Closing Words for a Funeral: What to Say and Examples

Closing words at a funeral are the last things said before people leave. They come in two kinds: the final lines of a eulogy, and the closing remarks of the officiant or host, who thanks the guests, offers a short farewell or blessing and says what happens next. Both work best short, usually a minute or two.

This guide covers both. If you are ending your own tribute, start with the five endings below. If you are leading the service, skip to the closing script.

What are closing words at a funeral?

People use the phrase for two different moments, and it helps to know which one you are writing.

• The end of a eulogy. This is personal. It is the last thing you say as a speaker, often a goodbye to the person or a promise to remember them.
• The closing of the service. This is the job of the officiant, celebrant, funeral director or a family member acting as host. It brings the service to a calm end and tells people what to do next.

If you are writing the eulogy itself, our guide to how to write a eulogy covers the whole speech. For the other end of the service, see opening words for a funeral.

How do you end a eulogy?

A good ending is brief and sounds like you. Toastmasters notes that many experienced speakers memorize at least the opening and closing of a speech so they can start and finish with confidence while keeping the rest conversational. Decide your last sentence in advance, say it, and sit down.

These are five common endings. The wording is sample text to adapt, not a script.

1. A direct goodbye. Speak to the person: "Thank you, [Name], for [specific thing]. We will [keep doing it]. Goodbye for now."
2. A promise. "We will say your name. We will tell your stories. You will not be forgotten."
3. A call to action. Invite people to honor the person in a practical way: "[Name] loved [cause]. This week, please do one kind thing for someone who is not expecting it." If the family has named a charity, you can mention it here. See our guide to funeral donation etiquette.
4. A favorite phrase. If the person had a line everyone knew, ending with it can draw a smile and a bit of release: "As she always said, 'Right, who's making the tea?'"
5. A short reading or verse. A few lines can say what you cannot. Choose something that fits their beliefs and personality. Our guide to readings for a funeral service has options.

If you use a quotation, check where it came from. One line is widely shared as a Maya Angelou quote: that people will forget what you said but never how you made them feel. Quote Investigator calls that attribution unsupported and traces the earliest known credit to Carl W. Buehner in a 1971 quote collection. If a family member knows the person's own words, such as a favorite saying or a line from a card, those are usually better.

What does the officiant say at the end of a funeral?

A closing usually has four parts and takes one to two minutes. At the average US speaking rate of about 150 words per minute, that is roughly 150 to 300 words.

1. Thank people. Thank the family for sharing their loved one, the speakers and musicians, and the guests, especially those who traveled. If the service is livestreamed, welcome the people watching and thank them too.
2. Say a farewell or blessing. This can be a prayer, a short reading, a moment of silence or a few plain words of goodbye.
3. Give practical directions. Tell people what happens next and where to go.
4. Signal the end. A clear cue lets people stand and move without wondering if there is more.

A sample closing for a service without a religious structure:

Thank you all for coming to remember [Name] today, and to those joining us online. [Name] would have been glad to see this room full.

Before we leave, let us take a moment of quiet to hold [him/her/them] in our thoughts. [Pause.]

The family invites you to join them at [place], [address], from [time], where there will be food and a chance to share more stories. [If a procession: Those travelling to the cemetery, please follow the funeral director's car.] Thank you. Please stand as [music] plays and the family leaves first.

A faith leader will often use set prayers or blessings. If you are not the clergy member, ask what they will say so you do not repeat or contradict it. If you are still choosing who should lead, see our guides to choosing a funeral officiant and what a funeral celebrant does.

Traditional committal words and blessings

At a burial, the closing often includes a committal, spoken as the casket is lowered or at the graveside. In the Anglican tradition, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer burial service includes the words "we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust," followed by a statement of hope in the Resurrection. Other churches and faiths use different committal prayers, so ask the officiant which words will be used. For more on what happens at the cemetery, see our guide to the graveside service.

Two public-domain options for a closing blessing or reading:

• The Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26), which begins "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee" in the King James Version, is used in many Jewish and Christian worship traditions. Wording and translation vary by community.
• "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, which Poets.org lists with the dates 1809 to 1892. It uses the image of setting out to sea and includes the line "And may there be no sadness of farewell." Because Tennyson died in 1892, it is long out of copyright.

Poems and song lyrics written more recently are often still protected. The U.S. Copyright Office says works created after 1977 are generally protected for the life of the author plus 70 years. Rules for reading aloud, printing in a program and posting online can differ, so for a recent poem or song check with the publisher or rights holder, or choose a public-domain text. Our guide to the funeral service order covers programs.

Practical announcements to include

People are looking for direction at the end of a service. Check your list against these:

• Where the reception, meal or gathering is, with the address and the start time
• Whether there is a procession to the cemetery, and how to join it
• Whether the burial or committal is private or open to all guests
• Whether guests should sign the guestbook, take a memorial card or leave something at the door
• Where the livestream recording or online memorial page can be found afterward
• Where to send donations or flowers, if the family has asked for that
• Anything about parking, accessibility or restrooms that was not obvious on arrival

Put the essentials in the printed program too, so people who miss the announcement can still find them. The recording of a funeral service and virtual funeral services guides explain how to include remote guests.

Mistakes to avoid

• Starting a second eulogy. The closing is not the place for new stories. Save them for the reception.
• Forgetting the practical details. Tired, grieving guests need to be told where to go. Write the address down.
• Mismatched tone. A generic religious verse for a nonreligious person, or a joke that undercuts the room, can feel jarring. Match the language to the life.
• Drifting on. When emotions are high, it is easy to circle back and keep talking. Have a final sentence ready, say it, then stop.
• Leaving out remote guests. Say a word to the people watching online. It takes seconds and it matters to them.

What to do next

1. Decide whether you are writing the end of a eulogy or the service closing, and ask the officiant what the structure will be.
2. Write your final line and the practical details, and read them aloud with a timer.
3. Print a large-type copy and put the reception address at the bottom of the page.
4. Tell the family what you plan to say, so nothing is a surprise.