What To Put On A Memory Table At A Funeral
Put out a few things that sound like them: photos in the order they were taken, objects they used every day, something in their handwriting, a few of their own messages, and cards for guests to add a memory. Fewer things, well chosen, read better than a crowded table.
Eight Things For The Table
1. Photos In Order
Childhood to last year, left to right. Frames of different sizes. Ten good ones beat fifty small ones.
2. Their Everyday Things
The reading glasses, the mug, the hat, the tools. Objects people recognize start conversations.
3. Their Handwriting
A birthday card, a shopping list, a recipe card, a note on the fridge.
4. Their Own Words
Print three or four of their texts on cards: the way they said goodnight, a joke only they would make. Or lay a book of their messages open on the table for people to read.
5. Cards For Guests
A stack of blank cards and pens, with a jar or a box, so guests can leave a memory for the family to read later.
6. A Guest Book With Prompts
"How I knew them" and "A story about them" at the top of each page.
7. Something From Their Work Or Hobby
A uniform, a fishing reel, a sketchbook, a well-used cookbook.
8. Their Favorite Flowers
One vase, not many, so the table stays about them.
What do you put on a memory table at a funeral?
Photos of their life in order, a few objects they used every day, something in their handwriting, and a way for guests to leave a memory. The table works best when someone who did not know them well could look at it and understand who they were.
How do I include their text messages?
Print a few on cards in a clear font, with the date, or lay a book of their messages open at a page that sounds like them. Choose messages that are fine for everyone at the service to read. Ask the person they were sent to, if it was not you.
How many photos should go on the table?
Ten to twenty, in frames. Put the rest in a slideshow or an album beside the table, so the table itself stays readable from a step away.
Who sets up the memory table?
Usually one family member or close friend, with the funeral home's help on the day. Ask the venue how big the table is and when you can set up.
What happens to the table's things afterwards?
Decide before the service who takes each thing home, and label the borrowed ones on the back. The guest cards and the guest book go to whoever is closest to them.
How long does a printed book of their messages take?
A printed book arrives about two weeks after you approve it, and no delivery date is promised. If the service is sooner, print a few messages at home for the table, or use the PDF from the digital edition, which arrives the same day.
Related Guides
- Memorial Book IdeasA guest book, a booklet, memories from friends, or their own messages.
- Personal Funeral And Celebration Of Life IdeasTheir words, their music, their food, and a way for guests to add a story.
- How To Save Text Messages From Someone Who Has DiedWhere the messages are kept, and how to save them from each app.
- A book of their messages, to keepThe book, in memory of someone.
If You Would Like Their Messages Kept
A book of their messages can sit on the table at the service and on a shelf afterwards. Or start with the free receipt.