Celebrating Your Loved One’s Life While Social Distancing

by Expert Contributor Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr., F.D., of DANJOLELL Memorial Homes

Funerals and memorial services are usually a time for people to gather together, console each other and celebrate the life of a loved one. But with social distancing orders in place, it’s challenging to find safe ways to hold funerals and memorial services. Funeral directors can help families find creative ways to celebrate their loved ones who have passed during this pandemic.

Video Conference / Live Streaming

A good way mourners can gather and share stories is by using video conferencing such as Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype and Zoom, all of which are free. So that all of your relatives and friends can participate, how you honor your loved one can also be live-streamed through Facebook or YouTube or a similar platform. Another option is to have the funeral or memorial service recorded and you can send a link via email after the funeral has taken place.

Plan an Activity

A great way to remember your loved ones is to perform an activity that they enjoyed. Whether alone or with a group of people, a special activity helps you to remember and honor that person. Activities may include going on a bike ride or hike, trying one of their hobbies, making their favorite food, or watching their favorite movie. Have family and friends share photos of themselves performing that activity on social media.

Tree Memorials

If your loved one was cremated, you can divide up their ashes into multiple biodegradable urns and planting systems. Each family member can then grow a living memory tree, plant or rosebush from a bio urn. You can even honor your loved one by having a small planting ceremony.

A Modified Viewing

You can still have a viewing of your loved one while incorporating social distancing. By having the number of people limited to only a few visiting at a time, you can minimize the amount of contact that guests have with one another. Until in-person gatherings are possible again, you can still celebrate your loved ones after they have passed. Whether you choose one or more of these ideas, or decide to postpone the funeral or memorial service to a future date, you do not have to give up on celebrating your loved one’s life.

Expert Contributor Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr., F.D., of DANJOLELL Memorial Homes

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