When a loved one passes away during the winter months, it's important to keep the weather in mind as you make preparations. An unexpected winter storm or freezing temperatures can present an array of problems, but there are ways to make sure that the celebration of your loved one's life goes as smoothly as possible. Here are a few options to consider.
Prepare A Live Stream Option
Should the weather become too severe for mourners to travel to the funeral home, a live video stream can be one way to still host the services even without everyone in attendance. Work with your funeral home director to set up cameras and a microphone system to help family members see and hear the services. Your funeral home director can also provide the website information people can use to log in when the services begin.
Plan An Alternative To A Graveside Service
In some cases, heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures may prevent the cemetery from being able to perform a burial immediately. This means you may not be able to hold a traditional graveside service. Having a backup plan can help you avoid confusion and frustration. Ask the cemetery if there's an outbuilding that can be used in the event of bad weather, or work with the funeral home to extend the length of the funeral service to make up for the missed graveside option. The priest or minister can perform some of the same prayers that might be administered at the graveside service without the need to travel to the cemetery.
Allow Extra Travel Time
Remember that the roads may be bad during winter weather, which can make it more difficult for mourners to make it on time. Opt against an early start time to provide more time for people to travel. For example, a noon service might be an ideal option during the coldest or snowiest winter weather. Once you have a funeral date set, keep an eye on the long-term weather forecast so you can try to predict possible road condition issues. Another option is to set up transportation with a local bus or limo company to pick up mourners so they don't have to brave the roads on their own.
Talk to a director at a funeral home like Shepherd Funeral Home about any concerns you might have, and be sure to take severe winter weather into account when planning a celebration of your loved one's life.