Signing the Guestbook at a Funeral: What You Should Know

Losing a loved one is a difficult and emotional experience, and attending a funeral or memorial service is a way to pay respects to the departed and offer support to their family. One of the common gestures at such events is signing the guestbook.

Events like funerals or memorial services can be stressful, but signing the guestbook doesn’t have to be. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the proper etiquette for signing the guestbook at a funeral, what to avoid, and where it’s appropriate to offer your condolences for the family. We’ll also explore other ways to share kind words and fond memories with the grieving family.

How to Sign the Guest Book at a Funeral or Memorial Service

During a funeral, celebration of life, or memorial service, you may come across a guest book where attendees are invited to leave their names and contact information. Typically located at the entrance, this serves as a record of who attended the service and allows the family to acknowledge and appreciate the support they’ve received. 

Signing a traditional guestbook 

Traditionally, the guest book will have lined paper with space to leave your name and contact information like email, phone number, or home address. When signing a traditional guest book, simply write your name, and if desired, provide your contact information. If you aren’t closely connected with the family, you may want to leave a small note about your relationship to the person who passed—like a company or church. 

Make sure that your name is signed clearly and legibly in case the family would like to send a thank you note or a link to a memorial board to leave condolences. Some larger events may require multiple guestbooks, but you should only sign one.

Signing a modern guest book

Some modern funeral guest books do not have lined paper, instead offering blank space for guests to leave thoughtful messages. In this case, you can take the opportunity to express your condolences and share a brief, heartfelt message of sympathy for the family.

When signing the custom guest book, keep your message short, respectful, and to the point. Save longer anecdotes or memories for a sympathy card or memorial board. Your message should express how you feel with personality in only a short sentence or two.

What Not to Do When Signing a Guest Book

While the funeral guestbook is a way to express sympathy and support for the family, there are certain things to avoid when signing it. Firstly, refrain from writing lengthy messages or sharing personal anecdotes in the guestbook, especially if there’s limited space. The focus should be on the family and their loss, so keep your message concise and respectful.

It’s also important to write your name clearly and legibly to preserve the memory for future generations. Do not write in cursive or leave an unfamiliar nickname.

Avoid spending too much time signing the guest book or looking at other messages. There will likely be a long line of funeral attendees waiting to sign before the service begins, so pay attention to time and context.

Additionally, it’s crucial to maintain decorum and tact when signing the guestbook. Avoid any language or content that could be perceived as inappropriate or insensitive. Remember, the guestbook is a memento for the family, and your message should reflect empathy and sensitivity towards their grief.

Where to Offer Condolences for the Family

In addition to signing the funeral guest book, there are other ways to offer longer condolences to the family of the departed. If the funeral home or memorial service provides condolence cards, you can take one and write a personal message to the family. These cards often offer more space than a traditional guestbook, allowing you to convey your sympathy in greater detail.

During the funeral, celebration of life, or memorial service, you can also express your condolences in person to the family members. A few comforting words and a sincere expression of sympathy can provide solace to those who are grieving. Additionally, offering your support and assistance to the family during this challenging time is a meaningful way to show you care.

You may also choose to offer condolences by sending a sympathy card with a longer message. This is an appropriate time to include a story, anecdote, or longer memory of the departed outside of the guestbook. This card could come alongside a floral arrangement or be delivered by hand or in the mail. 

For large groups, there are also online sympathy cards where families, coworkers, or friends can all sign and leave messages of remembrance and condolences. These online boards enable contributors from all over the world to leave messages, photos, and videos that honor the life and loving memory of the departed.

Creating an Online Sympathy Card or Memorial Board

To create an online sympathy card, go to Kudoboard and click “Create a Kudoboard.” Select the occasion and enter the name of the family member receiving the card. Create your message of sympathy or condolence and fill the board with photos and memories. Adding thoughtful posts will encourage others to do the same. 

Invite contributors to the board and encourage them to share memories and words of condolence and love. Once everyone has signed, you can send the card via email, text, or a link. You can even attach or crowdfund gift cards for thoughtful items like meals, trips, or groceries.

Once they’ve received the card, they can view the card on any device. The card is available online at any time, and contributors can continue to add to the board after delivery. There’s even the option to print the card as a poster or book to create a memorial keepsake. 

Attending a funeral service or memorial is an opportunity to demonstrate kindness and support for the family of the departed. Signing the memorial guest book, offering condolences, and creating online sympathy cards are all meaningful ways to express words of comfort and share fond memories of the loved one. By observing proper etiquette and sensitively addressing the needs of the grieving family, attendees can convey their support and care in a respectful manner.