How to Create an Online Memorial Page for Your Dad or Mum

How to create an online memorial page for your dad or mum. A step-by-step guide for Nigerian families with tips on photos, tributes, and sharing.

Losing a parent is one of the defining moments of anyone's life. In the weeks after the burial, when the guests have gone home and the WhatsApp condolence messages have slowed to a trickle, you may find yourself wanting to do something more. Something permanent. Something that ensures your dad or mum's story is not lost to time. If you are looking to create an online memorial page for your dad or mum, this guide walks you through exactly how to do it, what to include, and how to share it with your family.

For a broader explanation of what online memorials are and why they matter, see What Is an Online Memorial? A Guide for Nigerian Families.

Quick Summary

  • An online memorial page is a permanent digital tribute to your parent's life.

  • It takes just a few minutes to set up on a platform like CelebrateThem.

  • Include their name, life dates, a photograph, and a written tribute.

  • Share the link on WhatsApp so your entire family can visit, no matter where they are.

  • You can create one before the funeral, during, or years after.

Why Create a Memorial Page for Your Parent?

The burial programme gets misplaced. The newspaper obituary fades. The Facebook post disappears into the algorithm. But an online tribute page for your loved one stays. It has its own permanent web address that you can bookmark, share, and return to whenever you want.

For Nigerian families, especially those spread across multiple countries, an online memorial becomes a shared gathering point. Your sister in London can visit the page. Your cousin in Lagos can add a memory. Your uncle in Abuja can show the grandchildren. Everyone has access to the same photos, the same tribute, the same story, regardless of where they are.

Step-by-Step: Creating the Memorial Page

Here is how to set up a memorial page for your dad or mum:

Step 1: Choose Your Platform

CelebrateThem is designed specifically for Nigerian families. It is free, simple to use on a phone, and built for sharing on WhatsApp. You do not need any technical knowledge.

Step 2: Enter Their Details

You will need:

  • Full name: Include all titles and names they were known by. For example: "Chief (Mrs.) Grace Morenike Adebayo (nee Ogunleye)" or simply "Daddy Emeka" if that is how the family knew him.

  • Date of birth and date of death: If you are not sure of the exact date of birth (common with older Nigerians), use the year.

  • Location: Their hometown, state, or city of residence.

Step 3: Upload a Photograph

Choose a photo that captures who they were. This might be:

  • A formal portrait (studio photo, event photo)

  • A candid shot that shows their personality

  • A photo in traditional attire (agbada, iro and buba, gele)

  • A recent photo that family members will recognise

If you have multiple photos, you can often add more after the initial setup. Choose the best one as the primary image.

Step 4: Write the Tribute

This is the heart of the memorial. You can:

  • Copy the tribute from the burial programme. If you or a family member already wrote a tribute for the funeral, use that.

  • Write something new. Sometimes the tribute you write after the funeral, once the dust has settled and you have had time to reflect, is even better than what you wrote under pressure.

  • Copy the obituary. If you are short on time, pasting the obituary is a good start. You can always add a more personal tribute later.

For help writing a tribute from scratch, see our detailed guides on how to write a tribute to your late mother or how to write a tribute to your late father.

Step 5: Review and Publish

Read through everything once more. Check the spelling of the name, the accuracy of the dates, and the quality of the photo. Then publish. Your memorial page is now live, with its own permanent URL.

Step 6: Share the Link

This is where the memorial comes alive. Share the link:

  • In your family WhatsApp group

  • With friends and colleagues who knew your parent

  • On your social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X)

  • In church or mosque WhatsApp groups

  • With anyone who asks "Where can I pay my respects?"

For tips on getting the most out of WhatsApp sharing, see How to Share a Memorial on WhatsApp So Your Whole Family Can See It.

What to Include: A Checklist

Here is a comprehensive checklist for your parent's memorial page:

Essential:

  • Full name (with titles, maiden name if applicable)

  • Date of birth and date of death

  • Primary photograph

  • Written tribute or obituary

Recommended:

  • Multiple photos (childhood, youth, career, family moments, recent)

  • Location (hometown or city)

  • A favourite scripture, prayer, or quote

  • Names of surviving family members

Optional enhancements:

  • The order of service from the funeral

  • Links to video tributes or photo slideshows

  • Details of the burial programme

  • A section for other family members to add their own memories

When to Create the Memorial

There is no wrong time. Some families create the memorial page before the funeral and include the link on the burial programme and WhatsApp announcements. Others create it after the funeral as a way of preserving everything that was shared during the events.

And if your parent passed years ago, it is never too late. Some of the most meaningful memorials are created long after the funeral by children or grandchildren who want to ensure the story is not forgotten.

For Siblings: Coordinating the Memorial Together

If you have brothers and sisters, consider making the memorial a family project. One person can set up the page and handle the technical side, while others contribute:

  • Different siblings can write their own tributes

  • Each person can share their favourite photos

  • Family members abroad can add memories that those at home might not know

This collaborative approach often produces a richer, more complete memorial than any one person could create alone.

A Permanent Home for Your Parent's Story

Creating an online memorial page for your dad or mum is one of the simplest and most meaningful things you can do after losing a parent. It takes minutes. It costs nothing. And it ensures that the tributes, the photos, and the stories from the funeral do not vanish into a drawer or a deleted WhatsApp chat.

If you are ready to create a memorial, CelebrateThem makes it easy. Set it up, share the link, and give your parent's story the permanent home it deserves.

Your parent lived a life worth remembering. Make sure the next generation knows it.