Unique Luxury Memorial Card Range

A Practical Guide to Memorial Cards and Acknowledgement Cards

Families regularly ask us the same questions when they begin organising memorial cards. How long should we wait? Which photograph should we use? How many should we order? Who should receive one?

There are very few absolute rules. Every family and every bereavement is different. This guide explains some of the practical decisions that can make the process easier.

Start when your family feels ready

There is no fixed deadline for arranging memorial cards.

Many families order them during the months following the funeral and some choose to send them around the first anniversary. Others leave it considerably longer.

The important point is that you do not need to rush simply because you think there is a particular date by which memorial cards must be sent.

It can take time to find photographs, choose wording and agree everything with other members of the family.

Decide what you want the card to say

Before worrying about the design, think about what you would like the card to contain.

This might include:

• Full name

• Date of birth and date of death

• Home town or address

• One or more photographs

• A favourite prayer

• A poem or verse

• Personal words written by the family

• Religious symbols or images

• A favourite saying

There is no requirement to include all of these.

A card with one strong photograph and a few carefully chosen words can work just as well as one containing several photographs and a longer verse.

Choosing photographs

Do not automatically reject a photograph because it was taken on a phone or because there are other people or unwanted objects in the background.

Send us the original photograph wherever possible and let us look at it first.

For the best result, avoid repeatedly saving or sending screenshots of the same photograph as this can reduce image quality.

If you have a printed photograph, photograph it carefully in good light from directly above or have it scanned.

Older family photographs can be particularly effective when combined with more recent photographs to show different stages of someone’s life.

When several family members are choosing photographs, it can help to select a small group of favourites first and then decide which ones work best together.

Think about who will receive the cards

There is no official list of people who must receive a memorial card.

Families commonly send them to relatives, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and people who knew the deceased through clubs, organisations or the local community.

A practical way of estimating your quantity is to make a recipient list before ordering and then allow some extras.

Extra cards are often useful later when the family remembers somebody who was accidentally left off the original list.

Check names and addresses early

Finding postal addresses can take longer than expected.

If several family members are helping, one person can keep a single list of names and addresses so that duplicates are avoided.

You can then address the envelopes by hand or prepare printed address labels.

It is also worth checking how many cards are going to the same household before deciding the final quantity required.

Check the proof carefully

The design proof is the stage at which everything should be checked.

Pay particular attention to:

• Spelling of the person’s name

• Dates

• Names of family members

• Prayer and verse wording

• Photograph selection

• Any addresses or other personal information

It can be useful to have another family member read the proof as well. A second person will sometimes notice a small mistake that everybody else has overlooked.

Nothing should be printed until you are satisfied with the final proof.

Acknowledgement Cards

Acknowledgement Cards, sometimes called Funeral Thank You Cards, are used by families to thank people for kindness and support following a bereavement.

They can be ordered separately or alongside Memorial Cards.

Who might you want to thank?

Think about the people who helped your family in a practical or personal way.

Depending on the circumstances this could include relatives and friends, neighbours, people who travelled to the funeral, members of clubs or organisations, carers, medical staff, clergy, musicians, funeral personnel and people who helped your family at home.

You do not have to create an enormous formal list. The family can decide who they particularly wish to acknowledge.

The message does not need to be complicated

A short sincere message is usually sufficient.

For example:

“Thank you for your kindness and support following our loss. It was greatly appreciated by all our family.”

Or:

“Our family would like to thank you sincerely for your kindness, sympathy and support during a very difficult time.”

If you want to write an individual message to certain people, space can be left on the card for handwriting.

Memorial Cards and Acknowledgement Cards serve different purposes

A Memorial Card primarily commemorates the person who has died and is intended as a lasting keepsake.

An Acknowledgement Card primarily allows the family to thank somebody for their support.

Some families send both. Others choose only one.

There is no right or wrong approach.

Need help with a photograph or wording?

If you have photographs but are unsure which ones will print well, or you are uncertain about how much wording will fit comfortably on a particular design, contact us before placing the order.

You can also browse our Memorial Cards, Wallet Cards, Bookmarks, Acknowledgement Cards, Lifetime Cards and Unique Luxury Memorial Card Range online.

Eternal Memorial Cards
51 Bracken Road
Sandyford
Dublin 18
D18 CV48

Telephone: 01 9081511