The Tribute Journal
Funeral Announcement Examples: 20 Samples to Copy
A funeral announcement tells people that someone has died, and when and where to come. It is short, often under a hundred words, and its only job is to get the essential details to everyone quickly. Below are twenty examples to copy, for every channel and situation.
Announcement, obituary or invitation?
- A funeral announcement gives the news and the service details. Short, factual and fast.
- An obituary tells the life story: family, work, faith, what they loved. It usually ends with the service details. See our obituary examples.
- An invitation suits a gathering that is by invitation or more informal, such as a celebration of life.
Most families send a short announcement first and publish the full obituary once it is written. You do not have to wait for the obituary before letting people know.
What every announcement needs
- The full name, with any nickname or maiden name people would recognize
- Their age and the date they died
- The type of service: funeral, memorial, celebration of life or graveside
- The date, the time and the full address of the venue
- The visitation or viewing time, if there is one
- Reception or repast details
- A livestream link, if the service will be streamed
- Your wishes on flowers or donations. See our in lieu of flowers wording
- Who to contact with questions, if it is not the funeral home
The cause of death is never required. Include it only if the family wants to.
Formal announcements
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of [Full Name], age [Age], on [Date]. A funeral service will be held on [Day, Date] at [Time] at [Church or Funeral Home], [Address]. Visitation will begin one hour before the service. Interment will follow at [Cemetery].
The family of [Full Name] announces with great sadness [his/her] passing on [Date], surrounded by family. Services will be held at [Time] on [Date] at [Venue], [Address], with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [Charity].
[Full Name], beloved [husband/wife], parent, grandparent and friend, passed away peacefully on [Date] at the age of [Age]. Friends are invited to visitation from [Time] to [Time] on [Date] at [Funeral Home], [Address]. The funeral will be held the following morning at [Time] at [Church].
Simple announcements
[Full Name] passed away on [Date]. The funeral will be held on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue], [Address]. All are welcome.
We are heartbroken to share that [Name] died on [Date]. A service will be held on [Day] at [Time] at [Venue]. We would be grateful to see you there.
[Name], [Age], of [City], died on [Date]. Service: [Date], [Time], [Venue].
With heavy hearts, we share that our [mother/father], [Full Name], passed away on [Date]. [She/He] was the heart of our family and will be missed beyond words. The funeral will be held on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue], [Address]. Please share this post with anyone who knew [her/him].
Many of you knew and loved [Name]. It is with great sadness that we tell you [he/she] passed away on [Date]. Service details are below, and we will update this post with a livestream link for those who cannot travel. Thank you for your messages. We are reading every one.
Our family lost our grandmother this week. [Name] was [Age], sharp as ever, and loved by everyone she met. Her celebration of life is on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue]. Wear something bright. She would want that.
By text message
Hi, it's [Your name]. I'm so sorry to tell you that [Name] passed away on [Date]. The funeral is on [Day, Date] at [Time] at [Venue]. I'll send the full details soon.
I wanted you to hear this from me: [Name] died peacefully this morning. We are still making plans and I will text again when the service is set. Please keep us in your prayers.
Service for [Name]: [Day, Date], [Time], [Venue and address]. Visitation from [Time]. Reception after. Livestream: [Link].
By email
Subject: [Full Name], funeral details. Dear friends, it is with great sadness that I share the news that [Name] passed away on [Date]. The funeral will be held on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue], [Address], followed by a reception at [Location]. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to [Charity]. Please forward this message to anyone who would want to know.
Dear colleagues, I am very sorry to let you know that our colleague [Name] passed away on [Date]. [His/Her] family has shared that the funeral will take place on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue]. Anyone who wishes to attend is welcome. We will share details of a collection for the family shortly.
Religious announcements
[Full Name] went home to be with the Lord on [Date]. A homegoing service celebrating [his/her] life will be held on [Date] at [Time] at [Church], [Address]. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15)
With faith in the resurrection, we announce the passing of [Full Name] on [Date]. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at [Time] on [Date] at [Parish], with visitation and the Vigil the evening before at [Funeral Home].
If the service will be a homegoing, our guide to what a homegoing service is covers the order of service and the program families usually prepare.
Private services, memorials held later and livestreams
With cremation now the more common choice in the US, as tracked by the Cremation Association of North America and the National Funeral Directors Association, memorial services held weeks or months after the death are increasingly common. These four cover the situations that need the most care.
[Full Name] passed away peacefully on [Date]. In keeping with [his/her] wishes, the funeral will be private, for family only. We are grateful for your love and prayers, and we will share details of a memorial gathering at a later date.
We are sad to share that [Name] died on [Date]. [He/She] has been cremated, and a memorial service will be held in the spring so that family can travel. We will send details as soon as they are set.
The funeral for [Full Name] will be held on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue]. For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be livestreamed at [Link]. The family thanks everyone for their love and support.
[Full Name] passed away on [Date]. At [his/her] request, there will be no service. The family asks that you remember [him/her] in your own way, and if you wish, with a donation to [Charity].
Where to share the announcement
- Phone calls first. Close family and friends should hear it from a person, not a post.
- Text and email. The fastest way to reach everyone else.
- Social media. A single post reaches far, and people will share it.
- The funeral home website. Most post a notice with the service details and an online guest book.
- The newspaper. A paid death notice or obituary. The funeral home can usually place it for you, and under the FTC's Funeral Rule, obituary notices are among the cash advance items it must itemize on your bill.
- The church bulletin or workplace. For communities that will want to attend.
When to send it
As soon as the service details are confirmed, usually within a day or two of the death. If people will need to travel, send a short save-the-date first and follow with the full details. Our funeral planning checklist puts the announcement in order with everything else that needs doing that week.
Common questions
What should a funeral announcement say?
The full name, age and date of death; the type of service; the date, time and address; any visitation and reception details; a livestream link if there is one; and the family's wishes about flowers or donations. Keep it short. The life story belongs in the obituary.
What is the difference between a funeral announcement and an obituary?
An announcement gives the news and the service details and goes out quickly. An obituary tells the person's life story and is usually published once it has been written, often with the service details at the end. Many families send the announcement first and the obituary a few days later.
How soon after a death should you send a funeral announcement?
As soon as the service date, time and place are confirmed, usually within a day or two. If details are still being arranged, a brief message sharing the news and promising details to follow is perfectly appropriate.
Is it okay to announce a death on Facebook?
Yes, and it is now one of the most common ways to reach everyone at once. Make sure close family and friends have been told personally first, so no one learns of the death from their newsfeed.
Do you have to include the cause of death?
No. The cause of death is entirely the family's choice, and most announcements leave it out. Phrases such as "passed away peacefully" or "after a long illness" are common when the family wants to say something without going into detail.
Who pays for a newspaper death notice?
The family. Newspapers charge for death notices and obituaries, and the funeral home can usually place one for you. Under the FTC's Funeral Rule, obituary notices are a cash advance item, so the funeral home must list the charge on your itemized statement.
For Facebook and social media