Live streaming funeral services

On 8 December 2023, thousands of people went online to pay their respects and attend the memorial service of the late singer, Shane MacGowan. The service was streamed live on the internet to give the much-loved singer’s fans the chance to pay their respects.

Although it's more common for high-profile funerals to be streamed online, the technology involved was already being used by many people across the world. As efforts to control the coronavirus came into play, live streaming of funerals became the norm.

Family and friends watch remotely

As the coronavirus situation escalated, the guidance was that attendance at funeral services be limited to the closest family members to avoid large gatherings that may exacerbate the spread of the virus. Physical separation became more important than ever, to protect our loved ones who were at risk and to protect funeral directors, crematorium and cemetery staff, who were identified by the government as key workers during the pandemic.

Although live streaming our moment to say goodbye was unfamiliar and maybe a little impersonal, the technology provided a risk-free alternative to social gatherings.

Even before strict ‘stay home’ guidance from the government, it was announced that the funeral of former Wales Rugby player, Matthew J Watkins, would be live streamed. This decision was made by his family to limit the number of people in congregation and mitigate the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The athlete’s funeral was an early example of what became common during the outbreak, where live streaming technologies were used to allow friends and family to mourn together, whilst keeping a physical distance.

What is live streaming?

Live streaming is the real-time upload of filmed content. In this case crematoriums, funeral directors, crematorium staff or private companies will film the funeral service and use Wi-Fi connections or mobile internet to broadcast live.

There are a number of open video platforms that can be used by anyone for live streaming, from Livestream by Vimeo to Facebook Live and Facetime on the iPhone or iPad. Whatever platform is used, the live stream is available to view over the internet via a wide range of devices (smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers).

Unlike many public video streams, Funeral live streams are kept private, with crematoriums and funeral directors using secure login and password pages to restrict access. Details are then shared only with invited guests to ensure that your loved one’s service remains as private as you want it to be.

An additional benefit to live streaming is that the service can be recorded at the same time. This means that if people are unavailable at the time of the service, or if they have a poor internet connection, they can watch after the funeral. Many live streaming services hold broadcast recordings indefinitely, meaning they can be viewed in the future.

How to arrange live streaming

The first thing to do is speak to your funeral director. It may be that they or the chapel or crematorium may already have the technology in place to offer this service. Some chapels and crematoriums already use live stream video to screens in the overspill area of their venues.

Many crematoriums already have a system supplied by Wesley Media in place. Participating Wesley Media venues have cameras installed to capture the service, which is then streamed live through a private login portal that can be shared with invited guests.

There is an example of a funeral webcast on the Wesley Media website.

To accommodate increased demand, Wesley Media is asking families to contact their crematorium to check system availability before ordering a webcast. Your funeral director should be able to help with this.

Lives streaming can bridge a gap that, during difficult times, is unable to be filled physically. Nothing can truly replace the comfort that comes from physical contact with those who share and understand your loss, but by harnessing new media technologies, we can continue to show our support for each other and say goodbye collectively.