How do you write a notice for a funeral?

Placing a funeral notice can be a daunting task, but we are here to assist you. In this article, we will provide you with guidelines and templates for writing a funeral notice, whether it's for a newspaper print or an online publication.

Cost of a funeral notice

The price of a funeral notice varies depending on the newspaper and the level of detail you include. If you decide to write the notice yourself, keep in mind that reducing the information may not always be the best choice. While you may try to keep the wording minimal to reduce the number of lines in your notice, it's important to include all the necessary details to ensure that people are well-informed. Ultimately, the choice of wording is entirely up to you, and it should convey what you want it to say.

To better understand the cost of a funeral notice, take advantage of My Tributes Price Estimator tool when placing a funeral notice, death notice, or tribute notice.

My Tributes funeral notice price estimator tool

How to write a print funeral notice

When it comes to writing a funeral notice for print, simplicity and sharing only essential information are often preferred. If you don't feel comfortable writing the notice yourself, a funeral director or a member of My Tributes team can assist you. Generally speaking, the following example serves as a good start:

[LAST NAME, First name]
Late of [Suburb]
Passed away on [Date] at the age of [xx years]
Beloved Husband/Wife/Partner of [Name]
Proud/Loved Father/Mother and Father/Mother-in-Law of [Names]
Adored Grandfather/Grandmother of [Names]
Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral service of [deceased name], which will be held at [Name of place where the funeral, burial, or wake will take place], located at [Address, including Street number, Street Name, Suburb], on [Day, Date, Time].

If the funeral has already taken place, you can modify the above wording as follows:

A private funeral was held on [Day, Date, Time] at [Name of place where the funeral, burial, or wake was held].

You may also include any special wishes, such as requesting no flowers or suggesting donations to a particular charity. Additionally, you might want to include a heartfelt line to express your emotions and commemorate your loved one.

How to write an online funeral notice

An online funeral notice allows for more flexibility compared to a printed notice. Typically, the first sentence should include the full name of the deceased, the city they lived in, the date of their passing, and optionally, information about where and how they died (this is a personal choice).

The notice should conclude with details about the funeral, burial, wake, or memorial service, as well as information about any foundation or charity where memorial gifts can be donated.

Examples of funeral notices

If you need inspiration, you can find current examples of funeral notices on My Tributes here. Additionally, we have provided templates below to help guide you through the writing process.

Example for a print funeral notice:

DOE, John Late of Brisbane
Passed away on April 13, 2023, at the age of 86
Beloved Husband of Janet
Proud Father and Father-in-Law of Dave and Rachel, Mick and Samantha
Adored Grandfather of Charles and Sophie
Family and friends are invited to attend John's funeral service, which will be held at the Brisbane Chapel, located at 123 Main Street, Brisbane, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 11:00 AM.

If the funeral has already taken place, you can modify the above wording as follows:

A private funeral was held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at the Brisbane Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Council.

Example for an online funeral notice:

John DOE Brisbane, Queensland April 26, 2023
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved John Doe at the legendary age of 86.
John was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and lived a life dedicated to his loving wife Janet, his proud sons Dave and Mick, and his adored grandchildren Charles and Sophie.
John had a successful career in architecture and was an avid fisherman and member of the Brisbane Golf Club. He will be remembered for his kind heart and devoted love for his family.
A virtual memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 2:00 PM AEST. Please visit [insert website link] to join the service and share your memories of John.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Council in John's memory.

Placing your funeral notice

My Tributes offers different options to provide families with a heartfelt way to communicate a death, funeral, or tribute in both print and online formats.

You can get started with placing your notice here.