Our Best Memorial Service Quotes: How to Express Your Love & Support

Showing support and condolence for the recently bereaved can be challenging sometimes. Words can seem insufficient when someone is in pain after losing a loved one, and translating feelings into words isn't always easy.

That's why loving memory quotes are a helpful way to show support for the recently bereaved. Whether they're eloquent expressions of grief from great writers or simply phrases that have stood the test of time and convey a basic truth, in loving memory quotes help us stay connected with others during hard times.

Not every quote is appropriate for every situation. So, we've put together a list of quotes that suit many occasions and how you can use them.

In Loving Memory Quotes to Express Condolence

We often send condolences to family members or friends we perhaps don't know so well, or if we do not know their departed loved one as closely. When there's not a personal angle for expression, a loving memory quote will do some of the heavy lifting and convey your message for you.

If you'd like to express condolence using a quote, below are some evocative phrases that resonate with many mourners:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” [Psalm 34:18]
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” [Matthew 5:4]
“The object is not to forget, but to remember to go on.” [Unknown]
“Do not think of me as gone. I am with you still in each new dawn.” [Native American tradition]

If you know of a particular author or Bible passage that your loved one or the deceased was fond of, you may wish to include a quote from that source. Personalized messages are extremely meaningful but can be hard to find. In these cases, the lines suggested above are a worthy alternative.

In Loving Memory Quotes to Express Grief

Grief is a powerful emotion. We might use loving memory quotes to express grief on the untimely departure of someone extremely close to us or close to a loved one.

Quotes about grief tend to be extremely raw and are usually drawn from occasions when the original author was also experiencing grief.

Below are some quotes from well-known figures that express the complexity and devastation of grief:

“Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve.” [Earl Grollman]
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” [Queen Elizabeth II]
“Tears water our growth.” [William Shakespeare]
“Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” [Leo Tolstoy]
“Nobody ever told me that grief felt so like fear.” [C. S. Lewis]

In Loving Memory Quotes to Express Support

We show support to our loved ones in times when a bereavement was perhaps foreseen, such as if the departed person was very old or had been ill for a long time. This type of quote is often used when the deceased was someone we knew well or if the bereaved person is someone close to us, and we want to support them through this trying time.

Rather than focus on the unfortunate passing, you should try to lift up those that were close to the departed. Below is a selection of phrases that may help to raise the spirits of the recently bereaved and help them process their loss. These quotes focus on the silver lining of the passing and cherish the person's life:

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” [Dr. Seuss]
“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over' the loss of a loved one; you’ll learn to live with it. You will heal, and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again, but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.” [Elizabeth Kubler-Ross]
“When it is darkest, we can see the stars.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson]
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” [Revelation 21:4]
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” [Thomas Campbell]

Finding strength and positivity in times of adversity is a natural part of the grieving process. You can share these quotes with your loved ones to help feel strong in their time of need.

In Loving Memory Quotes for Eulogies

A eulogy is a speech given at a funeral service by someone close to the departed individual. Eulogies are often extremely difficult to perform as the emotion is still raw, and the pressure of speaking so intimately in public can be overwhelming. For this reason, loving memory quotes are popular choices for eulogies to express what we feel incapable of saying ourselves.

The quotes listed below express grief, confusion, love, amongst the other range of emotions we feel upon the death of a loved one. However, they can also encourage everyone to celebrate the person's accomplishments rather than focus on the sadness of their passing:

“When words are most empty, tears are most apt.” [Max Lucado]
“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” [Irving Berlin]
“The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood; for nothing now can ever come to any good.” [W. H. Auden]
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” [Winnie the Pooh, author A. A. Milne
"In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years." ] [Abraham Lincoln]

In Loving Memory Quotes for Inscriptions

Inscriptions are headings on gravestones, urns, or other memorials to an individual. Loving memory quotes for inscriptions tend to be short and say something about the life or character of the departed person.

Unlike most other quotes, inscriptions are sometimes chosen by the departed in advance. In these instances, they can even be somewhat humorous if the person desires. However, most inscription quotes are chosen to convey a simple, poignant message about the departed individual.

Below are some popular inscriptions.

"Forever in our hearts."
“Gone but never forgotten.”
'Finally at peace."
“The best is yet to come.”
"Death is not the end."

Inscriptions tend to be short compared to other loving memory quotes and are often common sentiments rather than poetic quotes. However, if you know of a favorite author or phrase that would be appropriate as an inscription, this can be a wonderful way to celebrate the life of the departed.

In Loving Memory Quotes for Sympathy Cards

Sympathy cards are a traditional part of expressing condolences, support, or grief in the aftermath of a bereavement. Cards often include a quote as part of their design, but many people choose to send a card bearing a simple design and include a quote of their own choosing that is evocative of their connection with the deceased.

The quotes about grief, support, and condolence listed below show compassion for the mourner and shows you're there for them:

“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” [Maya Angelou]
“Although no words can take away the sorrow that you bare. May it be comforting to you to know that others care.” [Unknown]
“Sorrow is so easy to express and yet so hard to tell.” [Joni Mitchell]
"Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." [Matthew 5:4]

Generally, the purpose is to keep the message concise and to be impactful. The mourner will receive a lot of sympathy, so you want to choose a quote that's memorable rather than generic.

Including a personal memory of the departed along with a suitable loving memory quote is the best way to provide condolence to a bereaved person. It gives your message a personal touch that's necessary to show support.

Phrases to Pair With Your Quote

Aside from sharing your quote, you may want to send an additional message that doesn't come from the words of others.

Below are some simple words that express condolence for the loss of someone who perhaps you weren't familiar with:

I'm so sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Let me know if there's any way I can help during this time.
You're in my prayers.
They sounded like a wonderful person, and I'm sure you miss them terribly. I'm thinking of you and sending my love.
I can't imagine what you're going through, but please know that I'm here for you if you need anything.

Finding the Right Words When There Are No Words

Expressing grief is never easy. Offering condolence and support means searching for words that might not come easily. However, using loving memory quotes can help get around the difficulties of communicating after a bereavement.

Curious for more information about dealing with a loss, preparing for a funeral, or choosing a casket? Check out other funeral related blogs from trustedcaskets.com

Blog Author: Tim