Funerals can be shared on Web

 

By Rebecca Goodman

The Internet has made it possible for families to share milestones such as births, graduations, weddings and funerals. Now, it's possible for a soldier in Iraq to watch his or her grandmother's funeral in Cincinnati.

 

For a month, the Gwen Mooney Funeral Home has offered families the option to have visitations and services recorded and shown on the Web for viewing by those who can't attend.

 

Funerals conducted at the funeral home, on the grounds of Spring Grove Cemetery in Spring Grove Village, can be seen in real time. Those that take place at a church, graveside or other place without wireless capability are put online immediately after the service. Family members and friends can watch the funeral again and again free of charge for up to 90 days.

 

Gwen Mooney began offering the service after a family with a member serving in Iraq inquired about it.

 

"They were really adamant about the person being able to view the funeral," said David Rees, director of operations at the funeral home. "We did know of a company out there that offers this as a full-time service."

 

The company, Event By Wire based in San Ramon, Calif., offers a portable system that provides Webcasting of weddings, sporting events, business meetings and other occasions in addition to funerals.

 

Gwen Mooney obtained a Webcasting package from Event By Wire that includes a laptop computer and a camcorder. Because the system is portable, the funeral services and the interment can be recorded.

 

E-mail invitations are sent to those selected by the family. Recipients can click a link to the Web site and select the funeral they wish to view. The files are password protected for privacy.

 

The first funeral that Gwen Mooney recorded went well and the family was pleased with the results.

 

"Now we're offering it to every family and it seems to be fairly popular," Rees said. The cost of the Webcast service is $150. Copies of the funeral can be purchased on DVD directly from Event By Wire.

 

Gwen Mooney is the first funeral home in Greater Cincinnati to offer the service, Rees said, although the provider is talking to others.

 

Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/

Testimonials

  • This was Beautiful...

      This was Beautiful. The most horrible time of my life was made easier with the service of this Funeral Home. I can't express my appreciation enough.


      Thank you again



      --
      Katie Creel's mommy and daddy.

  • This is a wonderful thing...

      This is a wonderful thing to be able to view the service from so far away.The video part was fine.


      Thank you for doing this.



      --
      Pat Wendrzycki.

  • This is wonderful!...

      This is wonderful! I attended the Wake but was unable to attended the funeral. Being able to view this online is incredible!.



      --
      Terry Ellis Devall.

  • What a beautiful ceremony...

      What a beautiful ceremony. Your video allowed me to witness the relative I never really knew. It is always nice to experience something positive in today's reckless world.


      Gary, left an imprint on his family and now on me. I wished I could have known him better.


      God Bless You All! Love



      --
      Jackie Schreier.

  • You did a wonderful job...

      You did a wonderful job I couldn't make it to my brother's funeral but now I feel like I was there.


      Thank you very much.



      --
      Carol Showers.

  • I found the video stream ...

      I found the video stream of my aunt's funeral very meaninful. I was unable to attend and this was a great way to remember her and join the rest of my family at her funeral.


      Thanks for making this possible!.



      --
      Mark Hellmann.

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much. This is great. We have "the other woman" car so we didn't get to see the parade.


      Ive told a lot of our people about the website. Rubber City Model A club. We received anaward from the Hibernians.


      Great Day .



      --
      Shirley.

  • This was a lovely...

      This was a lovely service for my Aunt Mackey.


      Thank you so much.




      --
      Charlene Hankowitz.

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much for allowing me to view this online.I was unable to come and know DuWanyne thru friends that are his family in Indiana.He was a special person and I wish his family well.


      They are in my prayers and I am very sorry for their loss.


      This is a wonderful idea to have these on line.


      Thank you again.



      --
      Brandi Brown.

  • What a wonderful idea...

      What a wonderful idea. I was unable to attend the service and that was a closer for me. My heart felt thanks.


      Thank you



      --
      Stella.

  • Thank you so much for having...

      Thank you so much for having this service available. I never knew something like this existed. I'm disabled and was upset I wouldn't be able to attend my Aunt Janice's service. It meant so much to me that I was able to attend after all from my home.


      She was a big part of my life and I'm very happy I was able to celebrate her life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing this.



      --
      Karen

  • I am a friend of ...

      I am a friend of Alice Baratone and I just wanted to send my condolences and appreciation for Drew and his service for our country. I didn't know him personally but this service was touching and I appreciate him giving his life to help keep us free.


      God Bless you all.



      --
      Stephen Carter

  • Thank you so much for helping ...

      Thank you so much for helping me to play the service-it ran just fine after we spoke.


      I had no idea your video service even existed - I am so appreciative that is was available-I am in Florida and was unable to attend my father's funeral so I am truly glad that your product allowed me to view the funeral service - it was just like being in the back pew of the church.


      Thanks again for all your assistance during this difficult time.




      --
      Bonnie

  • Thank you for providing this service...

      Thank you for providing this service for those of us that could not attend and pay our respects in person.


      Respectfully.



      --
      Dave Parker

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much... for my son and I just learned of his Nana's path to a greater place.This a loud him to find a little peace with his loss of such a wonderful person.She loved him so much and he knows this and now she will be forever watching over him as I say. Thank You.



