What Happens When A Preston Schilling Funeral Home Obituary Goes Viral?
What Happens When a Preston Schilling Funeral Home Obituary Goes Viral?
Preston Schilling Funeral Home, like many funeral homes across the country, handles the sensitive task of memorializing loved ones. However, what happens when an obituary they publish goes viral? The answer is complex and depends on several factors, ranging from the content of the obituary itself to the reaction of the deceased's family and the funeral home's policies.
The Virality Factor: Obituaries go viral for a variety of reasons. Often, it's due to an unusually unique or humorous life story. Perhaps the deceased had an extraordinary career, a quirky personality, or an impactful life that resonated with a wider audience. Other times, it's the writing style itself – a witty, poignant, or exceptionally well-crafted obituary can capture the public's imagination and be widely shared online. A controversial obituary, while less desirable, can also achieve viral status, sparking heated debate and discussion.
Impact on the Funeral Home: When a Preston Schilling Funeral Home obituary goes viral, the funeral home experiences a surge in online visibility. This can be beneficial, potentially attracting new clients who appreciate their sensitivity and ability to craft memorable tributes. However, it also brings significant challenges. The increased attention can strain resources, requiring the funeral home to manage a large influx of online inquiries, phone calls, and media requests. Managing public perception and ensuring the privacy of the deceased's family becomes paramount. The funeral home's reputation is directly tied to the obituary's tone and content, even if they didn't write it themselves (many families provide pre-written obituaries). Negative attention, even inadvertently generated, could impact future business.
Impact on the Deceased's Family: For the family, the experience of a viral obituary is multifaceted. While some might find comfort in the widespread sharing of their loved one's story and the outpouring of support, others might feel overwhelmed by the intense public scrutiny. Privacy concerns might surface, especially if the obituary includes personal details that the family prefers to remain private. The intense online engagement can be both emotionally taxing and potentially invasive, requiring careful management by the family and possibly the funeral home.
Ethical Considerations: Funeral homes have an ethical responsibility to handle viral obituaries with sensitivity and professionalism. They need to balance the public's interest in the story with the family's right to privacy and grief. This might involve working with the family to moderate online comments, address misinformation, or even temporarily remove the obituary from their website if the situation becomes unmanageable.
Conclusion: A viral obituary is a double-edged sword. While it can showcase the storytelling capabilities of a funeral home like Preston Schilling and honor the life of the deceased in a remarkable way, it also presents unique logistical and ethical challenges. Navigating this requires careful collaboration between the funeral home, the deceased's family, and potentially public relations professionals to ensure respect, privacy, and a meaningful tribute to the life celebrated. The outcome ultimately hinges on the sensitivity and professionalism displayed in managing the situation.