Online Memorials

Forty years ago it was commonly expected that an obituary for a loved one would be published in the print newspapers in the community or communities where the deceased resided for any length of time. But the continued decline in readership, due in large part to the Internet, has greatly affected this long-standing tradition. In fact, today's newspapers are changing the way they deal with obituary submissions:

• Due to space constraints and a rise in printing costs, some newspapers don't publish every obituary submitted to them. Instead they opt to publish the obituaries of the greatest interest to their readership.
• While some local newspapers publish obituaries or death notices at no charge to the family; others demand a rather significant publication fee, based on word count or the number of column inches used, and there is usually an extra fee for any photographs submitted for inclusion.
• Today's newspapers now consider obituaries or death notices as "advertising" which means they are handled by the classified advertising department. Space is at a premium, and obituary publication can be postponed in lieu of more timely or lucrative advertising contracts.

Today, There's the Internet

Fortunately, online memorials have taken the place of the print obituary or death notice, and Johnson's Funeral Home offers what we consider to be the finest example of online memorials, the Book of Memories™. Created by a team of award-winning web developers and designers lead by a funeral professional with over 25 years of experience, the Book of Memories™ is intended not only to replace the print obituary, but to provide your family with a permanent place to pay tribute to your loved one.

More About the Book of Memories™

Far more than a traditional obituary–which is usually published only once and has no interactivity at all–the Book of Memories™ Memorial Website is a fully-interactive archive of treasured photographs and stories remembered from their time spent with friends, family, neighbors and co-workers.

You'll be able to invite others to visit the online memorial, where they can upload images, light a virtual memorial candle, send a sympathy card, share stories, write heart-felt messages of condolence, send a floral tribute to the funeral, or make a charitable donation in memory of your loved one. And the built-in social media integration means they can then “spread the word” about their addition to your loved one’s Book of Memories™ using Facebook and Twitter.

We offer the families we serve a Book of Memories™ memorial website with the intention that it gives you a measure of solace and comfort during the coming months. To arrange for a Book of Memories® memorial website for your loved one, call us today at 502-863-3550.