Epitahs and Inscriptions

What is an Epitaph?

An epitaph is defined as “A brief literary piece on a tombstone commemorating the deceased person buried there”. They will often contain a heading, name, the dates of birth and death, their relationships and a short message or verse.

All too often, however, inscriptions are composed in haste resulting in a plaque that says everything about those left behind but very little about the person who has died. On these pages we have transcribed a number of inscriptions that reflect a range of moods- from sad and tragic to whimsical and humorous. Yet all make an individual and heartfelt statement about the person being remembered:

Below are some examples of commonly used epitaphs that you may use as is or as reference, you are of course not limited by the selections on this page.

Headings

In Affectionate Memory of.
In Everlasting Memory of.
Precious Memories of.
With Love We Remember.
In Loving Memory of.
To the Memory of.
In Memory of.
In Ever Loving Memory of.
Sacred to the Memory of.
Treasured Memories of.
Cherished Memories of.
Remembered Always.
In Remembrance of.
Remembering.
Details
Born 17th July 1922, Died 8th March 1993.
Who passed away 10th Feb, 1996, aged 72.
Died 14th December 1989, aged 81 years.
1st June 1946 – 5th January 2007.
Who died 16th November, 2008, aged 89 years.
6.10.1948 – 23.11.2010.
1925 – 2000.
Relationships
A dear Husband, Father and Grandfather.
A beloved Husband, Dad and Grandad.
A loving Wife, Mum and Grandma.
A devoted Wife, Mum and Nan.
The dearly loved Wife of (name).
Our darling Daughter.
A devoted Son.
General Epitaphs
Tender Mother, a faithful friend.
A friend to many and sadly missed.
Our love is forever.
Wonderful was your love for us.
Love never ends.
They gave their today for our tomorrow.
Loving memories last forever.
He loved and was loved.
Too well loved to ever be forgotten.
Love makes memory eternal.
To live in the hearts of others is not to die.
Gone fishin’
A gentle man.
She loved everyone.
He touched the lives of many.
While we have time, let us do good.
As the bird free of its cage seeks the heights, so the Christian soul in death flies home to God.
The saddened hearts were healed in knowing the pain of life is over and the beauty of the soul revealed.
I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith.
Rest, O weary traveler, for with the dawn comes great joy.
I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and loved today.
If our love could have saved him, he would not have died.
step softly, a dream lies buries here.
God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Great love lives on.
Love is eternal.
Where there is great love there are always miracles.
May she rest in peace with God.
Not my will but thine be done.
Blessed sleep to which we all.
Sweet in her ways, observant in her mitzvas.
Let her own works praise her at the gates.
Generous of heart, constant of faith.
Out of sorrow God speaks to us best.
I know that my redeemer lives, therefor I too shall live.
He gives his beloved sleep.
God grant us love…Something to love he lends us.
Our love goes with you and our souls wait to join you.
In his will is our peace.
Trust in God.
May the peace of the Lord be with you.
For to this end Christ died.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills.
All things change but God remains.
God is our refuge and our strength.
All things to the glory of God.
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Whither thou goest I will go.
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Absent from the body, present with the lord.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
I go to prepare a place for you that where I am, there you may also be.
Neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.
Our brief partings on earth will appear one day as nothing beside the joy of eternity together.
After the night comes the morning, bidding all darkness to cease…After life’s cares and sorrows, His comfort, sweetness and peace.
But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first.
He lived life to the fullest.
She filled every second of her life with laughter, love and happiness.
Their greatest peace was found in nature…and those moments spend crossing the next mountain.
He was filled with a zest for life that never grew old, and kept him eternally young.
She is not far away.
While he lives cherished in our memories, he is never far away.
They loved their Lord with all their heart, with all their mind and with all their spirit.
A godly man who served the Lord all his days.
May God be with you and comfort you.
In God’s care.
The Lord is my shepherd.
May heavens eternal joy be thine.
What we kept in memory is ours forever.
A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.
Always in our hearts.
Gone from home but not from our hearts.
We lived together in happiness, we rest together in peace.
Love lives on.
She touched everyone with special love and kindness.
We miss you.
A free spirit.
Our little angel.
An inspiration to all.
We love you always.
With all my love.
There was grace in her steps, love in every gesture.
Forever young, forever in our hearts.
Life is not forever. Love is.
May she be remembered as she remembered others.
A life full of years of understanding.
Of tender heart and generous spirit.
Peace is thine and sweet remembrance is ours.
A woman of virtue, kindness and modesty.
Your patient courage is a beloved memory.
She graced her family with acts of loving kindness.
Precious are the memories of (name).
How beautiful life was to me.
Her works were kindness, her deeds were love.
Text and Verses
We made a promise till death to us part, but when the time came it broke my heart.
A little flower lent not given, to bud on earth and bloom in heaven.
Gone is the face we loved so dear, silent the voice we loved to hear.
Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.
God took you from our home, but never from our hearts.
To all the world just one, but to us all the world.
Too good in life, to be forgotten in death.
Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts.
Too dearly loved, to be forgotten.
To live in the hearts of those we love, is not to die.
Gone are the days we used to share, but in our hearts you’re always there.
The hours part us, but they bring us together again.
Memory is a golden chain, that binds us till we meet again.
His life a beautiful memory, his absence a silent grief.
What we keep in memory, is ours unchanged forever.
Gone from our home, but not from our hearts.
Not lost to memory, not lost to love.
Loves last gift, rememberance.
Sweet are the memories that never fade.
Jesus called a little child unto him.
Forever with the Lord.
Reunited.
Greatly loved and sadly missed.
Rest in Peace.
Sadly missed.
Gone from us but not forgotten.
Resting where no shadows fall.
Laid to rest.
Safe in the arms of Jesus.
Remembered with a smile.
At rest.
Always in our thoughts.
Requiescat in Pace.
In God’s keepings.
Goodnight, God bless.
Peace, perfect peace.

