Funeral and memorial services are important ways for family and friends to honor the life of loved ones who have passed away. While these services often bring groups together, sometimes people cannot attend because of financial difficulties, traveling issues, or other obligations. Here are a few ways you can support your grieving loved ones even if you cannot attend the funeral service. 

How to Be There for Loved Ones If You Can’t Attend a Service

1. Call or Video Chat 

Even if you cannot physically be present at the funeral service, you can still respectively observe the event by calling or video chatting with a friend who is in attendance. By doing this, you can say your goodbyes from afar and comfort others. You can also engage with other family members and friends after the service and offer each other support.

2. Send Sympathy Flowers

Floral arrangements are a widely accepted token of support and love during a funeral or memorial service. Not only are they beautiful, but they can also be used to decorate the gravesite of the deceased.

No matter where you are located, you can send sympathy flowers to the funeral home or to the family’s home to show them that you care, despite your absence.

3. Make a Donation

If your loved one who passed away had a particular charity or organization they were passionate about, consider making a donation in the name of the decedent. Through this gesture, you’re honoring the deceased and keeping their memory alive. Sometimes the family will request donations, and if so, you may consider donating to their cause as well to show support.

4. Visit Another Time

Though you may have to miss the memorial service, you can still make plans to visit with the family at a later date. During the time of the ceremony, relatives of the deceased will be flooded with visitors, but the guests will eventually dwindle down. Plan a short trip sometime after the service to offer comfort when the family needs it most. 

If you lost a loved one and need assistance planning the memorial service, the compassionate staff members at Cremation Service of Western New York are here to help. This Rochester-based company strives to ease the burden of funeral planning on families while honoring the lives of their lost loved ones. They offer everything from full-service cremation to funeral pre-planning solutions. To learn more about their services, call (585) 544-4500 or visit them online today.