Selecting a poignant, heartfelt message to accompany funeral flowers is deeply personal. As a leading funeral home serving Bradford for over a century, Joseph A. Hey & Son aims to provide families with compassionate guidance on crafting personalised floral tributes that commemorate loved ones.

In this extensive guide, we share tips, examples and considerations to help inspire truly thoughtful funeral flower sentiments that will deeply touch grieving families.

Why Funeral Flower Messages Matter

The act of including a sincere, meaningful message or note with funeral flowers:

• Lets you express love, sympathy and support for the bereaved family and friends as they mourn their loss. It conveys you stand alongside them even from afar.
• Provides a way to fondly commemorate and reflect on the special relationship you were fortunate to share with the deceased. Revisiting cherished memories together can aid healing.
• Allows you to articulate stirring emotions that may be difficult to convey in person amidst the overwhelm of grief. Writing them out thoughtfully can bring some solace.
• Offers ongoing comfort to the family, as written sentiments and cards can be saved and revisited when they need consolation in the months and years ahead. The messages remind them their loved one remains in your heart too.
• Enables you to pay poignant respect to the legacy of the deceased – the indelible mark they left through their spirit, the joy they brought, and the bonds they nurtured.

Above all, funeral flower messages aim to be a source of solace, a demonstration of shared grief, and an appreciation of the truly unique life lived and fulfilled.

How to Craft a Deeply Meaningful Funeral Flower Message

Composing an impactful funeral flower message is deeply intimate and unique to each situation. When deciding which sentiments you wish to share, consider:

Conveying Positive Remembrances – Reflecting on heartwarming anecdotes, cherished memories, or meaningful moments that exemplify their one-of-a-kind spirit makes messages more personal. Revisit the endearing traits like generosity, humour or compassion that you will never forget.

Offering Encouragement and Solace – Express empathy for the unfathomable grief and deep sense of loss the family is navigating. Offer reassurance that you stand alongside them in spirit during this difficult journey ahead.

Describing What You Admired – Explain thoughtfully what made them shine, how they brightened every life they touched, and the qualities or wisdom you so admired in them. These tributes highlight their legacy.

Being Authentic – Use your own reflections and words. While brief quotes, verses or poems make thoughtful additions, keep the overall message sincere.

Maintaining a Sensitive Tone – Unless you know it is suitable for the situation, avoid platitudes, cliches or specific references to the cause of death. Keep phrasing compassionate and mindful.

Considering Spiritual Sentiments – If appropriate, incorporate phrases like “May they rest in peace” or “May their blessed memory be a source of comfort” in accordance with the family’s faith.

Handwritten Notes – When possible, handwritten notes or cards tend to be more meaningful compared to standard florist enclosure cards.

Donating to a Meaningful Cause – In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to a charity special to the deceased. Include any donation notification card with your personal message.

Examples of Impactful Funeral Flower Messages

To inspire you as you begin composing your own unique message, here are some examples of poignant funeral flower sentiments we have seen:

• “Dearest Paula, John’s kindness, humour and beautiful spirit will stay in our hearts forever.”
• “Wishing you moments of peace and light during this time of profound grief. Margaret was a soul like no other.”
• “We will carry your light within us always. You are so deeply missed but never forgotten.”
• “May the treasured memories of brighter days carry you through this difficult time. Our hearts are with you.”
• “Michael enriched our lives immeasurably through his generosity, friendship and wisdom. His presence will be forever cherished.”
• “We are keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers during this sorrowful time.”
• “Your mother had a warmth that could brighten anyone’s day. Her grace lives on through you.”
• “Although Anna is no longer with us physically, her courage, resilience and passion forever transformed us for the better.”

Alternative Sentiments: Charitable Donations or Bereavement Cards

In cases where your connection to the deceased was not very close, consider:

• Making a donation to a charity or cause dear to them in memoriam. Include any acknowledgement notes or cards from the charity with a brief handwritten message.
• Sending a sympathy card directly to the family rather than funeral flowers. Share your handwritten condolences and that you are thinking of them.

When to Send Funeral Flowers and Messages

• Florists can coordinate timed funeral flower delivery so arrangements arrive the day before or morning of the service.
• Send messages/cards directly to the family following the funeral service so they can be cherished.

Including Poetry On Your Funeral Flowers

Writing a brief original poem as part or all of the funeral flower message can be an especially thoughtful tribute. Poems allow you to articulate emotions and synthesise memories in a concise yet beautiful way.

If poetry writing is not your forte, you may find excerpts from a favourite existing poem appropriate to include along with your own reflections. Our funeral directors can suggest passages if you are unsure where to start. The most meaningful poems tend to focus on themes of love, loss, remembrance, and the endurance of the human spirit.

Here are some examples of poems that are commonly used for funeral flowers and memorial services:

• “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” by Mary Elizabeth Frye – This classic poem encourages mourners not to linger with sadness at the grave, but to remember the joyful life of the deceased.
• “When I Am Gone” by Christina Rossetti – A poignant poem about being at peace after death and remembering the love that remains.
• “Remember” by Christina Rossetti – A short, sweet poem about keeping the memory of loved ones alive even after they pass away.
• “She is Gone” by David Harkins – An uplifting poem affirming that the deceased has moved on to a better place filled with light and peace.
• “Funeral Blues” by W.H. Auden – A mournful but beautiful poem reflecting on overwhelming grief and loss.
• “Afterglow” by Helen Lowrie Marshall – A forward-looking poem about the enduring influence the deceased had on others’ lives.
• “I Am Waiting” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti – An imaginative poem written from the perspective of the deceased in the afterlife.
• Excerpts from Psalms or other religious texts – Scriptural passages offer spiritual comfort to mourners. However, if the deceased was secular or irreligious, it’s usually better to stay away from religious texts.

Joseph A. Hey & Son: Experienced Funeral Directors Providing Guidance

Here at Joseph A. Hey & Son funeral home, our experienced funeral directors understand the care taken when selecting meaningful floral tributes and poignant sentiments to honour your loved one. We are always available to sensitively advise you and provide guidance through this deeply personal process.

We are always here to answer any questions you may have, so don’t hesitate to get in touch today. You can reach our supportive team directly by calling 0800 783 2225, or through our simple online contact form.