How to Make an Online Memorial at Find A Grave

Remember a love one with an online memorial.

A Find A Grave online memorial is a great way to preserve the memory of deceased relatives and friends while creating a searchable genealogical record. Post a biography, family history and a few pictures to create a page that can be accessed by friends and extended family. Once the record is created, you can add notes and special memories and send virtual flowers to honor the deceased.

Things You'll Need

• Genealogical information on individual
• Pictures, optional

Instructions

1. Gather the information that you would like to share, including basic vital information such as birth and death dates and locations, military service, place of burial and names of parents, siblings, children and spouse.

2. Write a short biography to give the reader a sense of who the person was. Include information about their faith, hobbies, interests or occupation.

3. Choose a few pictures that highlight the life of the deceased. Scan them into the computer if they are not in digital format. Find a Grave has an upload feature to add the pictures to the memorial and it automatically resizes pictures.

4. Go to the Find A Grave website, at findagrave.com, and click the link to search grave records. Enter information about the person and click "Search."

5. Check the results to see if a memorial has already been created. If there is a record, you can still add photos or leave flowers and a note. Follow the prompts to create an account on the site and upload the information. You may also be able to request that the creator of the memorial transfer ownership to you so that you can make extensive changes to the information.

6. Create a new record by clicking the link to add burial information. You must have an account to do this. Click the "Family and Friends" button, or choose one of the other forms, and log in if you have not done so already.

7. Fill in the information about the person: name, birth date and place, and death date and place. Include the cemetery and the location of the cemetery. You can add a short bio, family history and other information. When you have finished, click the button to add the memorial to the site.

8. View the memorial page. Add pictures and edit any information on the memorial. If you do not live near the cemetery where your loved one is buried, you can request a photo of the gravesite. Volunteers around the country fill these requests.

Tips & Warnings

• For privacy reasons, Be careful how much current information is given.

References

• Find A Grave