Guides and advice
On farewells, grief and remembering the people we love.
How to write an obituary, step by step
A simple guide to writing a complete and respectful obituary: what to include, how to order it, and example wording.
Read article →50 messages of condolence for someone who is grieving
Simple, sincere phrases to comfort someone who has lost a loved one, whether in person or in writing.
Read article →What to say (and what to avoid) to someone who is grieving
How to talk to someone who has just lost a loved one: words that help and some very common mistakes.
Read article →Example obituary wording for a mother or father
Real, adaptable templates for writing a parent's obituary, from the classic tone to the more personal.
Read article →How to share the news of a death with family and friends
Who to tell first, how to do it with care, and how the internet can help you reach everyone without a hundred phone calls.
Read article →Online obituary or newspaper notice: differences and costs
What each option offers, what they cost, and why more and more families are choosing a permanent digital memorial.
Read article →QR codes on headstones: what they are and how they work
A small plaque with a QR code links the headstone to the person's online memorial. Here's how it's done.
Read article →The five stages of grief, explained simply
Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance: what they really mean and why they are not a ladder.
Read article →How to explain a grandparent's death to a child
Clear words, awkward questions and ways to include children in the farewell without frightening them.
Read article →60 epitaphs and short phrases of remembrance
Short lines for headstones, memorial cards and obituaries: classic, poetic and personal.
Read article →How to arrange a funeral, step by step
From the first phone call to the farewell: decisions, timings and advice for arranging a funeral without losing your way.
Read article →Paperwork and formalities after a death
A general guide to the documents and administrative tasks that usually follow a death: certificates, closures, pensions and the estate.
Read article →A short history of the obituary: from parchment to the internet
From parish announcements to digital memorials: how we have announced death down the centuries.
Read article →How to write a eulogy (words of farewell)
Structure, tone and practical tricks for writing and delivering a farewell speech without freezing.
Read article →Ideas for remembering a loved one on their anniversary
Simple, meaningful rituals for the anniversary of a death: as a family, alone, or from far away.
Read article →Grief in the digital age: memorials, social media and online remembrance
What happens to our digital footprint when we die, and how the internet is changing the way we remember.
Read article →How to choose the photos for a memorial
Which photos tell a life: criteria, order and common mistakes when building a loved one's gallery.
Read article →Sympathy flowers: what each one means
Roses, lilies, chrysanthemums… the language of funeral flowers and what to choose depending on your relationship.
Read article →Music for a farewell: songs for a funeral
How to choose the music for a farewell, and a list of classic and modern pieces that tend to carry the moment well.
Read article →Letters to the one who has gone: writing to heal
Why writing to a loved one who has died brings relief, and how to begin even if you don't know what to say.
Read article →How to support a grieving friend when you're far away
Concrete gestures for being present in the loss of someone dear, even with thousands of miles between you.
Read article →The first Christmas without a loved one
How to face the festive season when someone is missing from the table: expectations, rituals and permission to do things differently.
Read article →The book of condolence: from the funeral home table to the internet
What a book of condolence is, what to write in one, and how its digital version has made it more valuable still.
Read article →Cremation or burial? How to decide
Tradition, beliefs, cost and what to do with the ashes: a calm guide to one of the most intimate decisions.
Read article →Classic poems to read at a funeral
Verses that have comforted mourners for generations: a selection for farewells, with advice on choosing well.
Read article →Grief in older people: how to be there for them
Losing the companion of a lifetime: warning signs, gestures that help, and the family's role.
Read article →How to sum up a life in 500 words
A simple technique for writing a loved one's biography without feeling you're leaving everything out.
Read article →Candles, laurels and doves: the symbols of remembrance
What the symbols surrounding death mean, and why they have accompanied us for millennia.
Read article →How to preserve a loved one's digital legacy
Photos on their phone, social media, accounts and scattered memories: how to gather them and keep them for ever.
Read article →Why create an online memorial: the complete guide
What exactly a digital memorial is, what it offers beyond the traditional obituary, and how to create one in minutes.
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