Finding the right words for a funeral flower card is one of the hardest small tasks grief asks of us. The card that arrives with flowers is usually tiny, so a short message is not a lazy message; it is the right one. A single sincere line, written in your own hand if you can, will mean more to a grieving family than anything long or elaborate. The messages below are grouped by situation so you can find something that fits, then adapt it to your own voice.
Classic condolences
These are timeless lines that suit almost any funeral and any relationship. If in doubt, choose one of these.
- With deepest sympathy.
- With heartfelt condolences at this sad time.
- Thinking of you all with love and sympathy.
- With love and fondest memories.
- In loving memory of a dear friend.
- Our thoughts are with you and your family.
- With sympathy and love, today and always.
- Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.
- May you find comfort in the love that surrounds you.
- Forever in our thoughts.
For a card with flowers
When your message accompanies flowers, it can gently refer to them. Keep the focus on the person who has died and the family left behind.
- These flowers carry all our love to you.
- Sent with love, in memory of a wonderful man.
- With these flowers come our deepest condolences.
- A small token of our love and respect.
- In remembrance of a life so beautifully lived.
- With love from all of us, in memory of dear Margaret.
- May these flowers bring a little comfort at a sad time.
- A life remembered with love and gratitude.
For someone you didn't know well
If you are writing for a neighbour's relative, a friend's parent or someone you met only a few times, keep the message simple and sincere. You do not need to claim a closeness you did not have; offering sympathy to the living is enough.
- Thinking of you and your family at this difficult time.
- With sincere sympathy on your sad loss.
- Sorry for your loss; you are in our thoughts.
- Wishing you strength and comfort in the days ahead.
- Our sincere condolences to you and your family.
- With respect and sympathy from your neighbours.
- He was always so kind; thinking of you all.
- Sending sympathy and warm thoughts to you and yours.
From a family
When a whole household sends flowers, the message can speak with one voice. Sign it from the family as a group, or list first names if space allows.
- With all our love, from the Patel family.
- Thinking of you every day, with love from us all.
- You are in the hearts of our whole family.
- With love and deepest sympathy from all the family.
- Remembering happy times together; with love from us all.
- Our family grieves with yours.
- Sent with love from all of us next door.
- From our family to yours, with heartfelt sympathy.
Non-religious messages
Many UK funerals today are humanist or non-religious, and many families prefer wording without mention of prayer or heaven. These lines offer comfort without religious language.
- A life well lived, and a person well loved.
- Her light will stay with everyone who knew her.
- Held in our hearts forever.
- Remembering him with love, laughter and gratitude.
- What we keep in memory is never truly lost.
- Celebrating a remarkable life, with love.
- May your memories bring you peace and comfort.
- His kindness touched so many lives.
- With love, in celebration of a life that mattered so much.
Whichever line you choose, add the name of the person who has died if you can, and sign clearly so the family knows who the flowers are from. A short message, honestly meant, is always enough.