What to write on a headstone Inscription
An inscription is a personal tribute. At its simplest, it includes the person’s full name, date of birth, and date of death.
Most inscriptions include the following:
- Opening phrase (e.g. In loving memory)
- Name (full name, nickname, or maiden name if appropriate)
- Dates (birth and death)
- Relationships (e.g. dearly loved father, mother, grandparent)
- Closing phrase (e.g. Rest peacefully)
Some families also include a short quote, line from a poem, or a description of their loved one’s character.
Tips for writing an inscription:
- Keep it short and clear – simple wording is often the most powerful
- Aim for timeless rather than overly sentimental
- Draw inspiration from poems, lyrics, or books
- A message that celebrates life can offer comfort to those who visit
Need help?
We can assist in crafting an inscription. If you share the following details, we’ll provide wording options for you to consider:
- Full name (including maiden name or nickname, if relevant)
- Date of birth and date of death
- List of relationships you'd like to include (e.g. husband of…, mother of…, nana of…)
We also have a list of phrases and quotes to help spark ideas.
Quotes
Your love will light my way
Speak your love still once again. (Edward Clinton)
Our love is love forever.
And the beauty of the soul revealed.
You are always in my head.
Ageless beauty, running wild.
He was one who followed dreams, stars and ships.
She walks in beauty like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies. (Lord Byron)
Our brief partings on Earth will appear one day as nothing beside the joy of eternity together.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.(Gibran)
What we keep in our memory is ours unchanged forever.
Speak your love still once again. (Edward Clinton)
Tears water our growth (William Shakespeare)
Dance, then, wherever you may be. (Sydney Carter, from Lord of the Dance)
To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die. (Thomas Campbell)
I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. (Canon Henry Scott-Holland)
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. (Rossiter Worthington Raymond)
Good night, and you will dream of me (Maurice Sendak, My Brother's Book)
Blessed sleep to which we all return.
Grace to be born and live as variously as possible.
No one spread more love in one lifetime.
Sadness is a wall between two gardens.
To unpathed waters, undreamed shores (Shakespeare)
Even as the sun goes down,
To end the light of day,
It's rising on a new horizon,
Somewhere far away.
Life is not forever. Love is.
Where there is great love there are always miracles.
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away. (Cant. ii:17)
Where He leads me I can safely go. (Millay)
The song is ended but the melody lingers on… (Irving Berlin)
Real love stories never have endings.
My barque is wafted to the strand by breath Divine and on the helm there rests a hand other than mine.( Henry Alford)
Whither thou goest, I will go. (Ruth i:16)
Today she dances with angels.
The song is ended but the melody lingers on. ( Irving Berlin)
For all we know this might only be a dream,
we come and go like ripples in a stream. (Nat King Cole)
No one thinks of winter when the grass is green. (Rudyard Kipling)
Be still.
Close your eyes.
Breathe.
Listen for my footfall in your heart.
I am not gone but merely walk within you. From "The Smoke Jumper" by Nicholas Evans
'Tis not the whole of life to live, nor all of death to die. (J. Montgomery)
Far Away, There In The Sunshine Are My Highest Aspirations (Louise May Alcott)
Now twilight lets her curtain down and pins it with a star. (L.M.Child)
As I was so are ye As I am so shall ye bee. Thy life a floure Thy breath a blast (from a gravestone in Waterstock St Leonards)
Non hodie Quod heri (I am not today what I was yesterday)
They flash upon that inward eye, Which is the bliss of solitude. (Wordsworth)
Step softly, a dream lies buried here. (Yates)
Your calm is in the trees.
Openings and Closing Phrases
Treasured memories
In loving memory
Beloved.
Dearly beloved.
Adored.
So loved.
Into the sunshine.
Dearly loved.
Once met, never forgotten..
Uncompromisingly unique.
Remembered with love.
Love you always.
With a greater thing to do.
Love is enough
Peace perfect peace.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Generous of heart, constant of faith.
Love you miss you.
So loved.
In everloving memory of.
Love is enough.
May his memory be eternal.
Always together.
Devoted in love.
Dance on...
Always loving, always loved.
Your love will light my way.
Asleep in Jesus.
Forever in our hearts.
Until we meet again.
Rest in Peace.
Here lies.
Ever loved.
Adored.
So loved.
An inspiration.
Loved and remembered.
In God's care.
An inspiration to all.
She walked in beauty
Together again.
Love is waiting.
Once met, never forgotten.
A long life well lived.
Remembered with love.
Great love lives on.
Love is eternal.
Love lives on.
Sleep till eternity.
Time passes, love remains.
We remember..... with open hearts.
A free spirit
Precious are the memories of
Modest and gentle of heart.
Quotes from Scripture
1) Believe on Him to life everlasting
-1 Timothy 1:16
2) He shall receive in the world to come eternal life
-Mark 10:30
3) The righteous shall go into life eternal
-Matthew 25:46
4) Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life
-John 3:15
5) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God
-Matthew 5:8
6) He that endureth to the end shall be saved
-Matthew 10:22
7) The Lord hath given him rest from all his enemies
-2 Samuel 7:1
8) Thy remembrance shall endure into all generations
-Psalm 102:12
9) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you
-Philippians 1:3
10) He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life
-John 3:16
11) I rejoice in thy salvation
-1 Samuel 2:1
12) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
-Psalm 23
13) This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased
-Matthew 3:17
14) Blessed is the man who maketh the Lord his trust
-Psalms 40:4
15) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden
-Matthew 11:28
16) Sleep on now, and take your rest
-Matthew 26:45
17) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted
-Matthew 5:4
18) ...Well done, thou good and faithful servant
-Matthew 25:21
19) I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live
-John 11:25
20) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me
-John 14:1