How to memorialise someone's life and legacy
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A funeral is one day. Remembering someone goes on much longer. It's the stories told at family dinners and the songs that bring them back. A memorial gives those memories somewhere to live, forever.
Why do memorials help?
A memorial does more than mark a loss. It brings people together around a life:
- They give your grief a place to go
- They let people who live far away take part
- They help children and grandchildren know who the person was
- They celebrate a whole life, not just the end of it
What is an online memorial?
An online memorial is a web page for someone you've lost, whether recently or long ago. Family and friends can visit it at any time to share stories, photos and messages.
How do I write about a life?
The details that matter most are often small. When you write a memorial or a eulogy, think about:
- What they always ordered at their favourite cafe
- Something they always said
- The way they laughed
- A song they loved
- A small kindness people still remember
Ask a few friends and relatives for one memory each. Together, these build a fuller picture than any list of dates. If you'd like help putting it into words, Gaia's Eulogy Writer can help you draft a eulogy. Try the Eulogy Writer
Can I keep their voice?
Absolutely. Look for voice messages, videos and old recordings, and save them somewhere safe. If someone close to you is unwell and willing, recording them telling a favourite story can become a treasured keepsake.
What if people can't come to the service?
An online memorial can be a living memorial, where family and friends watch the service from anywhere, either live or later at their convenience.
Funerals Live by Gaia can help you organise a live stream during the service, and we upload the recording straight to your online memorial with a unique web link for sharing.
What keepsakes and tributes can we make?
A funeral gives shape to the first raw days. Then everyone goes home. Keepsakes and tributes give grief somewhere to live in the weeks, months and years that follow, when the support has thinned out but the loss hasn't. They help us stay connected, remember clearly and carry someone forward.
Memory fades and blurs over time. A keepsake holds on to the details for you and keeps your bond with them alive. It can be simple or symbolic, made in the first weeks or years later. Some ideas families often choose:
- Preserved flowers from the service
- A memory book that guests write in
- A tree planted in their honour
- A piece of their jewellery or clothing passed on
- Gemstones fashioned from their ashes
- A donation to a cause they cared about
What is a memorial QR plaque?
A QR plaque is a small, weatherproof plaque for a headstone, bench or garden. When someone scans the QR code with their phone, it opens the online memorial. Visitors can see photos, read stories and leave a message. Order a memorial QR plaque
Common questions
It depends on the plan you choose. With Gaia you can start for free and move to a longer-term plan whenever you're ready.
Yes. You decide how public or private the memorial is.
It's never too late. Many families create one on an anniversary or a birthday, when the time feels right.
Go to Manage a memorial and sign in with the email you used when publishing. From there you can edit the memorial, add photos and remove tributes whenever you need to.
Written by Agam Lamba. Last reviewed .
This article is general information for people in Australia. Take things at your own pace, and lean on the people around you when you need to.
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