Examples

Example 1

In loving memory to

Fred Wattlefon

Philosopher and Wit.

Passed away October 1995

Aged 71 Years.

Loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, caring friend.

Sorely missed by all who loved him.

“A man not old, but mellow,

like a good wine.”

Example 2

ANNIEWATTLEFON

1926-1996

A petite woman with heart

her strength in the face of adversity had to be admired.

Her spirit will always live.

Her love is with us always.

Wife, mother, special person.

“As sunsets flow to golden glow,

and the breath of night is new,

Love finds afar eve’s eager star,

This is our thought of you.”

Example 3

John Smith

“Gone fishing”,

the sign said that hung upon the door.

An angel had put it there,

God was waiting on the shore.

Example 4

Anne Hewitt

Died 1st September 1984

Here lieth the body of

My lovely dear wife Anne

Who plays the Poker Machines

whenever she can.

Example 5

James Thomas Hewitt

Died 15th July 1988

Here lie the bones

They call him uncle jim

He sits here and drinks

While she puts his money in.

(From adjacent graves in Helensburg Cemetery, NSW)

Example 6

Here lies

Johnny Yeast

Pardon me for not rising.

(Ruidiso Cemetery, New Mexico)

Example 7

Here lies the body of old Jack Clarke

A man with a heart of gold

His money he couldn’t take with him,

of this he often told.

But now that jack is gone I suppose it’s time to tell

he left no relation

So instead of leaving it to the Government boys ,

he left it to the Cancer Foundation.

Example 8

In Loving Memory Of

April Storm Bohman

Daughter Of Matthew & Tracy Bohman

Loved, wanted, needed, gone, lost, left.

Dreams made forever

Earthly ones dashed, but in eternity

Families can be together forever

(On a child’s grave at the Shoalhaven Lawn Cemetery)

Example 9

In Loving Memory Of

My Dear Husband

WILLIAM HENRY McGRATH

29.7.1910 – 26.11.1994

Loved by his family and friends

“Lay Your treasures up in heaven

Cling to life and see it through

For it cannot last Forever

‘I shall die some day’ Says You”

Example 10

“Stranger as you pass me by

As you are so was I,

As I am so you will be

Prepare yourself to follow me”

Biblical Examples

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
23rd Psalm

Believe on Him to life everlasting.
1 Timothy 1:16

He shall receive in the world to come eternal life.
Mark 10:30

The righteous shall go into life eternal.
Matthew 25:46

Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:15

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8

He that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 10:22

The Lord hath given him rest from all his enemies.
11 Samuel 7:1

Thy remembrance shall endure into all generations.
102nd Psalm

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3

He that believeth in the Son hath everlasting life.
John 3:16

I rejoice in thy salvation.
1 Samuel 2:1

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
23rd Psalm

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well please.
Matthew 3:17

Blessed is the man who maketh the Lord his trust.
Psalms 40:4

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden.
Matthew 11:28

Sleep on now, and take your rest.
Matthew 26:45

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

…Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
Matthew 25:21

I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live.
John 11:25

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:1

…All things work together for good to them that love God.
Romans 8:28

…Be thou faith unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10

…Not my will, but thine be done.
Luke 22:42

The Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent, one from the other.
Genesis 31:49

For with thee is the foundation of life: in the light shall we see light.
Ps.xxxvi:9

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1 John iv:16

Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends.
John xv:13

This is the promise… the life everlasting.
1st Epistle of John ii:25

For of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew xix:14

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
11 Tim.1v:7my