Online Memorial Pages and Tribute Sites
For Canadian families wanting a lasting online tribute beyond newspaper obituary, several options exist — funeral home memorial pages, dedicated platforms, and social media memorialization.
Funeral home memorial pages
What: Online tribute page hosted on the funeral home's website.
Cost: Typically free; included with funeral services.
Features:
- Obituary
- Photo gallery
- Guestbook for messages
- Service information
- Donation links
- Sometimes video tributes
Limitations:
- Tied to funeral home (if funeral home closes, page may disappear)
- Time-limited (often 1-2 years free, then removal or fee)
- Customization limited
- Discoverability limited
Good for: Initial online presence; service-related information; condolences in immediate post-death period.
Dedicated memorial platforms
What they are: Independent tribute sites you buy directly, rather than a page provided by the funeral home. The page is yours and stays up regardless of which funeral home handled the arrangements. Several of the larger ones are US-based.
What to check before paying:
- Whether the fee is one-time or annual, and what "lifetime" means — the page's, or the company's
- Whether you can export your photos and guestbook entries if you ever want to leave
- Where the data is hosted, if it matters to you that it stays in Canada
- Whether the page can be set private, and how visitors are invited
- Whether anyone else in the family can be given editing access
Cost: $50-300 typical (one-time or annual).
Features:
- Lifetime hosting (with one-time payment plans)
- Extensive photo and video gallery
- Guestbook
- Timeline of life
- Tribute candles, virtual flowers
- Donation integration
- Custom URL
- Privacy controls (public or private)
- Customization extensive
- Mobile-friendly
Good for: Long-term tribute; lots of multimedia; ongoing engagement years after death.
Social media memorialization
Memorialized account: Profile remains visible with 'Remembering' added to the name; existing posts and photos stay; friends can post tributes; profile doesn't appear in 'People you may know' or birthday reminders.
Request: Through legacy contact (designated in life) or by family submitting proof of death (obituary, death certificate).
Process: Online form; typically reviewed in days to weeks.
Memorialization: Similar to Facebook (owned by Meta). Profile preserved with 'Remembering' designation.
Request: Online form with proof of death.
Memorialization: Account preserved with memorial designation. No new connections; existing connections preserved.
Account closure: Alternative — full deletion of account.
Request: Online form with proof of death.
Twitter/X
Account deactivation: Family can request deactivation of deceased's account. No 'memorialization' option as of current — account is deleted.
TikTok, Snapchat, other
Various platforms have specific procedures; varying degrees of memorialization vs. deletion.
Newspaper-affiliated tribute sites
Many Canadian newspapers (Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald, etc.) have online obituary and tribute platforms tied to print obituaries.
Features:
- Obituary text
- Guestbook
- Donation links
Cost: Typically included with newspaper obituary (often $100-500 for newspaper obituary).
Cemetery and crematorium online tributes
Some cemeteries and crematoria offer online tribute pages for those interred:
- Photo
- Brief biographical information
- Location of grave or niche
- Visitor guestbook
Cost: Often included; sometimes additional fee.
Setting up a memorial page — practical
Choose platform:
- Funeral home page for short-term, free
- Dedicated platform for long-term, full features
- Social media for community engagement
Designate administrator:
- Family member who manages the page
- Often immediate family (child, spouse)
- Should have time and inclination for ongoing engagement
Gather content:
- Photos throughout life
- Brief biography or obituary text
- Stories family members want included
- Service information
- Donation information
Privacy considerations:
- Public or private (some platforms allow both)
- What personal information to include
- Comments — moderated or open
- Birthday and date of death — included or not
Engagement over time:
- Initial flurry of activity in first weeks
- Periodic engagement on anniversaries, birthdays
- Some pages remain very active; others become quiet over time
- Family decision on ongoing maintenance
Privacy and security considerations
Identity theft risk: Deceased's information can be used for identity theft. Online memorial pages may include date of birth and other personal information — be thoughtful about what's published.
Don't include:
- Full middle name (often used for security questions)
- Date of birth in full (only year, or only month/day)
- Mother's maiden name (security question)
- Specific addresses
- Specific account numbers
Public vs. private:
- Public page is accessible by anyone
- Private page requires invitation or password
- Hybrid — public obituary, private detailed memorial
Practical notes for specific platforms
Funeral home pages: Confirm time limits and continuation fees upfront. Ask what happens if funeral home closes (some have arrangements for migration).
Facebook memorialization: Designate a legacy contact in your own Facebook settings during your lifetime — makes the process easier when needed.
Multiple platforms: Some families use multiple — funeral home for short-term, dedicated platform for long-term, Facebook memorialization for ongoing community engagement.
What we focus on at It's Simple Will
The Funeral Pre-Planner can capture your preferences about online tributes — what platforms you'd want used, what privacy level, what to include or not.
Related guides
Citations & sources
- [1]Funeral Service Association of Canada — Funeral Service Association of Canada
- [2]Facebook Memorialization — Facebook Help
Frequently asked questions
Should I create an online memorial page?
Optional but increasingly popular. Useful when — far-flung family and friends can't attend service; want a lasting tribute beyond newspaper obituary; want photo and video sharing; want guestbook for ongoing condolences; want a place for annual remembrance. Not essential — many families don't create one and rely on newspaper obituary plus funeral home announcement.
What's the difference between a funeral home page and a dedicated platform?
Funeral home pages are typically free, included with funeral services, hosted on funeral home's website, may have time limits or migration questions if funeral home closes. Dedicated platforms are paid ($50-300 typically), independent of the funeral home, more features, designed for longevity, may have annual fees.
How does Facebook memorialization work?
Facebook allows accounts to be 'memorialized' after death — profile remains visible but with 'Remembering' added; existing posts and photos stay; friends can post tributes; account stops appearing in 'People you may know'. Requires legacy contact (designated in life) or proof of death after the fact (death certificate, obituary).
What about LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows account memorialization or closure. Family submits request with proof of death. Memorialized account is preserved but no longer active; closed account is deleted. Process takes a few weeks typically.
How long do online memorial pages last?
Varies. Funeral home pages typically free for an initial period (1-2 years) then may have continuation fees or removal. Dedicated platforms typically lifetime with one-time payment. Social media memorial accounts last indefinitely (no time limit known).
Can we include donations in lieu of flowers?
Yes — most platforms allow linking to a specified charity for donations in memory. Some platforms have direct donation features. Newspaper obituary typically includes the charity information; online pages echo or expand this.