      --
      Tammy Lowe

  • Very impressive presentation...

      Very impressive presentation. Well done.



      --
      Wayne Clock

  • This is my...

      This is my first time to veiw a funeral service.I would like to commend Macon Funeral Home.This is something that Macon County can be proud of.



      --
      Dixie Mason

  • This was the first...

      This was the first time I had ever seen anything like this, what a great idea



      --
      Terry Hansen

  • Thank you so much ...

      Thank you so much for having this service available for people.I was unable to attend in person and was so happy to be able to still be present. My only feedback would be to have the camera set up so you can see the attendees as well as the lector.I understand this may be a policy or a immediate family request.

      Sound was great, picture was great. Thanks again!



      --
      Heidi O'Claire

  • I'm Inga's neice...

      I'm Inga's neice and I live in Billings. The service was beautiful and I enjoyed having this service to watch from my home since I wasn't able to get to Great Falls. I truly wish that our homes here in Billings had the same program. Thank you so very much.

      --
      Sandy Oium

  • The broadcast of my father's...

      The broadcast of my father's service was very nicely done, and provides a valuable service for people who can't attend in person. Thank you, Harriet Ritter & Barry Burd.

      --
      Harriet Ritter & Barry Burd

  • This was beautiful and I thank you ...

      This was beautiful and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of it being so far away in Alabama and not being able to attend.

      --
      Sue Thompson

  • Incredible!...

      Incredible!....

      --
      Jeanie Hamel

  • IT' WAS SO BEAUTIFUL...

      IT' WAS SO BEAUTIFUL TO TO SEE MY FAMILY,AND MY FUTURE NEPHEW IN LAW IN OHIO WHILE LIVE IN TEXAS. IT WAS LIKE BEING THERE WITHOUT THE COLD WEATHER,AND SNACKS!.

      --
      Tamara Menke

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much for providing this service for those of us who could not attend the funeral of Carl Anderson in person. Despite the weather-related interruption, it was wonderful to be able to share in the contemplation of his life and death.
      Your work is very much appreciated.
      --
      Polly Browne, Mankato, Minnesota

  • I enjoyed this video very much...

      Hello,

      I enjoyed this video very much. I appreciate the staff at Baue's holding this remembrance so that we may honor our loved one. The support they offer is amazing.
      Thank you.
      --
      The family of Gary David Witt

  • I think is such a blessing...

      Hello,

      This is the first time I have ever viewed a funeral by eventbywire and I think is such a blessing to be able to be part of the funeral when you cannot be there.
      Thank you.
      --
      Susan Sanderson

  • I love the event by wire...

      Hello,

      I love the "eventbywire"........is there a way to get a copy of my Dad's service...before it's gone forever??

      Thanks!!

      Susan Ankrom

  • What a wonderful service...

      Thank you so very much for enabling me to attend Brother Massengill's funeral even though I was unable to be there in person. What a wonderful service you are providing. I appreciate this so much and wanted you to know

      Diana Clark
      Collegedale, TN

  • As I was not able to attend the funeral...

      As I was not able to attend the funeral today for Mr. K I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be able to watch in online. After being told I could watch it online, I tried and it worked great!! The service was beautiful, I'm sure all planned by Mr. K, but nevertheless, you made it available for me to watch. Thank you so much! Mr. K was a large part in my musical growth and experiences and not being able to attend the service was difficult.

      Thank you again!

      -Ruth Trinrud

  • I watched the services yesterday for Joe...

      My name is Carole Ballanga, I'm Joe's youngest sister , 66 years old. I watched the services yesterday for Joe since I could not be in New Orleans (I live in San Antonio, TX) and it was like being there. Thank you so much for doing such a beautiful job of broadcasting and helping to give me and other relatives out-of-state some closure.

      God Bless you.

      -Carole Ballanga

  • Thank you..

      Thank you for making this available for viewing on the internet.

      Have a great day and God Bless!

  • I'm a friend of Joe's family and live out...

      Thank you for making it possible for me to attend his service via your webcast. It was a lovely service and the cast was very well done. I work for a funeral home myself, and our lead director thought your camera angle was awesome.

      Dee Gurnett
      San Antonio, TX

  • Thank you..

      Thank you for making this available for viewing on the internet.

      Have a great day and God Bless!

  • Thank you so much...

      Thank you so much for making this available for us- especially me and my husband, all the way in Australia. We hooked up my laptop to our home theate speakers and sat on the couch and watched and listened and felt like we were really there. The webcasting is invaluable and I can't thank you enough for allowing us to participate in my grandfather's service. We didn't have any technical problems with it, the picture and audio were great. I was also able to see some folks I haven't seen in a long time that were at the service - it was wonderful.

      Thank you so much.

      - Andi Hazelwood

  • Excellent job...

      Excellent job, thank you so much for making this available to family and friends who couldn't make it to Mike's service. We are very grateful and the video was very well done.

      Again, thank you,
      Sincerely,
      Judy Farmer,
      Ventura, California

  • Event by wire was really great

      The Louisiana Police Memorial event by wire was really great. I would have missed it had it not been taped and stored. Thank you so very very much.

      Bobbie Osterman New Orleans, LA