When someone we love dies, it feels like a piece of our heart goes with them. It’s hard to know what to do during those first few days and weeks after they pass away. One thing that many people choose to do is create a funeral card as a way to remember their loved one.
Funeral cards can be simple or elaborate, but they always serve as a beautiful and lasting reminder of the person who has passed away. In this blog post, we will look at what funeral cards are and see some traditional examples of meaningful remembrance cards.
Why Plan a Funeral or Memorial?
When someone we love dies, it’s essential to commemorate their life and share memories with others. A funeral or memorial service allows us to do just that.
A funeral is a ceremony held in honor of a person who has passed away. It usually takes place within a few days of the death and is often held at a funeral home or church. A funeral typically includes a eulogy or funeral sermon, music, and readings. Family and friends will often gather after the funeral for a reception.
A memorial service is similar to a funeral but may take place weeks or even months after the death. Memorial services are generally less formal than funerals and often do not include eulogies or sermons. They may occur at a variety of places, such as a park, beach, or even someone’s home.
No matter what type of service you choose to hold, it’s crucial to take time to gather with friends and family for a beautiful time of remembrance. And creating a special remembrance card for everyone attending can help them grieve well going forward.
What is a Funeral Card?
Funeral directors or others may pass out funeral or memorial cards at a service. These cards usually include the person’s name, dates of birth, and death. Sometimes they include a photo. They may also include an obituary, quotes, or other information about the person who has passed away.
Funeral cards are keepsakes that can help us remember our loved ones long after they are gone. Many people frame their funeral card or keep it in a particular place as a lasting way to remember a loved one.
A funeral card is a reminder of the beautiful life your loved one lived and how they impacted your life and the lives of your family and friends.
Memorialize Your Loved One’s Life
Funeral cards are a unique way to remember our loved ones and celebrate their lives. Often called prayer cards, remembrance cards, or memorial cards, these keepsakes give you a place to share with everyone about the unique life of your loved one.
If you’d like to add an order of service or list the pallbearers, it’s up to you and your family. You can write a short obituary to include or add a short part of a longer obituary. Some families prefer to stick with a favorite quote or scripture.
Depending on your design and what you share, you can help others see what a special person your loved one was while living on this earth.
Check out some prayer card backside examples from Renaissance Funeral Home and Crematory in Raleigh, NC, to get an idea.
Funeral Card Information
You and your family may wish to keep it simple, or you may like to elaborate. Whatever you decide to feature on your card, keep in mind your loved one’s style and cherished beliefs.
Talk with your funeral home director about funeral cards. Many funeral homes offer these cards as part of their services.
See these examples below from Renaissance Funeral Home and Crematory in Raleigh, NC.
The History of Traditional Funeral Prayer Cards
Traditional prayer cards were more austere in their presentation. According to the Diocese of Fargo, prayer cards “can be traced back to the 1700s in the Netherlands. Family members and anyone attending the funeral would take the prayer card and place it in their bible or prayer book to remind them to pray for the deceased.
An older generation would be able to pull out many holy cards from family and friends who were important in their lives. They would be able to tell stories about family and friends to the next generation.”
We still often use traditional terms such as “In loving memory” or send cards saying we send our “condolences.” Many still use traditional religious imagery in our times also.
While traditional prayer cards did not contain images unless they were holy in nature, it is common in our times to personalize a card by adding tribute photos of the deceased individual.
Images customize our modern funeral cards and help families remember for generations to come. And nowadays, it’s much easier to make cards specifically printed for a certain funeral or memorial service with lovely images, quotes, and other designs.
When loved ones save these cards and share them with others, they may talk about their grief. Talking about what you’ve lost is a tried and true way to handle the difficult time after a loss.
As a friend trying to help a grieving person, it can be hard to put into words your sympathy for someone who has a loss in their life. However, it is easy to listen and care about their memory as they talk about a special individual they’ve lost!
We Can Help
If you need help considering which information to include on a funeral or memorial card, talk with us at Renaissance Funeral Home and Crematory. We can help you print beautiful prayer or funeral cards to celebrate your loved one’s memory.
And we can help you create a beautiful and memorable event for yourself or a loved one. With our on-site crematory and lovely chapel, we have everything you need.
Check out our packages online, or contact us today and get started on your plans!
