Online memorial vs. obituary:
what is the difference?
An obituary announces a death. A memorial website celebrates a lifetime. Understand how they differ and how modern families use both together.
Concise announcement · Permanent life memorial · Better together · $0 to start
Two different formats for two different purposes.
One is a practical announcement for the public community; the other is a permanent living archive for the family.
The Practical Announcement
A formal, text-heavy notice published in local newspapers or funeral home websites to notify the public of a death and provide funeral service dates and directions.
The Living Family Archive
An unhurried, museum-grade digital sanctuary celebrating their whole life. Holds uncompressed photo galleries, audio notes, video clips, a life timeline, and memories from friends.
How an obituary and an online memorial compare.
A clear evaluation of purpose, media capacity, authorship, advertising, and longevity.
Swipe horizontally to compare dimensions →
| Dimension | Traditional Obituary | Theirs Online Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Core Purpose | Announce death & funeral service times | Celebrate their whole lifetime & personality |
| Media Capacity | Single low-res newspaper thumbnail | High-res photos, voicemails, audio & video |
| Authorship | Written by one family member under stress | Collaborative: friends & family add stories |
| Lifespan & Longevity | Newspaper edition or 30-day online listing | Permanent web address with zero renewal fees |
| Advertising Environment | Often surrounded by ads, banners & florist links | 100% ad-free, quiet, editorial aesthetic |
| Community Interaction | Static one-way announcement | Tributes, audio memories, moderated guestbook |
| Typical Cost | $300 to $800+ in regional newspapers | $0 Free Plan / $179 one-time Complete |
The summary: An obituary is a necessary broadcast for a community event. A memorial website is a lasting home for love, photographs, and memories that outlives the funeral by decades.
How to connect your obituary to an online memorial.
The simple 3-step strategy used by modern families to save money on expensive newspaper printing while building a lasting family archive.
Keep the newspaper obituary brief and factual
Newspapers charge by word or column inch. Focus your newspaper text on essential logistics: full name, life dates, service time, location, and key surviving family. This keeps print costs under control.
Add your clean Theirs link to the closing line
Conclude the obituary with: “In lieu of flowers, view Robert's photo gallery and add your memories at theirs.page/robert-carter.” Everyone who reads the paper now has a bridge to the full memorial.
Let the memorial grow over decades
While the printed newspaper ends up recycled, the online memorial remains. Friends and family can continue adding photographs, voicemails, and tributes on future anniversaries, birthdays, and celebrations of life.
See the difference in practice.
Compare a brief 85-word newspaper notice with Robert Carter's full living online memorial.
CARTER, Robert Edward
Devon Gazette · Published October 12, 2024
Passed away peacefully on October 4, 2024, aged 76. Beloved husband of Clara, loving father to Anita and Thomas, devoted grandfather. Master clockmaker of Barnstaple for forty years.
Funeral service at St. Peter's Church on October 18 at 11:00 AM. Family flowers only.
Share memories and view photos at theirs.page/robert-carter
Robert Edward Carter
1948 — 2024 · Master Clockmaker · Devon, UK
Complete Archive · 28 Photos · Timeline“He lived with gentle kindness and quiet courage. Dad spent his life fixing clocks, wandering the Devon hills, and telling stories that took an hour to reach the punchline.”
Create an online memorial in a few minutes.
Start simple with their name and portrait, and let family and friends assemble the rest.
Start with their name
Add their name, life dates, and a favorite portrait. This claims your clean web address (like theirs.page/robert-carter).
Add what you have today
Add up to 5 photographs and the beginning of their story. You don't need to finish everything right now — you can return anytime.
Include the link in the obituary
Add the clean web link to the printed newspaper or service card so everyone attending can contribute their own memories.
Start free. Make it complete when you're ready.
Create a simple memorial for free. Upgrade once when you want to preserve their full story without monthly subscriptions.
Free
SIMPLE MEMORIAL
$0Free Plan
- Photos included
- Up to 5
- Memories
- Guestbook
- Page privacy
- Public / Link
- Charged
- $0
- Dedicated Theirs memorial page
- No Login/Sign up for contributions
- Up to 5 essential photos
- Share with family and friends
- Public or link-only sharing
- Quiet, ad-free environment
- AI Assisted moderation
No credit card. Not a trial.
Complete
Family archive
$179one-time
- Photos & media
- Original quality
- Voice & audio
- Preserved recordings
- Family contributors
- Invite anytime
- Charged
- Once per memorial
- Everything in Free
- Family stories & memories
- Original-quality photos & media
- Generous media storage
- Life Story timeline of their life
- Video & voice recordings
- Invite family contributors
- Private family memorial
- Multiple family caretakers
- Choose a successor caretaker
- Approve contributions before publishing
- 5 photo restorations included
- Download the complete family archive
One-time payment per memorial. No monthly fees.
Common questions about online memorials and obituaries.
Clear answers to help you navigate announcements and digital remembrance.
More memorial guides and resources.
Helpful reading as you consider how best to remember your loved one.
Create an Online Memorial →
How to set up a lasting memorial page for someone you love in minutes.
Free Online Memorial →
Learn what $0 includes and publish a free memorial page without a credit card.
Memorial Website Examples →
Explore real memorials, layout ideas, and collaborative family pages.
Best Online Memorial Websites →
An honest 2026 comparison of pricing, features, ads, and privacy across platforms.
Start with their name. The rest can come together over time.
You don’t need to have everything ready. Create their memorial now, then add photos, stories and tributes whenever you’re ready — with family and friends alongside you.