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Some funeral homes show services on Web
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Related Topics: CHESAPEAKE, Va.
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Map, News) - At Graham Funeral Home, a camera hangs inconspicuously from a pole near a chandelier.
About 10 minutes before a service starts, the camera comes on to show family members entering the chapel. Once the funeral starts, the camera zooms in on the minister and casket, to maintain a sense of privacy.
The funeral home recently began offering mourners the choice of showing services on the Internet, at no extra charge. So far, five of its services have been online.
"We're all about service - that's all we have to sell," said Steve Zittle, a funeral director at Graham. "It used to be 20, 30 years ago, service in this area meant bringing chairs to the house. Service now means, can I take advantage of the technological advances?"
Online ceremonies are the latest technological advance in an industry that already makes use of Web sites, online condolences and memorial DVDs, according to reports published in The Virginian-Pilot.
They're still uncommon, though.
Nationally, "it's very, very small numbers of people doing this," said John Reed, a funeral home owner in West Virginia who is president-elect of the National Funeral Directors Association. "But I submit this to you: I think it's a thing that will take off. I think there's a definite market out there."
In Hampton Roads, just Graham and two other homes out of 10 contacted by The Virginian-Pilot newspaper of Norfolk offer Web funeral services.
Local funeral home owners said it could have special appeal in the region, given the area's far-flung military population.
When Brenda Beals was preparing her husband's funeral recently, she was surprised by Graham's Internet option.
"Then I thought, 'Why not? Everything else now is automated and e-mail,' " Beals said.
It turned out to be a good idea.
One of her sons-in-law, a weapons specialist with the Navy stationed in Guam, couldn't come back for the ceremony but was able to watch it on his computer.
Brenda Beals' father, a Southern Baptist minister, officiated at the service for Odell Beals and said he sees psychological benefits from the online movement.
"It points up the fact that death is a part of life, that death is a reality," the Rev. Larry Chambers Sr. said. "I just think it's a good idea for people who might have a fear of death. They can be comforted and realize it is possible to get through it."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
