I wished my sister Valerie a happy birthday on April 28, as I have every year since she was born. For her past three birthdays, I’ve made that wish on Facebook rather than giving her a call, as I used to do. And, when I visited her page, I saw that several other people had posted birthday messages as well.

While that seems pretty normal, it’s actually not. Valerie died of cancer in October 2012. But those of us who love her (note the present tense) still find solace in being able to acknowledge and remember her on her special days.

Her husband, John, wrote: “Valerie, I remember your birthday wish was always to see rain, on or before your birthday. I don’t (know) if you get to see it now or not, but we have had (rain) this last week. Maybe it is your way of letting us know you are still around. Happy birthday, I miss the time we used to spend together. I love you.”

Valerie’s sons, Evan and Brent, also post remembrances in her honor, especially on her birthday and on Mother’s Day.

Last fall, my other sister, JoLynne, and I took a sisters’ trip to southeastern Wyoming to spend some time together and to photograph the beautiful autumn colors in the Snowy Range and Sierra Madres. During that trip, we both felt the absence — and the presence — of our missing sister. Valerie was on our thoughts, and in our hearts, much of the time.

And, when we returned to our respective homes, we each posted tributes in Valerie’s honor.

Here is mine:

“Valerie, I found your tree Saturday. This is the tree you saw growing out of the side of a cliff by the Snowy Range Scenic Byway when we went up there together in September 2012. Knowing the mortal battle you would have to endure soon, you pointed out how, despite the struggle of growing out of solid rock, that little tree remained strong. ‘I want to be as strong as that tree,’ you said. I’m proud to say you were every bit as strong as you hoped to be. I miss you, and I so admire your gallant fight, as well as the example you set of service and selflessness as you prepared to leave this life to return to our Heavenly Father. I love you and miss you, as always.”

For me, being able to write to Valerie on Facebook is an opportunity to express my thoughts with her more formally, as if she were next door. It’s also my way of acknowledging that I believe our separation is only temporary; that, eventually, we will be together again.

These days, many people find solace by posting tributes on social media in honor of loved ones who have passed away.

My daughter-in-law and her sister often write comments or tributes to their father, who died six years ago, when they’re thinking of him — his birthday, Father’s Day, the anniversary of his death, or just when they are missing him.

Laura Kurtz of Powell frequently mentions her daughter, Summer Bell, in her posts. Summer died a few years ago while waiting for a double-lung transplant. In addition to expressing love for Summer, Laura uses those posts to encourage people to register as organ donors.

Former Powell High School football coach Jim Stringer’s Facebook page includes posts from friends and loved ones who want to convey their thoughts of him, and to him, beyond the grave. Many people have made additional tributes to Stringer in posts on their own pages.

The need to express our thoughts and devotion to our deceased loved ones is very real for us as human beings, as illustrated in many ways:

When tragedies occur around the nation, and around the world, spontaneous memorials often are created by people placing objects, such as flowers, notes or teddy bears, to honor those whose lives were lost.

When a motor-vehicle crash claims the lives of loved ones, family members and friends often arrange for small memorials to be placed at the site of the crash.

People gather in cemeteries to decorate the graves of their loved ones, especially on the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

A statue of an angel was erected in a Salt Lake City cemetery in 1994 to provide a place to mourn for parents who have lost children to death. The statue was inspired by the book “The Christmas Box” and the movie that followed. The story tells of a woman who, even in her old age, still went to the statue of an angel to mourn her daughter, who died as a small child.

The first Christmas Box Angel was erected in Salt Lake City “in response to reports that grieving parents were seeking out the angel as a place to grieve and heal,” according to information at www.richardpaulevans.com/angel-statues.

Since then, similar statues have been placed in more than 120 cemeteries, including one in Cheyenne.

These are some of the many ways in which people deal with their grief following the death of loved ones.

But, for me, there is something so personal and comforting in being able to put my thoughts to my sister into writing. Since I can’t call Valerie up on the telephone when I’m thinking of her, as I once did, it’s nice to know that I can still communicate with her, at least in my heart and on Facebook. I believe that, somehow, she still gets the message.