A funeral acknowledgement is recognition and appreciation, or a thank you, of those who attended the visitation and funeral or helped with the funeral and memorial processes after the death of a loved one. Often, they are published in the local paper but they may also be put on a memorial website or be part of a funeral thank you card.
Funeral Acknowledgement Examples
Writing a public funeral acknowledgement is difficult after the death of a loved one. However, there are many people who expressed sympathy or helped with the process who need to be thanked. In addition to sending thank you notes after a funeral, many people choose to post a funeral acknowledgement on a memorial website or in the local newspaper to show their gratitude. Some people may choose to write a brief poem, and at a more casual memorial or celebration of life, a short prepared funeral acknowledgement speech may be appropriate.
Sample Funeral Acknowledgement Template
Download this acknowledgement template using Adobe. It can be personalized and used as a newspaper or website funeral acknowledgement or as a sample funeral acknowledgement speech with just a few tweaks.
Sample Acknowledgement Verses for Thank You Cards
Families often use short phrases and verses in thank you cards before writing a personal message. For example:
- "The family of Deceased Individual would like to thank you for your condolences and sympathy in our time of mourning."
- "Names of Family express their heartfelt appreciation for your sympathy in our time of grief. Thank you for your love and support."
- "Your thoughts and prayers after Deceased Individual's passing were felt by us all. Thank you for your sympathy during this time."
Sample Funeral Acknowledgement Poem
A poem is a good way to express thanks in either a card or the newspaper. It may be accompanied by memorial flower graphics or other simple designs to make it stand out and catch people's eye. An example poem might be:
Deceased Individual Name's loss is felt by us all.
We want to say thank you to everyone
who sent a prayer, cards, flowers, or made a call.
His/Her life here on Earth is done,
but memories can be brought up in recall.
Your kind words and sympathy
are felt by us all in your endless empathy.
Thank you.
What Do You Say in a Funeral Acknowledgement?
Figuring out what to say and how to write a funeral acknowledgement is hard. However, a few basic funeral acknowledgement tips will make sure you cover the important points:
- Include the first and last name of the deceased and their last area of residence; if the person was born in a different location or resided elsewhere for a significant amount of time, you can also include that location.
- Expression of gratitude on behalf of the family for those who provided sympathy during the mourning period.
- Special mention of any particular person or group of people who contributed to the visitation, funeral services, or were especially helpful should also be included.
Who Should Be Thanked?
In short thank you notes or poems, you'll want to keep the acknowledgement more general and brief to cover everyone. In longer public postings, it is appropriate to call out anyone who went above and beyond. For example, you should mention:
- Visitors at home, at visitation/wake, and funeral attendees
- Friends and relatives who didn't attend but otherwise sent sympathies (cards, phone calls, flowers, etc.)
- Funeral home and employees
- Funeral service providers, such as religious leaders and musicians
- Anyone else who made a special contribution
Funeral Acknowledgement Wording
The wording you use in a funeral acknowledgement should be that of gratitude. Whether you're privately or publicly sending the acknowledgement, you want to convey your appreciation for those who helped you during your time of grief and mourning.
