What to write on a memorial card: wording ideas and examples
Short answer
A memorial card usually carries a photo, the person's full name (and the name people called them), their dates or years, and a short verse, prayer or quote, often with a line of thanks from the family. Keep it to 20–60 words on the back so it can be read at a glance.
Memorial cards (also called prayer cards, remembrance cards or funeral cards) are small keepsakes handed out at the service or sent afterwards. In the US they are often wallet-sized prayer cards; in the UK and Ireland, families more often use an order of service with a matching card. Whatever the format, the words are the hard part. Here are the pieces and some wording you can adapt.
What goes on a memorial card
| Part | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Front | A photo, the full name, the years | Margaret Anne “Peggy” Ellis · 1941 – 2026 |
| Heading | A short opening line | In loving memory of |
| Verse | A prayer, poem extract, scripture or saying | See the examples below |
| Family line | A thank-you or a line from the family | Thank you for being with us today |
| Extras | Service date and place, a QR code to the film or online memorial | Scan to watch Peggy's film |
Check names and dates with more than one family member before printing. Nicknames in quotation marks are welcome; they are often what people remember.
Opening lines
- In loving memory of
- Celebrating the life of
- Forever in our hearts
- With love and gratitude for the life of
- Remembering with love
- A life well lived
Religious verses and prayers
- “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” — Psalm 23:1 (King James Version)
- “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4 (KJV)
- “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.” — traditional Catholic prayer
- “May the road rise up to meet you … and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.” — traditional Irish blessing
If you print the words of a hymn, check whether it is still in copyright: CCLI notes that public-domain hymns need no permission, but newer ones do, and the church or venue is usually responsible for the licence.
Non-religious wording
These are our own lines, free to use and adapt:
- “She filled every room with music and every kitchen with laughter.”
- “A gentle man, a loyal friend, and the best grandad there ever was.”
- “Gone fishing. Thank you for the stories, Dad.”
- “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.” — attributed to Helen Keller
- “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure.”
- “Loved beyond words, missed beyond measure.”
Humanist families often choose a line the person said themselves, or a short extract from a poem — see our funeral poems guide for ideas.
A line of thanks from the family
- The family would like to thank you for your kindness and support.
- Thank you for joining us to celebrate Peggy's life. Please join us afterwards at The Red Lion.
- We are grateful to the staff of St Mary's Hospice for their care.
- In place of flowers, donations to [charity] would be warmly welcomed.
Adding a QR code
A small QR code on the back can link to a memorial film, an online tribute page or a donation page, so guests can watch again at home. Test the code with two different phones before printing, and make sure the link does not expire.
Questions people ask
What do you say on a memorial card?
An opening line such as “In loving memory of”, the full name and years, a short verse or quote, and an optional thank-you from the family.
Is a prayer card the same as a memorial card?
Mostly. A prayer card is a memorial card with a prayer on the back, common in Catholic families and in the US. A memorial card can carry any verse or quote.
How many memorial cards should I order?
Roughly one per expected guest plus 10–20% for people who could not attend; a funeral director can tell you how many usually attend similar services.
Sources
- Funeral order of service, Dignity Funerals, 2021-02-11 (read 2026-10-05)
- Sympathy card and funeral flower messages, Dignity Funerals, 2024-10-16 (read 2026-10-05)
- Weddings and funerals: copyright, CCLI (read 2026-10-05)
How we wrote this
Written by the In Memoriam Film team with AI assistance for research and drafting, then checked against the sources above. Figures come only from those sources; where a number is our own rule of thumb we say so. We make memorial films, so where a guide mentions our product, that is why.