2022 09:21:44 am

We have been in the videography business since 2008 and prior to the pandemic, we may have had 1-2 funerals a year. Since the pandemic, we have live streamed 289 funerals. I think what has happened is it went from strange to normal. Even with restrictions lifted and people able to gather, we still stream many services with perhaps geography as the biggest factor. Our stats page shows the country of origin of viewers and its often quite amazing to see how many viewers from out of the country were able to view. These are one-way streams, not like facetime, so we are able to position the camera inconspicuously and zoom in. I think the funeral industry in general has seen how easy, yet still delicate, it is to have live streaming via a dedicated professional.

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Cassidy Robertson
2/4/2023 07:57:16 pm

I found this post to be interesting because of how personally relatable it is. In November of 2021, my grandmother passed away when I was at my college gap year program. I was exposed to covid during this time and wasn’t able to return home to attend her memorial service. I was devastated to find out that I couldn’t go in person, but was relieved to find out that my family was live streaming the event. Thanks to the live stream, I was able to be present for the celebration of my grandmother’s life and could listen to stories about her and that impact that she had on others. In this way, I agree that live streaming funerals in a mindful thing to do.

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