Livestream funeral and memorial services are here to stay. As a society, we’ve found that livestreaming allows far away family and friends to participate virtually. Taking this time to remember and honor a loved one’s life, whether in person or virtually, is an important step in the healing process.

Most of us are somewhat familiar with the etiquette of attending services in-person. Here are a few tips to help when attending a livestream funeral service.

Arrive Early – Get your device set up and charged well ahead of time. Sign into the livestream early, so you can take care of any technical difficulties that may arise before the service starts.

Dress Appropriately – Even if you are attending services remotely, you should dress appropriately to honor and respect the family and the person who has died.

Find A Quiet Place – Set up in a quiet place, where you are less likely to be disturbed or have to deal with distractions during the livestream service. This will also help to limit kids or pets causing distractions for other online viewers.

Mute Yourself - To ensure that you aren’t a distraction, mute yourself for the service unless you are given the opportunity to speak. Depending on the type of service there may be the opportunity for virtual attendees to share their remembrances. If you are called on to speak, make sure that your space is quiet so that people can clearly hear your remarks.

Turn On Your Video – If you feel comfortable enabling the video function, be sure to do so. This will allow in-person and other virtual family and friends can see you and take comfort in your presence.

Turn Off Devices - You should also turn off devices (other than the one you are using to livestream). By doing so, you can cut down on the possibility of distractions or disruptions. Keep in mind that your focus should be on what’s most important – honoring a loved one’s life.

Be Thoughtful with Your Comments - Some livestream options allow you to write comments in a chat box. If you do so, be thoughtful about it. Keep in mind that everyone can see your comments and in some cases the services are recorded for later viewing. Focus your comments on supporting the grieving family or sharing stories about the person who has died.

Be Patient – Livestream technology can sometimes be problematic. If you are experiencing technical with the service, politely make a comment in the Chat box. The funeral home staff will do everything in their power to correct the issue. Don’t post repeated complaints.