Planning
Funeral and memorial service invitation wording
By Lindiwe Khumalo · 4 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
When you need to invite people to a funeral, memorial or after-tears, the right wording makes the details clear and the tone gentle. This page gives you copy-ready invitation and announcement templates you can personalise and share by message, social media or printed card.
An invitation needs only a few things: who has passed, when and where the service is, and any practical notes. Keep it simple and warm.
Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details, and delete any line that does not apply.
Funeral service invitation
A clear, respectful announcement:
The family of the late [FULL NAME] [DATE OF BIRTH] - [DATE OF PASSING]
invites you to the funeral service to celebrate [his / her] life.
Date: [DATE] Time: [TIME] Venue: [CHURCH / VENUE] Followed by interment at: [CEMETERY]
"[Short verse or scripture - optional]"
Enquiries: [CONTACT NAME and NUMBER]
Memorial service invitation
For a memorial held without the body present:
In loving memory of [FULL NAME]
You are warmly invited to a memorial service to remember and celebrate a life well lived.
Date: [DATE] Time: [TIME] Venue: [VENUE]
Please join us to share memories, music and a meal afterwards.
RSVP: [CONTACT and NUMBER]
After-tears or repast notice
To let mourners know about food and gathering after the service:
The family invites all mourners to join us for refreshments after the service at:
[VENUE / HOME ADDRESS or AREA]
Thank you for walking this road with us.
For a simple SMS or group message:
Funeral of the late [NAME]: [DATE] at [TIME], [VENUE]. Burial at [CEMETERY]. After-tears at [PLACE]. The [SURNAME] family.
A note on tone and detail
- Keep it factual and gentle. The essentials are the name, the date, time and venue, and a contact.
- Add a short verse or scripture only if it suits the family.
- Be careful with addresses on public posts. For a home venue, consider sharing the exact address privately rather than on open social media.
- Include a contact so people can ask about lifts, parking or directions.
If you are posting on social media, a simple, dignified graphic with the same details works well.
Frequently asked questions
How do you word a funeral invitation?
Open with "The family of the late [name] invites you to the funeral service", then give the date, time and venue, the cemetery for the interment, and a contact for enquiries. A short verse is optional. Keep the tone factual and gentle.
What is the difference between a funeral and a memorial invitation?
A funeral invitation is for the service with the body present, usually followed by burial or cremation. A memorial invitation is for a remembrance held later without the body, often more relaxed, where people share memories, music and a meal.
How do you announce a funeral on social media?
Use a simple, dignified post or graphic with the person's name, the date, time and venue of the service, the burial place, and a contact. Be cautious with home addresses on public posts - share those privately where possible.
What is an after-tears?
An after-tears, or repast, is the gathering for food and refreshments after the funeral service, where family and mourners come together to comfort one another. The invitation simply tells people the venue and that they are welcome to join.
Should a funeral invitation include an RSVP?
For a large open funeral, an RSVP is usually not needed - all are welcome. For a smaller, private memorial or where catering numbers matter, adding an RSVP with a contact and number helps the family plan.
