Even before the global pandemic, there were times when it was tough to be at a funeral or wake in person. Now that we’ve all had a chance to join a virtual happy hour or catch up on a video call, it shouldn’t be any surprise that virtual funerals are taking off. Here’re five simple ways you can make the most of technology for your next funeral or life celebration: 

1. Lean into the “Zoomeral” 
It’s a reality of the world right now, so don’t apologize for it, embrace it. In fact, it’s a trend that’s gaining steam, to use an ancient metaphor. (https://www.insider.com/zoom-funerals-are-a-new-reality-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-5)

2. Plan a program
And send it out to everyone ahead of time. It could be as simple as saying “We’ll have a short prayer and then open it up for stories,” or it could be as detailed as you’d like. Most people are looking for someone to lead a virtual group call, and by clearly marking out when everyone should listen and when they should share will keep everyone on the same page. 

3. Remind everyone to “mute” 
Virtual meetings can be disorienting because you’re hearing a dog barking and not sure where it is. Add to that the emotions of a funeral or life celebration, and you can see how distracting and frustrating it can be. Most of these issues can be solved by having everyone “mute” their mics unless they’re talking. 

4. Glitches happen 
Remember how cellphones used to drop calls? Virtual group calls can have the same technical glitches. But you wouldn’t let a few wilted flowers or a tasteless deviled egg ruin an in-person funeral, so why don’t let a little freezing video or garbled sound get to you. 

5. It’s a celebration of someone’s life
The technology is new, but the ritual is timeless. When everyone gets to see the faces of friends and family showing up to celebrate their loved ones’ life, all the rest will fade into the background. Keep that in mind as you plan. 

For even more detail, check out this great article.