Funeral Homes To Livestream Funerals During Coronavirus Crisis

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Memorial Park Funeral Home and Curlew Hills Memory Gardens announced they will offer free livestreaming of funeral services in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Memorial Park will begin the free service April 6 and Curlew Hills Memory Gardens will begin offering the service immediately.

Due to the need to limit large gatherings of people as mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Memorial Park Funeral Home at 5750 49th St. N. will continue to hold small funerals inside the funeral home chapel and encourage families to practice social distancing while giving guests the option to watch the funeral in their own homes at no additional cost.

Don't miss updates about precautions in Florida as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

For those expecting large crowds at the funerals of loved ones, Memorial Park is suggesting they postpone the funerals, and Memorial Park will care for loved ones at no additional cost.

“For many years, we have been caring for families during the hardest times of their lives. The current public health emergency has inspired us to look at new ways of providing that same care while prioritizing the well-being of the families we serve and facilitating all services in the safest manner possible with minimal interruption,” said Stacy Adams, general manager at Memorial Park.

Memorial Park is also encouraging families to make their arrangements via phone, email or teleconference.

“We deeply understand the gravity of loss and will continue to adapt as needed to honor the deceased while caring for the living," said Adams. "Never has our resolve to fulfill our core mission of caring for families been stronger. Many families have been calling to ask about how to arrange their services in advance and whether they have to come in to see us face to face. Just like for our at-need families, we’re able to accommodate them remotely."

Streaming links to funeral services taking place at Memorial Park can be found on the funeral home's website.

Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, 1750 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor, is offering free real-time live steaming for all on-site chapel gatherings including visitations, funerals, memorial services and private viewings.

“In an effort to keep the families we serve safe and well, we are pleased to offer the use of live stream technology so that anyone interested in attending a service can do so virtually,” said Keenan Knopke, president and CEO of Curlew Hills Memory Gardens. “As the news of the coronavirus continues to unfold, giving families the ability to attend a service online will certainly be a prudent decision for many people.”

Curlew Hills is using a technology company that provides live-streaming services exclusively for the funeral industry. The funeral service is streamed through a high-speed Internet connection and a link is provided to the family of the deceased who can then share the link with whomever they choose.

This enables families to virtually invite as many people as they want to the funeral service. A recording of the service is then archived and is accessible through the same email invitation which can be downloaded or shared for future generations.

“Providing the opportunity for families to watch a service online is wise in light of the current coronavirus situation,” said Knopke. “It is also ideal for out-of-town family and friends, for people who may not be well, and for younger generations who are accustomed to accessing most things via the Internet. With technology an increasing part of all our daily lives, this just makes sense.”

Related stories:

• Coronavirus: Churches Cancel Live Worship, Offer Livestreaming
• Interactive Map: Latest US Coronavirus Cases
• Florida Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Coronavirus