When my father died in 2006, the funeral was much larger than I expected. People from all over came to pay their respects. However, many members of my family couldn’t attend. They lived in other states or weren’t mobile enough to make the drive. In addition, the entire event is a blur to me. I was naturally quite upset. I even spoke at the service and I hardly remember what I said. The priest in particular had some lovely things to say, and I only remember bits and pieces.

When Tim Tuntland of Litehouse LLC. in Phoenix, AZ contacted me and we talked about his pioneering niche business of setting up streaming video at funerals, my first response was, “Who would want that?” Then I realized, I would and so would the people who couldn’t attend a funeral. A lot of people would.

For decades you have been able get an audio or video recording of a funeral from many funeral homes. It was not so unusual. You did have to wait for the production of the media. However, streaming technology has been slow to catch on, Tuntland says, because the industry isn’t technical. For people who wish to have lasting memories of the final moments of tribute to their loved one, it seems like a good fit.

For example, the Conley Funeral Home in Elburn, Ill now offers both on-demand and streaming video at its services. They see it as a way to extend viewership of a funeral beyond the limited space of the funeral home or church. One example of this service’s success is that a soldier was able to “attend” his grandmother’s funeral.

I for one would love to revisit this event and see and hear the wonderful things that were said in memory of my father. And I know of several family members who would wish the same. Technology takes a lot of hits as an isolator that keeps people in front of gaming consoles or chat rooms, but here is one example of technology bringing people together in a most positive way.

About the author

Lisa Nadile - Managing Editor

Lisa Nadile is Managing Editor for TechDecisions. She has been a technology journalist for over twenty years and has never lost her love of technology and the way it changes (and improves) our lives. She has written for many magazines and websites on the development of computers and the Internet, and is enjoying her new mission in the audiovisual sector.