PALM HARBOR, Fla. — COVID-19 has forced all of us to make sacrifices. One of those sacrifices are limiting the number of people who can attend a funeral.
“It eliminates friends and neighbors from giving their condolences,” said Keenan Knopke, CEO and President of The Curlew Hills Funeral Home.
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Right now, only 10 people or less are allowed in. Some people have gotten creative and held drive-through funerals. Some funeral homes and churches are offering to stream funeral services and visiting.
Curlew Hills started streaming services 10 years ago.
“It’s making the transition easier,” said Knopke. “It’s not the same as everybody being there but this is what’s available right now.”
Knopke says their technology wasn’t the best 10 years ago, but they’ve updated it. He says now they’re able to allow hundreds from across the globe to stream services.
The family gets a link, and they’re the ones who invite people to log into the stream.
“The best part about it is the service is recorded. The family can go back and watch it again and again if they want to,” he said.
Several other funeral homes and churches in the Tampa Bay area offer streaming services as well. You just have to ask them when you go to plan the service.
