Funeral and Memorial Notice Wording: 40+ Examples

Announcing a funeral or memorial is a job that lands on someone in the middle of grief, usually with a deadline. Here are 40+ wording examples you can adapt quickly.

Send yours in a free sympathy ecard where post is too slow, or use it as the wording for a notice.

Funeral notice wording

1. The funeral of Thomas Hart will be held on Friday 14th at 11am, St Mary’s Church, Ashford, followed by refreshments at The Grange.
2. Thomas Hart, who died peacefully on 2nd September, will be laid to rest on Friday 14th at 11am, St Mary’s Church.
3. We invite you to join us in celebrating the life of Thomas Hart. Friday 14th, 11am, St Mary’s Church.
4. The funeral service for our father will take place on Friday 14th at 11am. All who knew him are welcome.
5. A service to remember Thomas Hart will be held on Friday 14th at 11am. Family flowers only.
6. Thomas Hart’s funeral: Friday 14th September, 11am, St Mary’s Church, Ashford AB1 2CD.
7. Please join us to say goodbye to Thomas. Friday 14th, 11am, followed by lunch at The Grange.
8. The family of Thomas Hart invite you to his funeral on Friday 14th at 11am.
9. A private cremation will be followed by a memorial service on Friday 14th at 2pm, open to all.
10. We will be gathering to remember Thomas on Friday 14th at 11am. All welcome.

Memorial or celebration of life wording

1. A celebration of the life of Thomas Hart. Saturday 12th October, 2pm, The Grange. Bright colours welcome.
2. Please join us to remember Thomas and to raise a glass to him. Saturday 12th, 2pm.
3. A memorial gathering for Thomas Hart, one year on. Saturday 12th, 2pm, at the cricket club.
4. We are holding a celebration of Dad’s life. Saturday 12th, 2pm. Stories very welcome.
5. Join us to remember Thomas — informal, warm, and exactly as he would have wanted.
6. A memorial service will be held on Saturday 12th at 2pm for family and friends.
7. Please come and help us remember him properly. Saturday 12th, 2pm, The Grange.
8. An afternoon to celebrate Thomas. Saturday 12th, 2pm. Please bring a photograph if you have one.

Wording for flowers and donations

1. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to the hospice.
2. No flowers by request. Donations to Cancer Research would be welcome.
3. Flowers welcome, or donations to the ward that cared for him.
4. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the air ambulance.
5. Donations may be made at the service or online at the address below.
6. Please, no flowers. Your presence is more than enough.

Practical details

1. Please arrive by 10.45am. The service begins promptly at 11.
2. Parking is limited at the church; the car park on Mill Lane is a five-minute walk.
3. The wake will be held at The Grange from 12.30pm. All are welcome.
4. Dress: no black required. He would have hated it.
5. The service will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend. Link below.
6. Children are very welcome.
7. Please let Jo know if you plan to come to the wake, for catering.
8. The burial is family only; everyone is welcome at the church and afterwards.
9. There will be an opportunity to share memories during the service.
10. If you would like to speak, please contact Jo before the 10th.

Short notice lines

1. Thomas Hart, 1948 to 2027. Funeral Friday 14th, 11am, St Mary’s.
2. Please join us to say goodbye. Friday 14th, 11am.
3. A celebration of his life — Saturday 12th, 2pm.
4. All who knew him are welcome.
5. Funeral details enclosed. Family flowers only.
6. Remembering Thomas. Friday 14th, 11am.

How to word it

1. Lead with the essentials. Name, date, time, place. People scan for those first and read the rest afterwards.
2. Say who is welcome. “All who knew him” removes real anxiety for colleagues and distant friends.
3. Handle flowers and donations explicitly. Everyone wonders and nobody wants to ask the family.
4. Mention the wake separately. Many people attend one and not the other, and need to know both.
5. Delegate the sending. This is a job a friend can do entirely on the family’s behalf.

Send it

A free sympathy ecard can carry details where post is too slow. See also funeral flower card messages and thank-you messages after a funeral:

FAQ

What do you write on a funeral notice?

The person’s name, the date, time and full address of the service, details of the wake, and guidance on flowers or donations.

How do you word family flowers only?

“Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to…” — it is standard wording and nobody takes offence.

Should you say who is invited?

Yes. “All who knew him are welcome” removes genuine uncertainty for colleagues and acquaintances.

What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial?

A funeral takes place soon after the death, usually with the body present. A memorial can be weeks or months later and is often less formal.

Can someone else send these on the family’s behalf?

Yes, and they should. Notifying people is the most delegable job in the whole process.

Should you mention a live stream?

If there is one, prominently. It matters enormously to people who cannot travel.