What do I say?
What do I write?
Ideas for writing sympathy messages,
thank you notes, eulogies and epitaphs
Sympathy Messages
The best way to write a sympathy card is to be
genuine & say what you feel.
You should send your condolences as soon as
you hear the news of the death.
'Your mother must have been an amazing
woman because her energy and love
for people shine through in you'
'Please accept my sympathy for the terrible loss of your father.'
'Our Deepest Sympathy'
'With Deepest Sympathy'
'Our thoughts and prayers are with you'
'He/She lives with us in memory and will for evermore'
'Beloved wife and mother'
'Beloved husband and father'
'His/Her love will light your way'
'His/Her memory will forever be with us'
'She/He will never be forgotten'
'His/Her memory will always be in our hearts'
'Always in our hearts'
'May He/She be blessed with eternal life and love'
'His/Her greatest joy was making others happy'
'In sympathy of your loss, in joy of Heaven's gain'
'Sending you our love and deepest sympathy'
'They that love beyond the world
cannot be separated by it
for death cannot kill what never dies'
'May God bless you in your time of grief'
'I'm so sorry for your loss,
please know that you are in my thoughts'
'Even on your darkest days there's an
angel beside you to guide you along the way'
Writing a Eulogy
Keep your eulogy brief enough to say what you need to say;
remember most cemeteries/crematoriums have time restrictions.
Most funeral services have a 30 minute duration so check
with the funeral director before the service begins.
Always use the deceased’s name.
Speak about the unique qualities of that person;
you may include family history and
important career or personal highlights.
It is alright to use humour but keep it appropriate
- people enjoy hearing about the anecdotes
that are part of our lives.
Be sincere.
Speak as naturally as possible, just as if
talking to one person.
minister to determine their desires.
If you become upset when giving a eulogy,
take a moment to compose yourself and
take a few deep breaths before continuing;
others will understand.
Finally, a eulogy should be a celebration of a person’s life.
Epitaph Quotations
A friend to many & sadly missed
Gone from our home but not from our hearts
Love is eternal
We will love you always
With all my love
Loving memories last forever
May God be with you & comfort you
May the peace of the Lord be with you
Constant of faith, generous of heart
Blessed sleep to which we all return
In God's care
Our love goes with you & our souls wait to join you
God's garden has need of little flowers.
Remembering a tiny angel.
So small, so sweet, so soon.
Lord, we give you our littlest angel.
Blossomed on earth to bloom in Heaven.
Our littlest angel returned to Heaven.
Let thy child rest in hope and rise in glory.
God's greatest gift returned to Him -- my mother.
May God grant you eternal rest my dear mother.
Her memory is enshrined in our hearts.
Her friendship was an inspiration, her love a blessing.
Always loving, always loved.
To know her was to love her.
No man is indispensable, but some are irreplaceable.
His friendship was an inspiration, his love a blessing.
A loving father, tender & kind,
what a beautiful memory you left behind.
His greatest joy was making others happy.
God took him home, it was his will, but in our hearts he liveth still.
A man greatly loved.
Crosses and Symbols
Crosses
Calvary - a Latin cross on three steps
represents faith, hope & love
Celtic - includes a circle around the cross & is
representative of eternity
Eastern - (Orthodox or Russian) the upper horizontal
bar represents the site of inscription over the
head of the crucified Christ while the lower
slanting bar represents his foot rest.
Ionic - resembling the Celtic cross,
it symbolizes salvation, love & glory.
Gothic - flowered cross with fully opened ends
symbolizes the adult Christian.
Greek - arms of equal length make this the
traditional symbol of the Christian faith.
Christian Symbols
Butterfly - represents the Resurrection; new life
Candle - symbolizes divinity and goodness;
illumination of faith
Chalice - symbolizes the Eucharist and the Last Supper.
Chi Rho with interlocking rings - sacred symbol of marriage
Dove - represents peace, forgiveness and purity.
Fish - symbolic of faith in the Lord.
Flame - symbolizes the Holy Spirit
Fleur-de-lis - representative of the Trinity
as well as the Virgin Mary.
Interlocking rings - represents marriage
Lamp - represents wisdom & knowledge;
the guiding light
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