How to Host a Zoom Funeral
Every day people have funerals or memorial services for their family members or friends. These are usually done at churches, funeral homes, or private residences.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are using online video conferencing to share important life events such as birthdays, graduations, and now, funerals.
How to Host a Zoom Funeral: Why Use Zoom?
Zoom is one of the most popular live streaming services available. Zoom features a basic plan that is completely free, and it can accommodate up to 100 virtual guests for up to 40 minutes, in addition to private chats and group chats.
Virtual funerals have become more common in response to social distancing guidelines for COVID-19. Social distancing can make it difficult for multiple people to gather in one space since it can encourage the spread of COVID-19, especially if some attendees are highly vulnerable to the virus.
There also may be travel restrictions for those who live far distances, making it even more difficult for them to attend. Virtual funerals provide a solution for those who cannot participate in a funeral in person but would still like to pay their respects to the deceased and their family.
How to Host a Zoom Funeral: What Equipment Do I Need for Zoom?
The basic equipment that you need to live stream a funeral include:
- A reliable internet connection ( Check with your funeral home to see if they provide Wifi )
- A camera
- A microphone
You can use smartphones or laptops to live stream a funeral, which usually have built-in cameras and microphones. However, suppose you want to have audio and video that is crisper and more professional.
In that case, you may want to invest in more advanced equipment such as a professional microphone, DSLR camera, HDMI cables, and lighting sources.
How to Host a Zoom Funeral: A Step-by-Step Guide
1) Download Zoom from the App Store, Google Play, or their website.
2) Sign up for a free Zoom account and follow the instructions.
3) Make sure your phone and laptop are charged, and enough data is available to stream video.
4) Give everyone you want to be able to view your funeral a unique link that can take up to 24 hours (free plan only allows one guest at a time). Your guests will need to access this link on their mobile devices to view your event.
Remember: Do not share this link with anyone outside of those you wish to attend your memorial service!
5) You will also need a caller’s line if you plan on broadcasting any audio throughout the service. The guest who holds this line will need to be near a speaker or microphone for others to hear their voice. Make sure that your caller’s line is fully charged and ready to use.
6) Zoom also features a feature called “guest mode,” which lets your guests view and control everything happening on screen, as well as where they are placed on the screen (top right, top left, etc.).
You can manually turn on and off guest mode and adjust the size of the video stream if you don’t want guests to see certain parts of the service.
7) Once you’re ready to begin your service, open the Zoom conference link on your device’s mobile browser and enter the meeting ID that was generated for your service.
8) Press “Start Broadcast” and let everyone know your service is beginning so they can join you online.
Pro tip: If your guests are not particularly tech-savvy, provide them some assistance by giving them detailed instructions on how to join a Zoom meeting.
Funerals with Zoom Provide a Safe, Convenient Way to Host Funerals
You may have never even considered live streaming the funeral of a loved one. Still, it is a solution for those who cannot host traditional in-person funerals for the sake of safety or who desire to make the event accessible to those who cannot physically attend.
For funeral hosting tips, please refer to our other articles on funeral planning:
- Funeral or Memorial Services With Cremation
- Memorial Services: Telling the Story of a Lifetime
- 10 Unique Ways to Pay Tribute to a Loved One
National Cremation is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of simple and affordable cremation services. Whether you have an immediate need or want to plan your cremation services in advance, we’re always available to assist you and your family. Contact us online or call (855)-469-9474 today.
