80 Farewell Messages You Can Use to Say Goodbye

A lot has changed in the last few years. Employees are becoming more mobile between workspaces. Businesses are adapting to a changing work landscape with the addition of the remote and hybrid office.

Even we as a people are becoming more transient as values change and employment no longer ties people to one place. With all of these changes, you might find yourself saying goodbye to someone.

Leaving a message in a farewell card can be challenging. It can bring up emotions that are hard to handle as you face the end of a part of your life. Whether you are saying farewell to a friend, colleague, or mentor, a well-thought-out goodbye message can be a meaningful way to say farewell. 

Tips for Writing Farewell Messages

To help you write your farewell message, knowing what makes a good message is a good idea. Understanding this will make creating the goodbye card message easier because you will have an outline of where to start. 

Here are some tips on writing a farewell message:

Farewell Tips: Decide on the tone of your message

Your relationship with the person will impact what style of message you should write. Your message to a friend will vary significantly from your farewell message to a coworker (or for an executive departure). Therefore, you will need to decide on the tone of your message. Will it be funny? Professional? Heartfelt?

Farewell Tips: Show appreciation for them

A goodbye message is the perfect opportunity to tell the person what things they did that you valued. Use the message to highlight their contributions and share examples of how they helped you or made work more enjoyable. Ask yourself these questions: What did they do for your company? How did they help you succeed? What impact did they have on your life?

Farewell Tips: Give specific examples

While a generalized message can be meaningful, try to utilize specific examples as part of your goodbye message. By sharing specific experiences and memories, the message will be more genuine. 

Farewell Tips: Stay positive

Saying goodbye isn’t easy. Whatever your feelings towards the person and them leaving, it is essential to keep things positive.  Highlight the good and express excitement for what they are doing now. Keeping things light and encouraging can make a goodbye an uplifting experience for everyone involved. 

70 Farewell Message to Say Goodbye

Sometimes, knowing where to begin is the most challenging part of a farewell message. After years of knowing someone, whether a friend, coworker, or acquaintance, it can be difficult to verbalize how you feel about them. Then, you mix in feelings of loss, and writing the perfect farewell message in a goodbye or retirement card can seem impossible. 

To get you inspired and help you get started, here are 70 farewell messages to say goodbye:

Farewell Messages for Someone Retiring

1.  “One Question: Can you please take me with you?”
2.  “I am so happy you finally got your dream job. Happy retirement”
3. “The good thing about retirement is that you become your own boss. What’s more, you don’t need to deal with employee issues. So, enjoy!”
4. “Goodbye to all the pressure, welcome to the endless leisure.”
5.  “Your retirement is well deserved. Thanks for all you have done over the years.”
6. “I cannot believe I will be working while you nap. Enjoy your retirement!”
7. “Retirement marks the end of a familiar phase and welcomes you to a new and exciting life. May you find joy in your retirement.”
8.  “Goodbye tension and hello pension! Congratulations!”
9. “Welcome to retirement life, where you set the alarm to schedule sleep, and your work is to rest.”
10. “After all you’ve done for us, it’s only fair to let the rest of the world get their turn. Best of luck!”

Related Reading: How To Give Retirement Wishes To Coworkers

Farewell Messages for a Coworker

11. “It was great to have you on our team. Thanks for being an awesome colleague. Good luck at your new job.”
12. “Today, our team will lose its sense of humor and heart. Farewell to the co-worker who made every day seem like a treat.”
13. “Congratulations on your new job! I am sad to see you go.”
14. “Things are not going to be the same around here without you. Your contributions and expertise were invaluable to the team.”
15. “The tiring work days seemed much more enjoyable when you were around. You will be missed, but I wish you all the best moving forward.”
16. “You were an asset to the whole department. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.”
17. “You leaving this job is a cruel reminder that every good thing comes to an end. You might not be my colleague anymore, but you will always remain my good friend.”
18. “You are a valuable team member and will be deeply missed.”
19. “It was a pleasure working with you. Thank you for your time and dedication while you worked for us. Best wishes on your new opportunity.”
20. “I’ll miss your positive attitude. I loved having you as a coworker.”

Farewell Messages to a Friend

21. “I am so grateful you took a chance on our friendship. Keep in touch.”
22. “Thank you for being there for me through thick and thin. I can’t wait to come and visit you.”
23. “You know, they say the best way to keep in touch with friends is to send them presents…just saying.”
24. “May this goodbye be only momentary. May the coming days bring you personal and professional success.”
25.  “True friends never say goodbye to each other. They just take extended leaves from each other. Keep in touch, friend.”
26. “When you miss me, remember how much you would roll your eyes at me most days.”
27. “You have been a true friend through all my hard days. I’ll miss you dearly.”
28. “I will force myself to say the word goodbye, but my heart will never mean it. Goodbye.”
29. “Bidding farewell to a friend is like bidding farewell to half of your soul. Take care until we see each other again.”
30. “I’ll miss our adventures and late-night chats. Good luck!.”

