theObituaries.ca asks Canadians: How do you want to be remembered?
OSHAWA, Ontario, October 3, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - Most of us have probably paused at one time or another to reflect on our lives while wondering how people might remember us after we are gone. theObituaries.ca is inviting Canadians to think about just that through a new Facebook app. This app was developed in conjunction with the launch of the organization's advanced pre-plan, obituary and memorial website designed to build a national online registry with all the services needed to assist those affected by the loss of a loved one.
"Unfortunately death is a fact of life. By asking people to reflect on their life and how they would like to be remembered through our Facebook campaign and other popular social networking sites, we think people might be surprised by what they learn about themselves, their family and friends", says John Cowie, a partner at theObituaries.ca and President of Adlure Media.
theObituaries.ca has everything families and friends need to respectfully honour a loved one. Beautiful obituary announcements that include photos, service details and maps; the ability to offer condolences privately, publicly and via social media; make secure charitable donations;deliver flowers or sympathy cards and more. Individuals can Pre-Plan announcements during a less stressful time; create and post Obituaries with many photos and unlimited text; and/or ensure there is a lasting online Memorial that perpetually honours the loved one.
An affordable integrated solution
The value for someone signing up with theObituaries.ca is that regardless of when the product is selected, there is only a one-time fee of $125. An individual creates a Pre-Planned Obituary that transitions to an Obituary Announcement, and then automatically converts to a Memorial without any additional fees. The assigned owners of the Memorial are able to update and refresh the content anytime, from anywhere. The fully integrated site includes social media platforms and easy sharing tools, group email sharing, Facebook wall posts, Twitter and even LinkedIn for business related network sharing and awareness.
Partnership with CanadaHelps.org facilitates fast and easy donations
theObituaries.ca is a feature-rich website. One of its key features is its partnership with CanadaHelps.org. When honouring the deceased, families often suggest donations be made to a specific charity. Those viewing an obituary or memorial on theObituaries.ca are able to easily and securely donate to any of the more than 85,000 registered Canadian charities.and instantly receive a tax receipt by e-mail.
"We're excited to partner with theObituaries.ca to help make it easier for people to make donations in honour of a loved one," said Marina Glogavac, President & CEO, CanadaHelps.org. "Since 2000, through our web site we have facilitated over $300 million in charitable donations to over 13,000 charities. We are all about making giving simple which takes on an even greater importance during the difficult time of losing a friend, family member and loved one." "CanadaHelps.org was the only partner for us to truly consider," added James Stewart, Founder & CEO of theObituaries.ca. "They make 'in memory of donations' easy for our customers."
Jody Rowland placed a Memorial on theObituaries.ca and reached more people more quickly
Jody Rowland, a carpenter in Gravenhurst, Ontario, was considering placing a memorial in his local newspaper to mark the 10-year anniversary of the passing of his father. Then he thought about who he wanted to share it with and the best way to reach them. As a military veteran, his father had lived in many parts of Canada, far beyond the reach of his local newspaper. A conversation with Randy Smart, a member of his baseball team and co-founder of theObituaries.ca, provided Jody with the forum and reach he was looking for.
"We set up a beautiful memorial for my father that has been shared with his loved ones who live across the country, Jody says. " And over time we plan to continue to update the memorial with more stories and photos including an early one of him in his Royal Canadian Navy uniform."
Having lost his father at a young age and with a wife in the life insurance business, Jody is very aware of the importance of planning for one's passing, which now has him very interested in theObituaries.ca's Pre-plan Obituary service.
"My wife and I definitely plan to do this. I want to make all the arrangements in advance, have my obituary written and ready to post so I know exactly how it is going to be seen and that nothing will be left to chance or get lost in translation."
Inspiration behind theObituaries.ca
Inspired by personal loss and the challenges his family faced when trying to ensure friends, coworkers and communities were aware and afforded the opportunity to pay their respects, Oshawa resident, James Stewart, decided there had to be a better way. Along with his three partners, he launched theObituaries.ca. The original concept was a website for consumers, however the project grew to include funeral professionals and the services families need to plan and receive support.
"With nearly 2,000 funeral homes in Canada and approximately 280,000 families affected by deaths each year, and the fact that many funeral services occur within 1 to 3 days of the passing, sharing announcements quickly and effectively is critical," said Stewart, Founder and CEO of theObituaries.ca. "We make it easier for funeral homes and families to tastefully inform more people, more quickly, with less effort and cost than available elsewhere."
theObituatries.ca makes it easier for funeral homes
In addition to the complete solution for consumers, theObituaries.ca also provides funeral homes with a free professional, integrated and customized web site or they will work with a funeral home's existing site to leverage their services.
"If we help funeral homes with their technology needs, they should be able to focus more time on what they do best - helping families, when they need it most," added Randy Smart, Co-Founder and COO of theObituaries.ca."
Based in Oshawa, Ontario, theObituaries.ca is an all-Canadian company founded in 2012. The site and web services are designed to provide families with affordable, respectable obituaries and memorials that families can own and manage in perpetuity, sharing their family history with future generations.
