Honoring a Loved One: How to Create an Online Memorial

Honoring the memory of a loved one tests one’s endurance, as doing the best job possible requires channeling fortitude during a time of immense emotional fatigue.

A funeral is the traditional and perhaps obvious choice, but it only lasts for one day. An online memorial, however, lasts for as long as you wish, and is an increasingly popular choice among those responsible for arrangements. Since they are a relatively new creation, learning how to create one isn’t common knowledge.

If you want to build an online memorial but don’t know how to begin, you’re in luck. We’re going to help you build one that any recently departed loved one would be proud of

Why Do an Online Memorial?

Online memorials are made to pair with a funeral, rather than to supplant one. As you make arrangements for a funeral service, you may be wondering why an online memorial is an increasingly popular choice and if it is right for you to create one, too. Overall, it’s inexpensive, simple, and lasting.

Accessibility is one benefit. Perhaps the deceased had loved ones who would like to attend the funeral, but can’t because of previous obligations or impossible logistics. But if an online memorial has been arranged, they still have an opportunity to mourn and pay their respects, absent attending the service.

Also, unlike a traditional funeral-only arrangement, an online memorial allows those who wish to pay their respects several modern ways to express themselves. With the features to share photos and publish touching stories, an online memorial works a social platform for remembering a lost one, and a choice which creates impact lasting far longer than floral arrangements.

6 Tips for Creating An Online Memorial

For those who have decided to create a moving online memorial but have no idea where to begin, in this article are 6 tips which will introduce you to and guide you through the painless process during a painful time.

One doesn’t require web design experience, nor be a funeral director to build a memorial online which will allow an ailing community to comfort and be comforted. If you’re going to create a memorial of your own, make sure you keep these 6 things in mind.

1. Buy a Domain

An online memorial is simply, at its core, a website. And like any website, one requires a domain, which is the address (or URL) of a website people can locate what is created online.

While free domains are available, buying a custom domain means one can title an online memorial anything. Some who make arrangements choose to name an online memorial the deceased’s full name, or perhaps his or her commonly referred-to nickname.

While choosing a free option has its obvious upside, you have to share the URL with the domain registrar, which makes it difficult to find the memorial. Most custom domains cost a reasonable fee, some less than $20 annually.

2. Expand on the Obituary

Online memorials offer an opportunity to publish an obituary. Traditionally published obituaries on newspapers — or more recently lasix uses dosage funeral home sites — charge fees for space and length, which restricts one who writes an obituary from expressing grief in a healthy way.

While publishing an obituary in a newspaper is still a good idea for many, one who makes arrangements with an online memorial can also publish the same obituary online, where he or she is at liberty to express themselves more fully.

Online obituaries also offer comment sections, where those in mourning may include memories of their own, or share compassionate sentiments with one another.

3. Consider Using Social Media

f your loved one has not created a social media presence, in the present day, many of whom are grieving their loss are active on social media and are searching for a profile of the recently departed to comment on.

One who makes arrangements should consider accessing the departed’s social media accounts, or create one of the behalf of him or her, to more easily facilitate those who wish to grieve on common social media platforms.

In addition, creating social sharing buttons to an online memorial makes it easy for the community to share the site amongst their own personal network, which can reach even more people.

4. Use a Quality Scanner for Photos

As previously mentioned, online memorials offer the opportunity to share photos of your loved one amongst his or her grieving community, and his or her survivors likely have a collection of cherished, photographed memories they would like to share.

However, it is likely that many in the collection of photos are physical copies rather than digital. Use of a scanner will digitize these physical copies, but make sure it performs high-quality scans in effort to honor the deceased memory.

Those who lack access to a suitable scanner can try using a scanning app on their phone before making an expensive purchase of a real scanner.

5. Think About What They Loved

The passing a loved one is an emotionally wrought affair. While one expects to attend a funeral to express grief, sadness, and anger; what is less often acknowledged are the more joyous moments experienced in a funeral that release the tension, such as a portrait of a loved one flashing a pearly-white smile, or a serendipitous story told to elicit a brief laugh.

To supplement a similar experience digitally for an online memorial, honor the memory of a loved one by incorporating what your loved one once enjoyed.

Some things to consider may be a song from their favorite musician, a plant from their beloved garden, or some art they poured the soul into. Design an online memorial that represents the joy your loved one once experienced or created.

6. Add a Comment Wall

The stories the community brings and shares when gathering together to remember a respected member who passed in a funeral can be digitally recreated as well.

As mentioned further above, a comment section is a feature in an online memorial, and it is key for the community to interact with one another.

A comment section is an easy way for people to share memories. When finding a comment feature, find one with a built-in spam detector.

Unfortunately, robots are on the web looking for comment sections on any kind of website to spam advertisements, and moderating a comment section while in any circumstance is draining work.

Reach Out

Building a beautiful online memorial is something anyone that wants to honor their loved one can do. If you follow the tips in this post you’ll have a memorial you can be proud of.

One who makes arrangements can handle creating a digital memorial for a loved one, but anyone planning their service and final resting place should have help available.

Whether you need advice on burial methods or want help planning a beautiful service, we’re here to help. Contact us today so we can find the right way to honor your loved one.