Funeral sector adapting to challenges with social distancing using technology

One of Saskatoon’s funeral homes is helping families practise social distancing while still honouring their loved ones.

Morgan Edwards is the general manager at Saskatoon Funeral Home. He told 650 CKOM that the company is being mindful of the restrictions being put on the public, but has found ways around funerals that would be over capacity by COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Edwards said the company has migrated to funerals done remotely, with a service it provides through its website.

“(Families have) changed those to private family gatherings, with the option of livestreaming. (We) have three (funerals) coming up where the family now is having the service at the same time, the same venue, just private family there to keep under those number limits, currently of 50,” he said.

“Then, we’re livestreaming for guests to watch via our website, so there could be even 100 people watching from home, able to comment, able to leave a condolence.”

Edwards said the practice has been implemented in the past, but not at this large of a scale. He said at this time, the livestreaming options are substantially cheaper than the alternative, more traditional ways of gathering.

“Funeral service has needed to acquire the equipment for livestreaming because people are living at a distance already,” he said. “So there’s plenty of times where we’ll have a funeral where family who can’t travel here because they’re overseas, so they can participate in the service.”

When speaking to families who are currently using the unique service, Edwards said they’ve been happy with what the funeral home has offered.

“It’s given them tremendous relief. There’s that panic, ‘We’re not going to be able to pay tribute (to their loved ones),’ and it’s unfortunate when a death occurs, you have enough stress already,” he said.

“What’s most important when a death occurs is being together and supporting each other, and that’s different when you have to social distance.”

During the COVID-19 crisis, the funeral home has waived the fees for livestreaming, giving its clients one less thing to worry about, Edwards said.

“We know that this is something families are going to need in this type of situation. There’s also less staff required, and less facility requirements when you’re having a private, family gathering,” he said.

With the technology in place currently, viewers are able to see livestreams at churches and gravesites. The funeral home adapts to each family’s needs but works through four different “U-Stream” channels through the company’s website.

The channels work through digital satellites, Edwards said, giving the funeral home the opportunity to stop relying on the Internet or WiFi.

The company also just added what it calls a “virtual presence,” where a computer is wheeled out, and family members can watch just as though they are present in the area, Edwards said.

“We’re doing whatever we can to remove those barriers.”

Moving forward, Edwards said families can choose to hold larger memorial gatherings at a later date, but he said he doesn’t foresee the new technology taking over the funeral sector in the future.

“I think what it’s going to do (is) it’s going to bring a lot of funeral homes up to that 21st century of providing this technology if they’re not already,” he said. “But we still see that need to gather.”