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The Value of Virtual Memorials
By Jamie Sue Austin
Funeral arrangements are difficult enough on their own.
Many of the decisions you will make will have to reflect
not only the needs and wants of the deceased, but the
needs and wants of other members of the family. Constant
phone calls, millions of tiny details, and the added
stress of visiting friends and family sometimes make it
difficult to take time to actually remember your loved
one. But, after the chaos dies down and there is time to
reflect on the life and legacy of a loved one. There are
many ways to preserve the memory of someone who has past
away. The most universal way of memorializing a loved on
in the western world is to hold a funeral and place a
headstone at the grave site. Beyond this there are
worlds of options from memorial plaques and gardens to
special trusts and charities set up in honor of the
loved one. For some, the time and expense of creating
and maintaining a memorial outstrips the desire to
memorialize a loved one. For these individuals a virtual
memorial offers the perfect solution.
What is a virtual memorial?
A virtual memorial is a special place on the internet
dedicated just to your loved one. Virtual memorials can
be created to honor anyone's memory. They can be
tasteful, elegant, beautiful, and still convey the
values, interests, and personality of the deceased.
Who would benefit from a virtual memorial?
Most people would benefit from the process of creating a
virtual memorial. A virtual memorial gives you a way to
convey all your thoughts and feelings about your loved
one in the way that you want. Virtual memorials allow
you to express your individual feelings about your loved
one. You do not have to worry about what other friends,
family, or associates might think of your tribute. It is
a special way for you to honor the life of the deceased.
With a virtual memorial you can share the entire life
story of a loved one in a way that funerals and
headstones can not. By creating a virtual memorial you
can also help work through your feelings of grief in a
positive and constructive manner. Sharing your story
about how your loved one touched your life can help
others as well.
Virtual memorials are easy and inexpensive.
Unlike a traditional website a virtual memorial is easy
and inexpensive. You do not need to have any website
development skills. If you can send photos in an email;
you can create a beautiful virtual memorial. Virtual
memorials can be less expensive than purchasing a
domain, hosting, developing and maintaining your own
website. Virtual memorials also offer a variety of tools
for uploading pictures, documents, and other items that
you would like to have on your loved ones memorial
quickly and easily. The virtual memorial is easy to
maintain. You can spend as much or as little time on
your memorial as you want. All the technical aspects
such as webhosting are done for you.
Virtual memorials provide a centralized place for
remembering.
Too often families are separated by large geographical
distances. While they may be able to gather for the
initial funeral it can be difficult for families to
gather on a regular basis to remember their loved ones.
Virtual memorials help bridge that gap by creating a
place where family can gather, discuss, and remember
their loved ones. Virtual memorials help connect family
and friends to the support they need. With a virtual
memorial where people live no longer influences the
amount of time they can take to remember their loved
ones. Unlike a traditional grave site, a person can
visit a virtual memorial any time of the day or night,
from any location in the world. Each person can feel
that they have a valid and substantial connection with
the deceased regardless if they can put flowers on the
grave in person or not.
Virtual memorials preserve family history.
When a person dies their life achievements, their
stories, and their experiences often go with them. A
virtual memorial can be used to preserve family history
in a way that other memorials can not. A person can
prepare their own memorial before they pass on to
prevent valuable family history from dissolving or loved
ones can collect information about the deceased and
preserve it for future generations. Virtual memorials
can be used to trace genealogy and family lineage. They
are an excellent place to store and share the memories
that your family creates over a life time. |
