Virtual memorials are a way to remember and commemorate a loved one or friend via the web. Virtual memorials usually come in the form of a special domain set up for an individual. However, there are also many web services that offer the ability to create a virtual memorial page and then have it hosted by the service.

Virtual memorials can include photos, videos, a slideshow, audio files, etc. of a person that you would like to remember. With virtual memorial services, web page templates are usually available to quickly and efficiently create a pleasant-looking memorial even if you are not tech savvy.

Virtual memorials usually include web 2.0 technology, which means that almost anyone can participate in adding comments, photos, videos, etc. This feature can be turned off if preferred, but having this feature makes it much easier for a community to mourn a loved one.

Many virtual memorial services may seem morbid in that they can be thought of as an extension of a funeral service or as a virtual graveyard. In reality, however, many virtual memorials celebrate the individual and are a great way to bring together friends and family over large distances.

While many virtual memorials are free services, there are virtual memorial sites which require a fee, usually for templates, hosting and possibly scanning and uploading photos. These fee-based virtual memorial sites are usually affordable with prices at about the $50 mark.

Virtual memorials are not created just for people. In fact, one of the most popular virtual memorial categories is pets. Many families create a virtual memorial for their favorite cat or dog to remember the love and fun they shared.

Another trend is to use the many free social sites to create a web page for the memory of a person, such as using MySpace or Facebook.