When you lose a loved one, you may feel like a bright light in your life has just faded away.
During this difficult time, you may feel that it’s hard to talk about the loss with your surviving loved ones and this could affect your ability to write death announcement cards.
Also called funeral notices, these cards can be exceptionally challenging to write when you’re grieving. Additionally, this may be an unfamiliar task for you and you might find the process daunting, especially when you’re handling it alone.
However, these notices are an important part of any funeral as they inform people in your circle that your loved one has passed away but finding the right words for the announcement won’t be an easy task.
To help you navigate this difficult task, here are some helpful tips you should consider when writing meaningful death announcement cards.
1. Do Some Research
Before you start writing the card, if you don’t have any idea where to start, look up some ideas online. You can find many great examples of announcement cards online and you may even be allowed to borrow some of them to use as your own, if the original creator allows it.
Look at several good examples and list down all the elements in them that stood out to you. Then try putting them together to create a unique-looking card.
2. Choose the Style and Tone
When writing death announcement cards, choosing the right tone and words is crucial if you want to capture the true essence of your loved one.
Take a moment and think about who your loved one was as a person and try to find the appropriate words to describe them. Also, think about your loved one’s achievements; if they had many formal achievements, keep the tone formal and respectful.
If your loved one was a part of your immediate family, use a loving tone and words that can help convey your feelings towards them.
3. Consider Structure and Format
A good death announcement card must be organized and easy to read. The card should start with a respectful and concise announcement of your loved one’s passing, and it should include their name, date of birth, and date of death.
Next, the card should mention where and when the funeral will take place, and also the date for the memorial, if you choose to hold one. Also, make sure to include any specific instructions if needed; for example, a dress code.
4. Personalize the Card
Adding a few personal touches to the cards can make them feel more meaningful. While practical details are very important, sharing details about your loved one’s hobbies, favorite songs, and photos can help honor their memory.
By including some positive aspects of your loved one’s life in the announcement card, you may be able to change the tone of the funeral to a celebration of life instead of a reminder of death.
Consider choosing photos to include in the card that show positive moments in your loved one’s life, like family outings, graduation, the first day of school, or any other event that was very significant in their life.
5. Have Someone Review It
If you’re not confident about the way the announcement card is structured or are questioning whether the tone and words used are right, try having one of your friends or family members take a look at it.
Also, ask for their suggestions on what else to include in the announcement card. If there are any design elements you’re not sure about adding to the card, get someone’s opinion on them.
6. Keep it Simple
The announcement card does not always need to be too detailed. If you feel that it’s too difficult to create an intricate card, there’s no shame in keeping it simple.
At the end of the day, all that truly matters is that you’ve announced your loved one’s passing and that you have conveyed it in a meaningful and respectful way. Emotions can be very heavy during the days leading up to your loved one’s funeral, so it’s always a good idea to use whatever time you can spare to come to terms with your feelings and speak to your loved ones.
7. Take Your Time
It can feel like you need to get the announcement card completed as soon as possible, but you should consider your mental well-being as well. This is a difficult scenario for you and your family, and writing the card without a clear mind can be stressful and could lead to mistakes.
Additionally, announcing the death too early may be very shocking for friends and family of your loved one. So consider working on and sending out the cards a few days after the death.
Try talking to your loved ones about your feelings about the loss and try to clear your mind a bit before you start working on the announcement cards. Also, consider making a few drafts of the card and present them to the deceased’s loved ones and see which one they prefer.
You don’t have to create death announcement cards alone
Creating a meaningful funeral notice can feel like a daunting task, but you don’t have to do it alone; you can always ask for help from close friends and family. Also, you can turn to a reliable professional funeral services provider for help with creating respectful death announcement cards for your loved one’s funeral.
