Once the funeral is arranged, people need to know when and where it is, and anything the family would like them to know. This guide helps you put those details into words. There is no single right way to do it — use whatever sounds like you.
What is a funeral announcement?
A funeral announcement shares the arrangements — date, time, place and any wishes — with people who may want to come. It's usually sent directly, by message, email or social media, or shared on a page.
- A death notice marks the death publicly, often in a newspaper, and may include the funeral details too.
- An obituary is a longer piece about the person's life.
- A funeral invitation is sent personally to named people, often when the service is small or private.
Many families blend these, and that's fine. If you're planning to publish in a newspaper or on a notice site, our guide to what to include in a funeral notice covers publishing and costs.
Funeral invitation wording →
Inviting people personally? See invitation examples and create your own message.
What to include
None of this is required. Include what's useful to the people you're telling, and leave out anything you're not sure of yet — you can always send an update.
- Their name, and any name people knew them by
- If the news of the death is new to readers, a short line saying so
- The funeral date and time
- The venue, and anything that helps people find it
- Whether everyone is welcome or the service is private
- A wake or gathering afterwards, and who it's open to
- Wishes about flowers, or a charity for donations
- Livestream details, if the service is being streamed
- Whether you'd like people to let you know they're coming
- Who to contact with questions
Funeral announcement wording examples
Every family and funeral is different. Use these as a starting point, then change the wording so it sounds right for you.
Looking for something specific?
The funeral of David Reid will take place on Thursday 15 October at 2pm at Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh. All are welcome.
Margaret Ellen Fraser (née Bell), aged 82, of Inverness, died peacefully on 28 September. Beloved wife of the late James, much loved mum and gran. The funeral service will be held at Inverness Crematorium on Friday 9 October at 11am, to which all are welcome.
We'll be saying goodbye to Mum — Linda to most of you — at St John's Church, Bristol, on Monday 12 October at 1pm. She'd have wanted a full church and bright colours, so please come as you are.
Peter's funeral will be a small, private family service. Thank you for understanding. We'll share details of a celebration of his life with friends once plans are made.
The funeral of Anne Morrison will take place on Wednesday 21 October at 10.30am at Holy Trinity Church, Belfast. Afterwards, everyone is welcome to join the family at the Wellington Park Hotel.
We'd like to invite you to join us for Anne's funeral on Wednesday 21 October at 10.30am at Holy Trinity Church, Belfast. Afterwards, we'd be very pleased if you could join us at the Wellington Park Hotel.
Family flowers only, please. If you'd like to send something, a card with a memory of Tom would mean a great deal.
No flowers, please; donations, if desired, to Marie Curie, who cared for Joan so kindly in her final weeks.
The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend. Please message Sarah for the link.
To help with arrangements, please let Sarah know by Friday if you plan to attend the gathering afterwards — 07700 900123.
How to share the arrangements
Most families use a mix of these. Choose whatever is manageable. Asking others to pass details on is completely reasonable.
Phone calls
Kind and personal for the closest people, especially older relatives — but tiring to repeat, and details can get muddled as they're passed on.
Text and WhatsApp
Quick, and people can refer back to the details. Group messages save time but fill up with replies; consider sending details individually or asking someone else to manage the group.
Good for longer details and for colleagues or wider circles. Less useful for people who rarely check their inbox.
Social media
Reaches many people at once, including those you'd otherwise lose touch with. It's public unless you limit who can see it, so some families share only that a funeral will take place and send details privately.
A shared page
One link can keep the funeral details in one place, which is especially useful if arrangements change. This is one of the problems LumaSpace is being built to solve.
Private funeral wording →
Need to say the funeral is private or family-only? See gentle examples.