Funeral Home Offers Services Via Webcast

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COLUMBIA, Tenn. - The loss of a loved one brings a rush of sadness and confusion.

Distance can complicate the grieving process. But a local funeral home is using the Internet to make the miles disappear.

Funeral directors such as Glenn Truelove are using technology to reduce the distance between friends and family. At times the miles make it impossible to attend a funeral in person.

"They'll feel like they let the family down or so. And the family understands that. But people will beat themselves up," said Truelove of Oakes and Nichols Funeral Home, which was established 150 years ago in Columbia.

Truelove said recently a woman in Peru was unable to attend friend's memorial service. So he brought the service to her.

He connected a camera to a computer and broadcast the service live on the Internet.

"The family just thought that was the greatest thing," Truelove said. "They knew she was grieving. This helped her and helped them all feel like they were all together again as a family."

It's a new free service.

"This makes people feel a part of the funeral service in real time," he said.

It is technology helping someone on the other end of the world say goodbye to someone special.

Privacy can often be an issue on the Internet, which is why the memorial services are shown on the funeral home's Web site. The broadcast is password protected. Family members select a password that allows only their loved ones to view the service. Individuals who don't have the password are unable to watch the service.

The funeral home also stores the service 30 days for friends and family to watch on their own time.