Epitaph: What to Write on a Headstone, with Examples

What an epitaph should be

A good epitaph is short, warm and true. It isn't a list of achievements but a single thought or feeling: why the person was dear and how they'll be remembered. Often their own favorite words sound best of all.

Examples of warm epitaphs

Examples: "Love doesn't leave — it stays within us." "Always in our hearts." "Thank you for every day together." "In loving memory." "They welcomed everyone like family." Choose the one that truly speaks of your person.

Epitaphs for loved ones

For a mother, people often write about warmth and care: "A mother is love that never ends." For a father, about being a pillar: "You were our rock and will remain so in our memory." For a husband or wife, about devotion: "Half a century together, and forever in our hearts."

Where else to keep the epitaph

Besides the stone, an epitaph is placed on the memory page — there it greets everyone who opens the memorial, alongside the person's biography, photos and stories.

• Short: a single thought or feeling.
• Warm and without grandiosity.
• You can use the person's favorite words.
• Echo it on the memory page.