Online Funeral and Memorial Ceremonies Guide

Online ceremonies cannot replace the face to face connection we often yearn for when someone we love dies. However, while the Covid-19 and travel restrictions are in place, this style of ceremony does allow us a means to connect and engage with family and friends, locally or overseas, in a meaningful way to share stories, laughter and tears together and to say farewell.

Today’s blog is written by Celebrant, trainer, author and all round lovely lady, Wendy Haynes.

To support funeral directors, ministers and celebrants meet the needs of families wanting to have an online funeral ceremony we gathered to role play three online ceremonies and emerged from this steep learning curve to create a free comprehensive guide that includes a step by step layout for creating and conducting an online ceremony, comprehensive checklists and an example ceremony. 

There are also tips on how to encourage people to take care of themselves during the ceremony, how to connect with others online, how to best support yourself before, during and after the ceremony, creating a computer teleprompter, sample images, a run sheet and lots more.

The Online Funeral and Memorial Ceremonies Guide is freely available here. The video of the last role play has been uploaded to Youtube.

Thank you to the many readers who came to the last session. I would like to welcome you to join another session to expand our learning together. 

Role Play Learning Session - Thursday 7th May 2020 10.30am AEST (Sydney, NSW, Australia)

This session will include a role play of a family funeral with a new storyline and dynamics; followed by time to reflect, share and ask questions. You will also have the opportunity to connect with other celebrants, funeral directors and community members.

When we connect and work together we can support each other to learn this 'new way'. If you would like to join the next role play I have automated the ticketing process so you can receive the information and link after registering for this free event using Eventbrite.

The online funeral ceremony session and the guide are offered freely however if you would like to make a contribution to these projects there is a 'donate' button on my home page. Your contribution will support the actors, the IT and administration team and future programs and projects.

You might also be interested in another online program I am conducting, Six Months to Live starting on the 14th May 2020. Click here for more information.

If you know of other friends and colleagues who would be interested in these resources please feel free to share this bog.

Aristotle wrote, 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts'. Working together we can make a difference!