5 Ideas for Funeral Planning & Memorialisation During COVID-19

As we all adapt to the realities of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we are all dealing with how this affects our approach to death and grief. At Nelson Bros, we have worked with our families to find creative funeral ideas even when faced with increased government restrictions, limited gatherings and practising social distancing.

Through these challenges, there are many ways to remember honour those we have lost. Here are some of those funeral and memorial ideas than families can plan or participate in now.

1.   Shift to online services

A prevalent shift in funeral service has been a temporary transition from large in-person gatherings to online services in an effort to keep community members and funeral home staff safe. During the pandemic, people have become more comfortable with using technology to communicate with one another.

Many are finding ways to make online funeral services as personalised as possible while adhering to physical distancing guidelines. For example, some are attaching signs or balloons to chairs in the venue to represent family members and friends who are participating in services online. Audio and video recordings and photos also play an increasingly prominent role in remembering through online services. These services can be live or, increasingly, on demand.

Nelson Bros is also working hard in our efforts to keep communities safe as we help families prepare for funerals. This includes expanding our options for interacting with their staff members remotely when planning services and implementing enhanced cleaning and safety measures for those who do enter our funeral homes.

2.   Set up other virtual events

Online events honouring someone close to you can extend the beyond the funeral services themselves. There are many other ways to share stories and comfort one another when large in-person gatherings are not an option. Examples of this include hosting online wakes to provide additional times for family members and friends to connect.

Despite having a different format, online events can still be customized to reflect the life of the person they honour. For example, families might consider sending out a much loved recipe that their father enjoyed making and suggest that participants prepare that food to enjoy during an online reception. This type of event could even become a recurring event to help family members stay connected when gatherings are limited.

3.   Make plans for future services

In addition to online funerals and events, many families are making plans for in-person memorial services at a later time. These events are an opportunity to complement and build upon the online services and smaller gatherings. Planning ahead can offer additional opportunities and time to personalise the services and incorporate even more stories of a wonderful life.

Nelson Bros is committed to providing at no extra charge an additional Memorial Service to all families who experience a death during these restrictions. This Memorial Service would be held at any one of our funeral homes once all restrictions are lifted when it is possible for more people to get together.

4.   Establish personal connections

When someone you love dies, there is often a desire to help one another and find as many outlets to honour that person as possible. During this time, there are steps families can take to recognise them in other ways. For example, family members might:

  • Learn a hobby or skill they enjoyed.
  • Write down (or record themselves sharing) favourite stories about them.
  • Play their favourite game.
  • Eat their favourite food.
  • Watch their favourite movie.
  • Plant a memorial tree or garden near their home.
  • Make a donation in their name.

These are just a few of the possibilities to help families continue to recognize the loved one’s role in their lives. Families can share this inspiration with one another so they can connect through their personal experiences with these activities.

5.   Create shared experiences

Even though in-person gatherings are limited, there are ways to participate in other shared experiences. In addition to sharing experiences with some of the individual activities above, it’s also possible to create collaborative tributes. Nelson Bros Online Obituary & Tribute Wall, social media platforms, video conferencing and even simple text message groups can make sharing memories easier.

Families wishing to capture memories in a different way might consider a collaborative project to collect stories, photos and scanned letters and cards in a book to reflect the life of the one they have lost. They could use an online publishing service to create the book and order copies for anyone who wishes to have one.

New and creative ideas for funeral services will continue to evolve, and Nelson Bros is an excellent resource for you to explore these possibilities with us. What other ways have you seen families honour their family and friends during this time? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

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