Why Your Notes Matter
A handwritten note can be one of the most heartfelt, sincere ways to express yourself. If someone stood out for their thoughtfulness, sending them a sincere, gracious expression of thanks can be a lovely way to share your gratitude.
You might start with a list of those you would like to thank. These might have been people who were there for you, maybe providing comfort or easing some of the burden during this difficult time. If your heart is full of gratitude, sharing it can create warm feelings and be a wonderful way of giving back.
Ritual and ceremony often help us appreciate, celebrate or honor important milestones, which is why we commemorate some of them with cards and gifts. Your thank you notes can be an instrumental part of the ritual that is saying goodbye to someone who has passed.
Choose Your Recipients
Who should you send thank you notes to after a funeral? Typically, a thank you card is a thoughtful gesture to send to anyone who:
- Attended the service
- Spoke at the service
- Took care of your children or pets during the funeral
- Sent flowers or gifts
- Donated in your loved one’s name
- Brought or sent food
- Hosted a reception
Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself
When you’re grieving, it can be important to give yourself time to ease back into your daily routine. Here are some tips to make writing your notes easier:
- Don’t feel pressured to do this right away
- Write a few cards every day until you complete your list
- Ask a friend or family member to help
- Keep your messages short and simple
Use These Starting Lines
If you’re having difficulty getting the words out, there’s nothing wrong with using these time-tested expressions of gratitude as a starting point.
- Thank you for the wonderful meal you prepared after the service. It was a blessing to enjoy it.
- Thank you for the comfort and support you offered during this challenging time.
- Thank you for sharing your favorite memories during the service. It was wonderful to hear those stories.
- I’m writing to thank you for your generous donation. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.
- Thank you for the beautiful flowers and for being such kind, generous friends.
- We sincerely appreciate your help during the funeral. Your help with our pets gave me so much peace of mind.
Any message that begins with “Thank you” or “I appreciate” can effectively convey the sentiment you may wish to express.
Use Ready-Made Cards
Cards with a preprinted message can also help with some of the heavy lifting.
Don’t fret about what you should say in each note. In truth, your words are accompanied by the gesture that you’re reaching out and expressing your gratitude. If you’re using cards with a preprinted message, you might just sign your name. This can be a great way to save yourself unnecessary stress in finding the words during an already difficult time. If you would like to add a more personal note to any card, you can also do so to personalize or echo whatever the preprinted message says. Preprinted cards can be a great way to get started and be an effective gesture of thanks and gratitude.
A funeral is a way to say goodbye, and thank you notes can be a special way to honor and process grief. There is no right or wrong way to move forward, and there’s no timeline for getting there. There is no wrong or right way to write a thank you card. Take your time and express your gratitude in whichever manner feels natural to you.
We appreciate you taking the time to read our guide on how to write a thank you note after a funeral. We hope you found it helpful. It’s our hope that this guide has helped create a springboard for you and helped inspire your thank you card writing.
We want to help you make the best decisions for you and your family to celebrate the memory of a life lived. If you have any questions about any of our services please contact us.
