Grieving the loss of a loved one is emotionally demanding and can make one somewhat distracted from what is happening around them. At times like this, it can be easy to forget who was there to offer comfort and pay their respects. This is one reason the use of funeral register books is strongly encouraged.
There are numerous versions of these products to provide families with a listing of who attended services and how they knew the deceased. These items can be very basic, allowing spaces only for names, addresses and manner of relationship, or they could be more open so that people may share memories, leave messages or add special photographs. They are available in both physical and virtual formats.
Due to various reasons, some people who cared for the deceased may not be able to make a physical appearance at the services. By setting up a virtual guest book, these individuals are provided the opportunity to express their condolences, photos and memories of the one who has passed. Most sites will have the option of collecting the submissions and having them printed in an album.
Only those in attendance are able to sign a physical book. Some families prefer to keep things simple by having guests leave just the basics like their name, address and how they knew the deceased. Others enjoy the sentimental intimacy of allowing others to share their special times and personal thoughts.
In some cases, having a traditional book may not be practical due to the amount of people or size of the venue. This can be solved by having stations set up for guests to leave their messages on cards that are collected in designated containers. After the service the family can collect these and spend time reading them as they place them in a special album.
Many people are now opting to provide both virtual and physical registries in order to accommodate everyone who wishes to pay their final respects. Bringing them together creates a more complete keepsake for the family. After the mourning period is over, they can read the entries and more fully appreciate the love that was shared.
