To wonder if it is normal to video a funeral service?

[CuthbertDibble]

Just curious really, went to a funeral and there was a video camera set up to record the service. I can understand that immediate family might be grieving too much to take it all in but it felt quite intrusive. Is it normal?

I'm the same as Fabellini: I've wished a few times that I had film footage of DH's funeral. People sometimes mention things that happened at it and I don't have a clue.
And I lost the eulogy notes I made and hated myself for ages. I'd like a transcript of what I said.

One of my younger friends committed suicide earlier this year. He was in his early 20s and was still in uni; therefore lots of his uni friends were 18/19 year olds
I got home from his funeral to find three seperate 18 year olds had posted pictures from his funeral on facebook; including one of the coffin about to lowered into the grave. They then tagged him in it!

I firmly felt that this level of funeral coverage crossed the line into the 'have you no fucking decency?' camp.

I have things from my father's funeral like an email with the eulogy written for him. I also took photos of my Dad in the funeral home. I know that might sound a little odd (my brother who I persuaded to take the photos certainly thought so) but I wanted to remember the very last time I would ever see his face. I don't have them printed, just in a safe place in a digital format in case I need to see them again. I wish we did have a video of the funeral, I crave any kind of last contact I can have with him and it's been almost two years now.

We have an audio recording of my DF's funeral which ive never listened to, perhaps in the future.

With DM's funeral we had a photographer and some really beautiful photos. Also lots of little details i missed as was trying to compose myself. Really please we have them.

Only did it after seeing photos of a friends family member's funeral and the comfort it gave them.

We videoed (well the funeral director did) both paternal grandparents funeral and my dad's funeral last year. My uncle - dad's brother - is in NZ and requested it so that he felt he could take part in it in some way and to get some kind of closure. I must say I haven't watched any of them again although we do have copies in mum's house. I went through them all in person, I don't need to go through it again.

Our crem has been waiting for a few years to get some kind of webcam put in so that people can be given a link to log in and watch a particular service. I think I'll stick to just watching wedding videos though.

If it hasn't been filmed it hasn't happened.

No ButteredToast it definitely happened.

Karigan unbelievable.

My BIL had relatives who recorded his DF's funeral in the north west (U.K.). They are Jamaican (or Jamaican heritage) and it's a done thing. As is a 3 day rum-soaked wake.

Depends if by normal you're coming from a white-British POV?

Just no.

I was being sarcastic, the way things are today, everything and anything has to be either filmed or photographed, people don't just take in the moment and process it for what it is.

My uncle in Australia has his videoed and my dads sil sent him a copy to the UK. I thought it was odd and i have never watched it. My dad did, but he said it was odd and a bit upsetting ( he hadnt seen his brother in 60 years! )
I gather its more normal over there than here.

DS' funeral was recorded and they gave us a CD. I don't know if I'll ever be able to listen to it but as I don't really remember much about what was said I've stored it away so if I ever did want to hear what was said I could.

Not sure about videoing but a relative's funeral in New Zealand was streamed online for all the UK relatives who couldn't travel there.

*That sounds weird reading it back , my sil and family had it videoed !

My brothers memorial service was videoed. He lived in Europe rather than the U.K. (We are in the U.K.) and it was considered standard.

I haven't watched it and have no intention if ever doing so as his actual funeral was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. My mum has as have family who couldn't make it. Apparently it's lovely and a number of his mates have a copy.

we took photos of my Dad's flowers, and one of me, DH and my DB beforehand. Mum later said she wished she'd had a photo of him in his coffin (Ireland: open casket for the preliminaries). We had wondered if she would but didnt like to ask... so I think it is a decision for those closest, and if you want something like photos or a video then if you have the strength ask for it; and if you dont maybe sometimes relatives need to suggest what may appear to be unthinkable. Condolences to PPs.

I'm well aware you were being sarcastic, I suppose I felt it was insensitive given that Somerville and I had expressed the very mixed feelings we have about it.

I have the CD of my late DH's funeral somewhere. It was recorded because his DM was too frail to attend and his DSis was in a nursing home. No idea if they watched their copies. I haven't watched mine and he died 7 years ago. I may do one day.

My DH's funeral was recorded but only audio. It was for our DC who were 7 and 10. They can listen to it later in life.

Surely whatever the next of kin want is what should be done? It's not as though there's some agreed etiquette on the issue.

A funeral I attended last year was recorded. The deceased's DD was in Australia and couldn't make it home. It was really important for her to grieve her mother and the video helped. Nothing to do with if it hasn't been filmed it hasn't happened. The funeral directors did it so we were all quite present to take it in and process it at the time.

MIL's mums was recorded as her other DD couldn't come as was ill overseas.

My mum died in November and the priest did say it would be available online with a secure password if needed.

MIL's sister who couldn't make her mums funeral died recently overseas. I would have liked to be able to see the service.

In the village in Thailand I lived/worked in they were filmed as a matter of course, and watched regularly.

My dads funeral was videoed from the back of the crem. I was five foot from the fucking coffin the entire time after following the hearse 5 miles beforehand in the funeral car. I'd definitely say I was present FFS

I asked a funeral director about this a couple of weeks ago. He said people often take photos but he hadn't yet organised a funeral that had been filmed. He did say though that some crematoria now have the facilities for live streaming of funerals which is often useful for relatives/friends who are abroad or a long distance away a nd can't get to the funeral.

Haven't read all of the replies, but one of the relatives at an aunt's funeral videoed some of it for mutual relatives in Australia who couldn't attend. As she was cremated there wasn't going to be a grave for them visit. This pre-dated live-streaming by a good few years.