Together, alone: Personal experiences of virtual funeral attendance during the COVID-19 global pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused profound distortions in how deaths were marked by those left to mourn their passing. Public health restrictions prohibited gatherings of friends and families for traditional funerals, causing an upsurge in reliance on virtual alternatives. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of individuals attending virtual funerals following a death of any cause, including reasons for choosing virtual attendance, perceived differences relative to in person attendance, and the extent to which mourning practices were accommodated. Between May 2021 and June 2022, we identified 57 participants with virtual funeral attendance experience. They identified many shortcomings of virtual funerals, captured under themes including, <i>socialization</i>, <i>community support</i>, <i>sharing food</i>, <i>physical contact</i>, <i>consoling the bereaved</i>, <i>sharing memories</i>, and <i>connection</i>. There were features of virtual funerals that participants appreciated, summarized by themes including, <i>accessibility</i>, <i>taking part or marking the event</i>, <i>closure</i>, <i>technological advantages and privacy.</i> Despite a sense that virtual funerals provided an opportunity to grieve "together, alone," most conceded it was better than not being able to take part at all. This study provides detailed information about participating in virtual funerals, identifying features of this experience that should be examined to determine how those may influence grieving processes and bereavement outcomes.