Funny Farewell Messages

31. “How much more money are they giving you? Write the number down. Double it. Throw the paper away. I don’t have that kind of money, but I can bribe you with brownies!”
32. “We’ve all got our fingers crossed that your resignation gets rejected and your dog eats your acceptance letter.”
33. “I’ve been waiting to sit on your chair for a while. Thanks for finally giving me the opportunity.”
34. “Dear friend, I sure am going to miss you. Now, who’s going to pick up all my slack?”
35. “Congratulations on successfully executing your escape plan. Best of luck at your new job.”
36. “I’ll never forget you, [insert the wrong name].”
37. “I know you will get an awesome salary in your new job, but there is no guarantee that you will get awesome colleagues like us. Do you still want to go?”
38. “I don’t know of a harder thing to accept than watching a friend leave… especially a friend who willingly pays for my meals.”
39. “I assume your office is up for grabs now?”
40. “They say true friends never say goodbye, only “see you soon.” Yes, that is a threat. I will come visit you if you’re not back here soon.”

Read More: Writing Funny Farewell Cards and Comments

Farewell Messages for a Teacher

41. “You’ve been the guiding light in my educational journey. Your lesson are forever remain etched in my heart. Farewell and all the best!”
42. “Thanks for your wisdom and patience. Your impact on my life is hard to imagine. See you around!”
43. “Although this is goodbye, the lessons you’ve taught will stay with me forever. Thank you for all the time and inspiration!”
44. “Your guidance has shaped my future, and I’ll be forever grateful. Farewell and goodbye.”
45. “Teachers like you are rare gems. I’ll miss your insights and encouragement. I’m off to a new adventure, but your teachings will always be with me.”
46. “More than a teacher, you’ve been a mentor and friend. Farewell and see you soon.”
47. “From day one, you’ve inspired me to be my best self. Thank you for all that you’ve done.”
48. “The classroom won’t be the same without your infectious enthusiasm and boundless knowledge. Take care!”
49. “You’ve not only taught me the curriculum but also important life lessons. Farewell, and here’s to new beginnings!”
50. “Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to a teacher who has shaped my mind and heart so profoundly. See you later!”

Farewell Messages for a Boss

51. “Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to be my best.”
52. “Thank you for all of your hard work and for training me. I will always aim to uphold the work ethic you brought into this role.”
53. “In the years we worked together, you were my boss first and my friend second. Now, I look forward to just being your friend.”
54. “Thank you for supporting me the last ___ years. I appreciate your willingness to teach.”
55. “You are a compassionate and talented leader. You will be missed.”
56. “Your leadership skills helped me be the person and employee I am today. Wishing you all the success moving forward.”
57. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without your mentorship. Thanks for being such a great leader.”
58. “Thanks for being the best boss someone could ask for. Wishing you the best with this new opportunity and continued success.”
59. “Your presence will continue to have an impact on me moving forward. Thanks for your support and goodwill over the years.”
60. “I will always remember the mentorship you have given me. Thank you for your hard work.”

Goodbye Quotes for a Farewell Message

61. “Remember me and smile, for it is better to forget than to remember me and cry” -Dr. Seuss
62. “Goodbye may seem forever. Farewell is like the end, but in my heart is the memory, and there you will always be.” -Disney. 
63. “Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
64. “We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we will take a little of each other everywhere.” -Tim McGraw.
65. “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” -Charles Dickens
66. “Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained.” -Jonathan Harnisch.
67. “It feels right. But it’s emotional. Saying goodbye to anything you’ve done that long is hard.” -Angela Ruggiero.
68. “This is not goodbye, my darling, this is thank you.” – Nicholas Sparks
69. “Yesterday brought the beginning, tomorrow brings the end, though somewhere in the middle, we became the best of friends.” -Unknown
70. “We laughed until we had to cry, we loved right down to our last goodbye, we were the best.” -St. Elmo’s Fire

Farewell Messages to Someone Moving

71.  “I hope you have a spare room for me to stay in when I visit. I will miss you.”
72. “May your new town bring you new opportunities, adventures, and your favorite restaurant.”
73. “You’re about to show everyone in the new city what a strong and loving person is.”
74. “The community just won’t be the same without you.”
75. “You are off to great places. I am just sad you are leaving me behind.”
76. “Distance doesn’t matter when a bond is this strong. Keep in touch.”
77. “I hope your new home is exactly what you hoped for. Wishing you the best.”
78. “It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad, and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.”
79. “I’ll miss you, but I’m excited about your new adventure. I know you will do great things.”
80.  “Although you are moving away, you’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

Send Your Farewell Message in a Kudoboard

Once you’ve decided on the perfect farewell message, a perfect way to send your farewell wishes is through a Kudoboard Farewell Card. Kudoboard uses multimedia to paint a picture of what the recipient meant to you. Your farewell message will tell a story as you pair your goodbye message with a video, photo, or GIF. 

Kudoboard is a versatile choice for both consumers and businesses looking for group greeting cards. You can create your board to be one-to-one or easily gather messages to celebrate the milestone as a group. Once the board is complete, you will be able to adapt the delivery of the board to fit your needs. You can use a Kudoboard and:

• Print it as a poster to display at a farewell party. 
• Play it as a slideshow during their farewell party or on a company display TV.
• Print it as a book so the recipient can have a physical copy.

Whatever you decide to say and however you choose to send it, saying goodbye is never easy. To help make the transition easier for everyone, send a genuine and meaningful farewell message to a coworker, friend, or loved one. 

Change is scary. Using a farewell message to say goodbye can be just the thing to boost the recipient’s confidence as they embark on their new adventure with a whole lot of change.