[YARMOUTH, NS] - A new webcasting service offered by Sweeny’s Funeral Home is enabling families and friends in other parts of the world to participate in funerals as they take place.
“So far we’ve had people from as far away as China and as far North as the Yukon, viewing a service,” said Charles MacIsaac.
Huskilson’s Funeral Home and Crematorium Ltd. is in the process of arranging for a similar webcasting service.
At Sweeney’s Funeral Home, footage from the new high definition camera will be used for two purposes: webcasting and/or to make a memorial CD for the family.
MacIsaac says the new technology was added to bring their 150-year-old business up to modern times.
“It provides an avenue for families to be together even though they can’t physically be in the same area,” he said.
The camera, for the most part, will remain stationary. A charge for the service, if there will be one, had yet to be determined when this story was written. Basic computer skills are all that’s required to view.
In order to access the broadcast service, families and/or friends must be provided with the private user name and password.
“The only ones that can access that particular stream are the ones with the information,” said MacIsaac.
He expects the service to be very popular, as there typically are many who cannot attend a funeral because of distance or health.
“If they can’t come here, they can take part from the privacy of their own homes or as a group over a computer monitor,” he said.
