Funeral Announcement Template
Letting people know is one of the hardest first steps. Here is gentle wording for every situation – and a beautiful announcement image you can share online.
Sharing difficult news with care
After a death, family and friends need to know two things: that the person has died, and how they can pay their respects. A funeral announcement does both. Today, announcements are shared in many ways – a phone call to close family, a text or email to wider circles, a post on social media, a notice in a newspaper or on the funeral home's website.
Our funeral announcement template gives you wording for each of these, and – as part of the memorial bundle – a 1080×1350 announcement image designed to match your funeral program. It includes a photo, "In Loving Memory," the name, the dates and the service details, sized perfectly for Facebook and Instagram.
Before you post publicly
Make sure close family members have been told personally before anything appears online. Agree as a family on who will post first, and what details will be shared. Some families prefer to wait until service arrangements are confirmed so they only need to post once.
Announcement wording examples
Social media post:
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved mother, Margaret Collins, on October 28, 2026. She passed peacefully at home with her family by her side. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 7 at 11 AM at Grace Community Church, Springfield. All who knew and loved her are welcome. Thank you for your love and prayers."
Text message to friends:
"Hi, I'm so sorry to share this by text. Dad passed away peacefully last night. The funeral will be Friday at 10 AM at St. Paul's. We'd love for you to be there. I'll call when I can."
Email to colleagues or a community group:
"Dear friends, I am writing with the sad news that Robert Alvarez passed away on June 2. Robert was a member of our club for 30 years. Services will be held at 2 PM on June 9 at Mountain View Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Tucson Food Bank."
For a private service:
"Our family is grateful for your love and support. A private family service will be held, and we will share details of a celebration of life at a later date."
For a celebration of life:
"Please join us to celebrate the life of Dani Reyes on Saturday, August 2, at 4 PM at Laurelhurst Park. Wear something bright and bring a favorite story."
What to include
The essentials are: full name, the date of death, the date, time and location of services, and any wishes about flowers or donations. You can add a short sentence about the person or a link to a full obituary. You don't need to share the cause of death.
Creating the announcement image
Open the maker, fill in the name, dates, photo and service details, and choose a theme. Your social announcement image is generated automatically to match. It's included in the $9.99 memorial bundle with a funeral program, prayer card, thank-you card and obituary PDF.
For a fuller tribute, use our free obituary writer or browse obituary examples.
Make yours in about 20 minutes
One guided form, live preview, free watermarked preview. Print-ready PDF from $4.99.
Create a funeral announcement →Frequently asked questions
- Is it appropriate to announce a death on social media?
- Yes, it's now common, but tell close family personally first and agree together on what to share.
- What size is the announcement image?
- 1080 × 1350 pixels, ideal for Facebook and Instagram feeds.
- What should a funeral announcement include?
- The name, date of death, service date, time and place, and any wishes about flowers or donations.