Every memorial has its own guestbook for visitors to leave a message that will later be posted. Visitors even have the opportunity to leave flowers at each memorial. Helping others who are grieving has been good therapy for Stevens, but she admits it comes with a price. The memorials for young people are the most difficult for Stevens to create, who sometimes cries as she looks at the photos of their young faces. The concept of virtual memorials is growing, and in viewing the many Web sites, the phenomenon is easily understood.
Modern technology allows relatives and friends from around the globe to pay tribute to loved ones.
The sites also bring the grieving together. Many have extensive lists of links to grief support groups. Others draw the grief stricken together through posts of tribute that lead to e-mail sharing. I have become acquainted with some remarkably nice people during my work with the memorials,' said Stevens. Death and grieving are universal to all species.