Funerals & Memorials > What should you include in your Funeral Thank You Card?

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What should you include in your Funeral Thank You Card?

Words by Utterly Printable

What is a funeral thank you card?

A funeral thank you card is a short note that the family of the deceased send out to those they wish to thank for their invaluable support during what is often a very difficult time for people. You could be thanking someone for attending the funeral or memorial service, for sending a sympathy card or bouquet of flowers, or for donating to the charity you choose in your loved one’s honour.  Whatever the reason for your thanks, the overwhelming message is that you recognise and are grateful for the support that a person has offered during what has been a challenging time for you and your family.

 Who do I send a funeral thank you card to?

You don’t have to send a thank you card to every person who attended the funeral or wake, this could amount to hundreds and will simply not be possible for many people when they are still grieving. However, you may well have accrued a mental list of those you would particularly like to thank for their support to let them know that even in the difficult time where you might not be able to show it, you’re thankful for their positive presence in your life. Think about including those who have helped with funeral and wake arrangements, the clergy or funeral home directors, friends who have gone above and beyond to offer emotional and practical support, and more distant relatives who have offered comfort.

When do I send out a funeral thank you card?

At this time in your life where writing thank you cards is likely the last thing you feel like doing, it is important to note that there is no time limit. Don’t feel like you have to start this task the day, week or even month after your loved one’s funeral as no one will be upset or. Starting the process, with a long list of recipients can make this task seem daunting and endless, the best thing to do is to break it up into manageable smaller sections and then leave the rest until a day when you have more energy and time again. Be gentle on yourself, there is no right or wrong way to go through this process so do what feels right to you.

What do I write on a funeral thank you card?

Some people prefer to write one or two lines themselves on each individual funeral cards, whereas others prefer to use the same wording for every card and then perhaps add a few handwritten lines separately for specific people. If this is your preferred option then by far the easiest method is to design a funeral thank you card online, order the number you wish to send and then add on any personal messages by hand once they are printed. Another benefit of sending a standardised card like this is that you can include a picture of your loved one and customise the design to make it truly personal to you and your family.

Below we have included a few wording template examples to help you find what you want to say. There is no perfect phrase or way to write a thank you card, your friends and family will appreciate the gesture no matter what it says.

For thanking those who attended the funeral or memorial:

Opening Line

• It was very nice to see you at (your loved one)’s funeral.
• Thank you for taking the time to attend ___’s funeral.
• It meant so much to see you at ___’s funeral

Follow-up

• I/we truly appreciate the time you took/effort you made to travel such a distance.
• Thank you for the stories and memories you shared.
• Your words were such a comfort.
• Your stories were so special/sweet/lovely.
• You meant so much to ____.

Closing Line

• Your presence meant so much to me/our family.
• Your support truly made a difference during this difficult time.
• Thank you for your hugs and kind words of support.
• Your thoughtfulness/kindness/support means more than words can possibly express.

Thanking those who flowers, gestures and cards

Flowers/Donations

• Thank you for sending the beautiful arrangement/memorial contribution. Your kindness and thoughtfulness meant so much.
• As we celebrated the life of ___, your flowers brought such beauty to the room.
• Thank you for the gorgeous arrangement/generous donation. That was very kind of you and I/we feel so grateful to have you in my life/our lives.

Food/Help/Thoughtful Gestures

• I cannot begin to express how much it meant to us for you to (bring meals, watch my kids, take care of my dog, etc.). Your kindness and care brought comfort, relief and peace-of-mind during a very challenging time. Thank you.
• I cannot thank you enough for the meal(s) you brought to our home. Having one less thing to worry about during this difficult and busy time made an incredible difference.

Sympathy Card

• Thank you for thinking of our family during this difficult time. Your card was sincerely appreciated.
• Thank you so much for your sympathy card. I/ we truly appreciated the warm words of comfort. You are

As part of our wider funeral stationery range, we also have funeral announcement cards to announce the sad passing of a loved one. And for the ceremony itself, we have a collection of elegant funeral order of service for you to design online.