The Funeral.com Journal

Resources to help you create tributes as unique as the people (and pets) you love. Learn how engraving, photos, colors, and symbols add meaning; discover scattering rituals and at-home memorial ideas. We focus on the details that matter—because small choices can carry a lifetime of comfort.

Famous Mothers and Their Memorials: 15 Iconic Moms and How They’re Remembered

Famous Mothers and Their Memorials: 15 Iconic Moms and How They’re Remembered

When people talk about famous mothers memorials, they’re usually reaching for something deeper than celebrity. They’re trying to understand how love lasts. A mother’s impact can be public or private,...

Designing a Digital Memorial Page that Includes Both Human and Pet Loved Ones

Designing a Digital Memorial Page that Includes Both Human and Pet Loved Ones

Most families don’t set out to create a “combined” memorial. It usually starts with something simple: you want a place where your aunt can share a photo of your dad,...

After the Obituary: Updating Online Profiles, Directories, and Community Groups About a Death

After the Obituary: Updating Online Profiles, Directories, and Community Groups About a Death

The obituary tends to feel like a finish line—one clear announcement that tells the world what happened. But in real life, grief has an aftershock. It shows up as a...

Digital Legacy Planning: Passwords, Social Media, and What Happens to Your Online Life After Death

Digital Legacy Planning: Passwords, Social Media, and What Happens to Your Online Life After Death

The first time you notice it, it can feel strangely ordinary: a phone lights up with a “Memories” notification, a calendar reminder pings, an auto-payment emails a receipt. Grief is...

Online Memorial Websites: How They Work, What to Include, and Privacy Tips

Online Memorial Websites: How They Work, What to Include, and Privacy Tips

In the first days after a death, families often find themselves holding two very different kinds of weight at the same time: the emotional shock of what’s happened, and the...

Pet Loss in the Age of Social Media: The Comfort and Pressure of Public Grieving

Pet Loss in the Age of Social Media: The Comfort and Pressure of Public Grieving

When grief goes online Not very long ago, losing a pet meant phone calls, a few printed photos, and quiet conversations at home. Today, for many people, the very first...

Planning a Pet Memorial Service: Ideas for Ceremonies at Home, Outside, or Online

Planning a Pet Memorial Service: Ideas for Ceremonies at Home, Outside, or Online

The quiet house feels different without your pet’s gentle presence, the soft padding of paws, the way they curled beside you, the little habits that brought joy to everyday moments....

Digital Legacies: Creating a Virtual Memorial for Your Pet

Digital Legacies: Creating a Virtual Memorial for Your Pet

When a pet dies, the quiet moments often feel the loudest. You may catch yourself reaching for your phone to show a favorite video, only to remember that the dog...

Handling Photos, Videos, and Voicemails After a Death: Saving, Editing, and Setting Boundaries

Handling Photos, Videos, and Voicemails After a Death: Saving, Editing, and Setting Boundaries

When someone dies, it’s often the phone in your hand—not a photo album on a shelf—that first reminds you of them. A smiling selfie pops up under “Memories,” a voicemail...

Memorializing a Loved One on Social Media: Posts, Tributes, and Privacy Choices

Memorializing a Loved One on Social Media: Posts, Tributes, and Privacy Choices

In the first hours or days after a loss, many families face that empty text box on their screen: “What’s on your mind?” Even though it feels impossible to summarize...

Remembering Together at a Distance: Virtual Vigils, Video Calls, and Shared Online Rituals

Remembering Together at a Distance: Virtual Vigils, Video Calls, and Shared Online Rituals

Grief has always needed company, but the way we gather has changed. Families are often spread across time zones, friends may live in other countries, and grandchildren might join from...

Planning a Memorial Slideshow: Photo Selection, Music, and Technical Tips

Planning a Memorial Slideshow: Photo Selection, Music, and Technical Tips

When someone passes away, photos suddenly feel more precious than ever. A memorial slideshow brings those images together into a living story, a gentle way to say, “This is who...

Important Papers to Organize Before and After a Death: Documents, Passwords, and Where to Store Them

Important Papers to Organize Before and After a Death: Documents, Passwords, and Where to Store Them

Imagine your kitchen table on an ordinary afternoon. There is a stack of mail pushed to one side, a laptop that still has not been shut for the day, and...

Closing Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death: Step-by-Step Help for Everyday Bills

Closing Accounts and Subscriptions After a Death: Step-by-Step Help for Everyday Bills

After a death, life can feel divided between emotional responsibilities and practical tasks. On one side are decisions like planning a funeral, selecting a cremation urn, or arranging a home...

Digital Legacy Planning: Passwords, Social Media Accounts, and Online Memories

Digital Legacy Planning: Passwords, Social Media Accounts, and Online Memories

Most of us now live a significant part of our lives online. We scroll through social media, upload photos, pay bills through apps, store important documents in the cloud, and...