Flanner and Buchanan's Webcasting system was barely in place when it was used to offer a live broadcast of Zionsville,Indiana, funeral to a relative of the deceased, a soldier stationed in Iraq. In late fall 2008, a test of the new technology took place, again in Zionsville, when a funeral was broadcast live to relatives of the deceased in Japan.
"This cutting-edge technology is an innovative way for us to bring memorial or funeral services to members of the family and the wide circle of friends who are unable to attend in person," said Jerrit Clayton, CFSP, senior vice president of Flanner and Buchanan, which now offers video recording and Webcasting of funeral services to families at all 14 Flanner an Buchanan Funeral Centers in Indiana. "Families and friends are scattered-often around the world-and al times of grief and loss, their absence in keenly felt by those left behind. It's our goal to help everyone come together to celebrate the life of their loved one and find comfort. These Webcasts also preserve a valuable piece of family history".
Flanner and Buchanan's Webcasting service is offered through Event By Wire, a California-based company that provides a broadcast of the service distributed over the Internet using streaming technology. It can be viewed live or it can be recorded so that friends and family can view it anytime they wish-sometimes over and over again.
The technology is portable, too. "We can take it anywhere, broadcasting services and events held in parks, churches, and other locations," said Brian Buchanan, principal of Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers. "This is another way to build flexibility into every celebration. No two lives are alike, and no two memorial services should be. Webcasting allows for the utmost in personalization".
Whether funeral arrangements are preplanned or made upon the death of a loved one, families have the opportunity to select Webcasting as one of the many options for memorializing their loved one. Included in the cost is the choice of viewing sites, literally around the world, where friends and family can gather to watch the funeral while it is taking place.
The funeral can be viewed on a computer through a link that is emailed ahead of time to those unable to attend the service.
"This allows the friends and family to view the funeral from the comfort of their own homes," said Clayton. "It's a great service for shut-ins and out-of-town friends and families who previously had no way of participating in such a meaningful way in the memorial to their loved ones." And if it is impossible for someone to view the funeral in real time, a delayed broadcast is also possible.
Cameras are discreetly placed al the funeral, and the results fed as a live Webcast to those signed up to view it at the time of the service; others can access the same Webcast at a later time.