A funeral card is a thoughtful offering given to a grieving family. This special card helps to honour the memory of the deceased while providing much-needed love and support at a sensitive time.
Creating a funeral card is a simple way to show how much you care. These cards normally include thoughtful words, from simple messages to quotes, poems, and psalms. Finding the right words can be difficult, however, and sometimes you need a little help.
Setting the Right Tone
When making a funeral card, it's important to choose comforting words with real meaning. Depending on who the person is and how well you knew them, you need to find the right balance between familiarity and respect. While adding a personal touch is generally a good idea, informality can be frowned upon in some situations. To get the balance right, you need to reflect on who the person was, how well you knew them, and what their family and friends are likely to expect.
Whatever type of funeral card you make, it's important to set an appropriate tone. You need to celebrate the life of the deceased while honouring their memory and respecting their family. Every word has an impact, so take your time, reflect on your ideas, and refine your message before sending it away.
Suggestions and Examples
Creating a funeral card can be simple, but it's also highly sensitive. It's important to get everything right, from card design and photo selection to paper and envelope materials. More than anything else, however, it's vital to choose your words carefully.
There's no single best way to write a funeral card; it all comes down to relationships. The type of relationship you had with the deceased will influence the words you put on the page, and the relationship you have with the bereaved should also be considered. The following examples highlight some possible scenarios:
Close Family
If the deceased person is a close family member, you probably knew them quite well. Not only that, but you're also likely to know their family and friends. Instead of formal messaging, which can be useful in other situations, you can use personal and emotional language. Speak of love and memories, add a thoughtful anecdote, and include a favourite quote or song lyric. The words "we miss you" and "always in my heart" are always appropriate when there's a loss close to home.
Distant Relatives
Distant family funerals can be difficult, with deep feelings of loss often mixed with uncertainty. Writing a funeral card in this situation can be challenging, especially if you didn't know the person very well. While you want to avoid overly formal or generic messaging, it's also important to show respect. Cultural or religious messages can be used to good effect, along with quotes or poems that meant something to the deceased. Appropriate phrases include "gone but not forgotten", "with deepest sympathy", and "in loving memory."
Casual Acquaintances
When writing a funeral card for a casual acquaintance or work colleague, you should avoid being too familiar. While adding a personal touch can sometimes be a good idea, casual messages and anecdotes often seem out of place. Instead, try to create a respectful tone using conventional or formal language. Famous quotes can be useful in this situation. Depending on the person's background, possible messages include "rest in peace", "with heartfelt condolences", and "sorry for your loss".
Along with these broad relationship categories, other things also need to be considered. For example, you need to think about the religious and cultural background of the family, as well as the level of formality they're likely to expect. While it's fine to show your personality in a funeral card, you need to read the room.
When people are hurting from the loss of a loved one, heartfelt words provide comfort and solace. They're a great way to honour the deceased, and a fantastic way to show respect for the living. Whether you're writing a funeral card for a close family member, a distant relative, or a casual acquaintance, the right words offer real healing potential.
