The way we approach honoring our loved ones after they have passed has been somewhat rapidly evolving. Technology like online memorial websites and virtual memorials allow us to bring friends and family together from near and far to join in a celebration of life. It provides the ability to gain the participation of more people than ever before in remembrance of your loved one. And technology may have expanded our creativity; how we approach tailoring a memorial that breaks free from tradition to reflect the unique identity of the life being honored.
In this article, we are taking a look at two increasingly popular ways to memorialize a loved one over the internet. The first are online memorial websites, which allow for individual participation in collecting thoughts and memories. A virtual memorial, on the other hand, is a customized gathering for friends and family to celebrate, remember, and share time together.
Online Memorial Websites
An online memorial website is a virtual space for photos, videos, condolences, information about the loved one, and more.
An online memorial website might be described as a cross between a message board and an online profile. The friends and family who set up the page can often choose themes (i.e. music, animals, etc.) and upload a cover photo and profile picture. The webpage can feature multiple form fields to fill out, including things such as the loved one’s birthday, obituary, favorite quote, and the date of their passing. There can also be a spot on the page where visitors can donate money to either the family of the loved one or to a charity in honor of the loved one. Additionally, visitors can leave written messages in a guest book or to share stories or memories. Finally, there can be space for photos and videos which can often be uploaded by both those setting up and those visiting the page. In short, online memorial websites serve as a space to learn about and share in remembering a loved one.
Advantages of a Webpage
One benefit of setting up an online memorial page is that these profiles are designed to be shared easily, especially on social media. This makes online memorial websites a good tool for announcing the passing of a loved one so that those who want to celebrate their life can join in. Another resourceful way to use an online memorial website is as a sort-of placeholder prior to a memorial. We at Lighten understand that planning a memorial immediately following the passing of your loved one may be overwhelming, and we believe families can feel free to take as much time as they need. An online memorial website could be offered as a place to share memories and photos, while the family takes the time they need to plan a personalized memorial gathering. As an added benefit, the sentiments and photos/videos that are contributed to the memorial webpage can then be used as material in designing an in-person or virtual memorial that highlights the uniqueness of your loved one.
Virtual Memorials
While Lighten offers a memorial webpage as part of our virtual memorial package, these two services, individually, are not the same. A virtual memorial is an interactive gathering of friends and family to celebrate the loved one. The contributions made to an online memorial webpage are individual and done at any time, whereas a virtual memorial is enveloped by friends and family sharing moments together. A virtual memorial can be conducted in real-time in its entirety, with friends and family taking turns to speak or read from the loved one’s favorite passages, or it can be a ceremony that includes pre-recorded segments. Pre-recorded segments can include pre-recorded readings, memories, and sentiments from speakers. Lighten even worked with one family who created a pre-recorded tribute from the loved one’s dog, voiced by a family member. This whimsical touch, among others, made the memorial truly personalized to the loved one’s unique life. What possibly made it even more touching is that all of his friends and family were there to experience the tribute together. Videos played during the ceremony can also include footage of the loved one being honored. Lighten ceremonies have featured videos of the loved ones dancing, reading, laughing, and even skydiving with their family and friends.
Whether you choose to offer a memorial webpage, virtual memorial, or both, Lighten wants you to know there is opportunity to represent your loved one’s special life in very special ways. If you’re ready to begin planning a virtual memorial, Lighten can help.
