As a final greeting and sign of mourning, funeral arrangements are essential. Decorated with sayings, they have deeper meaning and can convey to those mourning how much the deceased is valued. However, finding the right saying or quote is often difficult. Friendship or love, familiar or respectful – the tone has to be right. In addition, the sayings on the wreath or mourning ribbon should be personal and, in the best case, show that the choice was made individually. The following suggestions may help.
Selection criteria
The most important factor when choosing the saying for the funeral arrangement is the relationship to the deceased. Long-time friends can say something more personal and familiar than, for example, their teammates on the sports team or neighbors.
You should also find out whether a religious overtone is appropriate. Unfortunately, anyone who chooses an angel theme or references to heaven for an outspoken atheist only shows that the deceased was hardly known. In the worst case, this can upset relatives. If there is uncertainty about religion, it is better to use neutral wording on the wreath bow.
The question remains about the size and design of the funeral arrangement and the bow. The further away you are from the deceased, the smaller and more discreet the wreath should be. Otherwise, the last greetings from family and confidants could be overshadowed. If in doubt, you should ask carefully in advance. It becomes less noticeable if you ask about the florist you use instead of directly asking about the size - they can then coordinate the wreath sizes better.
Religious sayings for the funeral arrangement
If the deceased had a religious affiliation, this can also be reflected in the mourning sayings. Suitable are:
- us God's hand in God's hand
- See you again in heaven
- Believing in a reunion
- Hoping in Christ
- You just go ahead
- May angels accompany you
- God used an angel
- God protect you
- God is with you
- God gives you wings
Quotes with a religious appeal or verses loved by the person being mourned can also be used as sayings for the funeral arrangement. They give the ribbon a personal touch and can provide comfort in memory of the deceased.
Life partner
If a life partner leaves, the mourning sayings can be formulated as an “I” message and be very personal. Possible formulations are:
- Thank you for your love
- I carry you with me forever
- I love you
- I will miss you
- I will never forget you
- Love is stronger than death
- In gratitude and love
- Love knows no boundaries
- Until we meet again
- With love and deep pain
- We had each other, that's all that matters
- See you soon, my love
- My heart goes with you, your heart stays with me
Family
When family members have to mourn, it is a heavy blow for everyone. As a final greeting and remembrance, a saying should be found that combines both the sadness of each individual and a personal touch.
- You remain in our hearts
- Father/mother love never dies
- You live on in your children
- We will never forget you
- Beloved father/beloved mother, you will not be forgotten
- You live on in us
- Watch over your loved ones
- You will never be forgotten in our love
- Forever in our hearts
- We cry for you, dear mother/father
- We will never forget what we obsessed about you
- Wait for us on the horizon
Friends
When a friend dies, there is great sadness. Platonically loved and trusted, the sayings on the funeral arrangement can express the connection. Nevertheless, consideration should be given to the family.
- Unforgotten as a friend
- Friends in life, friends in death
- Rest in peace, my dear friend
- Friendship lasts forever
- Have a good trip, my friend
- Friendship for eternity
- I will miss you
- Thank you for your friendship
- I greet you one last time, my friend
- In grateful memory of a good friend
Colleagues
Colleagues definitely have a special status. Daily collaboration brings people together, especially in small businesses, friendships develop, worries and problems are shared, and many things are created together.
If there was a connection outside of work, it can be expressed. Otherwise, the final greeting in the form of a mourning message should be limited to the collegial connection.
- In a friendly spirit
- With silent sadness and deep sympathy
- In memory
- In honorable memory
- One last friendly greeting
- We say goodbye
- Sincere condolences
- In deep sadness
- Final greetings to a dear and loyal colleague
- In memory of a dear colleague
Acquaintances
In the same sports club, as long-time neighbors or shared hobbies may not make the deceased the best friend but still a person who will be missed. In order to make the sayings a little more personal, you should - if possible - focus on a commonality or a notable character trait. It could be the love of animals that saved the lives of many a four-legged friend. The willingness to help those who were grieving was always available with advice and support. The passion for hiking, music or seafaring.
- Thank you
- Thank you for being there
- In gratitude
- In deep concern
- In connection
- One last ahoy / good luck
- In honorable memory
- Last Chord
- An unspeakable loss for the world
- Your traces never fade
- A heart that beat for others
- A final greeting for a dear neighbor
Neutral formulations
Neutral wording in sayings for funeral arrangements is always appropriate when a deep, friendly or overly personal relationship is missing - but a final greeting still needs to be given. Even those who are unsure about the religious affiliation of the person being mourned can fall back on this.
- Sincere condolences
- A final farewell
- One last greeting
- Farewell
- In silent memory
- In (silent) mourning
- Rest in peace/rest
- Unforgotten
- Farewell
- To eternal rest
Special mourning sayings
In the case of long-term illnesses, accidents or people who died very young, special mourning sayings are recommended. These should reflect or at least suggest what happened.
- A life over before it began
- Finally in peace
- A final salute to a brave fighter
- A little angel
- Salvation is grace
- You left too early
- For you salvation, for us unspeakable pain
- Unbelievable for us
- In silence, in deep sadness
- You left too suddenly
- Brave, loyal, unforgettable
- Torn from us but forever unforgotten
Designing the wreath bow
It is usual for the saying on the mourning ribbon to be printed on the left. The name of the deceased, however, is on the right. For longer sayings, however, the name can be omitted and both ribbon lengths can be used for the greeting. In order to find a symmetrical and suitable honor, it is advisable to ask the respective florist in advance how many characters are ideal for the chosen wreath size. This person can also make suggestions for appropriate last greetings and thereby make the selection easier. However, it should also be noted that the wording is adapted to the person and the relationship with them.
If the sayings are longer and you don't want the wreath to be too big, adjusting the font and size can be the solution. It is advisable to see a test print in advance so as not to experience any unpleasant surprises.
Tip:
As a guide, ask the florist for samples of the colors and fonts you have chosen. This is the best way to find out whether the compilation is legible and corresponds to your expectations. However, sufficient time should be allowed for this and for any corrections.
Conclusion
Finding the right mourning saying for the wreath bow is not easy, but with a personal touch it can certainly provide comfort and bring back beautiful memories of the deceased. If it is taken into account that both the person being mourned is honored and the relatives are taken into consideration, the saying is a final greeting and a loving honor.
