Virtual Memorial Guide
  • Welcome to your guide
  • Table of contents
  • Checklist
  • Grief
    • A word on grief
    • Practices for grieving
  • Step by Step Guide
    • 1. Consider purpose & tone
    • 2. Define roles
    • 3. Choose a format
    • 4. Set up your tech
    • 5. Send invitations
    • 6. Consider the elements
    • 7. Design your program
    • 8. Customize slides
    • 9. Record facilitation notes
    • 10. Rehearse the program
    • 11. Day of Hosting
  • Memorial Elements Library
    • Opening
      • Arrival
      • Formal start & invocation
      • Orientation
    • Memorial
      • Music
      • Readings
      • Eulogies
      • Slideshow or video
      • Group activity
    • Closing
      • Letting go ceremony
      • Closing reflection
    • Post-service gathering
  • Get Involved
  • Improve this guide
  • Donate
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  • Checklist
  • A Word on Grief
  • Step-by-Step Guide
  • Memorial Elements Library
  • Opening
  • Memorial
  • Closing
  • Post-Memorial

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Table of contents

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Last updated 4 years ago

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Checklist

A for you to track what is involved in the memorial planning process. The document also contains a worksheet that helps you design the memorial program.

A Word on Grief

The Virtual Memorial Guide is not meant as a robust resource for grieving. Our main hope is only to acknowledge grief's centrality to this process and provide an invitation to be gentle with yourself as you begin planning the memorial.

  • // What to expect when grieving

  • // These will help with your memorial planning, so we recommend doing some of these as you begin planning the memorial

Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up the Memorial

  1. // Consider the purpose of and tone of the memorial and select a few emotional notes you would like to create during the ceremony.

  2. // Enlist the help of friends and family when planning a memorial. At minimum, you will want a tech operator and facilitator for hosting.

  3. // When planning a virtual memorial, you can choose a participatory option (e.g. Zoom) or a broadcast option (e.g. Facebook Live).

  4. // You'll need to purchase a Zoom account and set up your account settings in advance of sending invitations if you'd like to include the Zoom URL.

  5. // Create simple and beautiful invitations to share with guests and include some helpful tips to prepare them for the experience.

Building your Service

Creating Slides & Notes

Preparing to Host

Memorial Elements Library

Opening

Memorial

Closing

Post-Memorial

// Read through the memorial elements we've identified and think about which ones appeal to you.

// Pick from the sample elements we've identified and sequence into an order you like. Use the checklist to work through the order of elements.

// Make a copy of one of the templates, and edit it to add your own photos, videos, words, etc. Then re-arrange or delete slides to fit the program you designed.

// Be sure to make notes for the facilitator and tech operator so they know what to do at each step of the program. You can edit these in the checklist document or in the notes slides in the templates.

// Do a dry run or walkthrough with the facilitation team to test both the technology and to practice hosting the event.

// Set time aside to fully prepare for the memorial and run through some last-minute checks.

simple checklist
On Grief
Practices for grieving
Consider the purpose & tone
Define roles
Choose a format
Set up your tech
Send invitations
Consider the memorial elements
Design your program
Customize slides
Record facilitation notes
Rehearse the program
Day of hosting
Arrival
Invocation
Orientation
Music
Readings
Eulogies
Slideshow or Video
Group Activity
Letting Go Ceremony
Closing Reflection
Community Reception