Citing the importance of relationships in this time-constrained world, an Irish mortician has begun broadcasting funeral services on the Internet so that people don't have to miss out on the farewell service of a relative just because they are separated by distance. The service, thought to be first of its kind in the U.K., allows mourners to log in to a funeral broadcast with a user ID and password supplied by the mortician's firm.

S. Clarke and Son Funeral Directors have installed a network of cameras and microphones in the churches attached to their funeral homes. The service is offered as free and optional extra in the Clarkes' funeral package.

"There are families living abroad who can't afford to fly to funerals, or people who are too sick to go, or busy people who can't get the time off work," Jim Clarke said, according to BBC news.

"Our Internet option means they get to become part of a grieving process they might have missed out on," he said.

Since the broadcast is password protected, the privacy of the event is maintained. As an option, a copy of the funeral service can be recorded and kept for viewing it later.