Zoom Funerals?

Is this really a thing?!?! My uncle Gene passed away and I had planned on driving my parents up to South Dakota for the funeral. Now mom is talking about having one of the kids do a Zoom funeral so we don't have to take the time and expense to drive up there.

Maybe it's just me, but is that not just a slap to the face of the deceased? This man served his country and his family for 80+ years and you want to just Zoom his funeral?!?!

So, if you had a family member pass away, would you GO or Zoom?

(I'm just appalled mom would even think of this, even if she is disabled)

I have no issue with it

No respect! If you cannot make it in person, then you need to send your condolences in other ways. I would never do a Zoom or virtual event like this.

Pictures or videos at a funeral are taboo in some cultures...why would you want to unsettle the dead?

Very close family friend passed away last August. Due to Covid restrictions, only family members were allowed to attend the service. The church streamed the service on their website, which I viewed. It was a little weird, but I didn’t think it was disrespectful to the deceased.

I could see like 9 moths ago when the Covid was peaking, but now? It was her brother for God sakes, Go be with the rest of the family and say your good byes. I don't have any sibs, but I would think it to be very disrespectful to NOT show up for a siblings funeral unless you just physically can't make it.

I think it would be a good thing. For Covid reason's plus older people that can't make it in person, etc..

I have never heard of this but I like the idea a lot. Split screen the funeral and golf.

Sound like a good idea to me.

Golf or porn.

I definitely use Zoom if attending just wasn't in the cards for whatever reason. South Dakota is quite a hike for some people.

Technology will enable us to do things in different ways and traditions will change/evolve. Is a FaceTime call more disrespectful than an audio call? Is viewing a Sunday church service online any less instructional than in person?

We used it for a member in the family in the Military over seas and family member in Japan last month. I had never heard of it or thought of it, the Chaplin suggested it for the service member during the hospitals stay. Then the service was quickly done and every one able to see the closing of her life. Not the Way I would want a to see a service, but the chaos of overseas travel was lessened at a stressful time

I know of a few people that have passed away over the last 1.5 years and a few of them (4-5) didn't get so much as a Zoom funeral.

Funerals are for the living, not the deceased. Being with family or others that knew the deceased is usually the way we think you are supposed to mourn.

But making a choice to mourn from home when the funeral is all the way across the country is not disrespecting the dead, IMO.

went to a friends funeral a year ago in which the minister of the church (and friend of the deceased) did the funeral by video/zoom since he had a trip he couldn't get out of....he had an asst. pastor handle most of it but he gave the main service on a video screen.....it was a little unusual but i really didn't have a problem with it...
since the covid started,we have about half our church's congregation watching on facebook and i understand that's going on all over the country...

I've already prerecorded mine

Instead of a gender reveal party, does the lid come flying open with either flames or doves flying out of it?

Depends on circumstances. If at all possible personal attendance is required.

Going to a funeral used to be called "paying your respects". If one can make the trip it's pretty disrespectful to not show up if the deceased meant anything to you.

I know what I'm requesting now....

Wow, kinda surprised by the answers here. It's my moms' brother and one of the few uncles I would actually make the trip for. I can honestly say, I have never been on a zoom meeting or even experienced a video call, but skipping out on a personal visit to pay ones respects just seems so distasteful. It's a 13 hour drive, big whoop. Even Gene's severely disabled son found a way from New Hampshire to see his dad before he passed.

Maybe I'm outta touch, just seems pretty low to to not go see your own kin folk when they pass.




As always Mud, outstanding!!! What happens if the doves are on fire and Iron Maiden is blaring over the speakers? Lord help them if it's on opening day.

Everyone grieves differently, ain't for me to judge. When my mom passed last year we did a zoom remembrance for all her friends and such. We had a much smaller immediate family member memorial graveside. My dad is very private and I think that worked better for him, and my mom would have been 100% on board. I'm usually very traditional, but sometimes there are shades of grey.