Memorial book ideas, and what to write inside
By the Notre Livre editorial team · · 8 min read
When someone we love dies, we want two things at once: to share the grief with others, and to hold on to who they were. A memorial book can do both.
Here are ideas for different kinds of memorial books, with examples of what to write, whether you are preparing for a service or creating something for the years ahead.
Memorial guest book or memorial tribute book?
A memorial guest book, sometimes called a funeral book or sign-in book, sits at the entrance of a service. Guests write their names and a few words. It is precious, but it records who came rather than who the person was.
A memorial tribute book tells the life itself: childhood, work, love, family, the phrases everyone remembers. It is the book grandchildren will open in twenty years. The two work well together.
Memorial book ideas
- A memory table at the service with cards that say "My favorite memory of..." and a box to collect them.
- An online form sent to friends and colleagues before the service, asking for one story each.
- A photo book in which every picture has a short caption written by the person who took it.
- A recipe book of their dishes, with a memory attached to each one.
- A book of letters addressed to them, written by children and grandchildren.
- A written life story, a biography told from the family's memories.
What to write in a memorial book
If you are signing a memorial guest book, a few sincere lines are enough. Specific memories mean more to the family than general condolences.
- "I will always remember the way she laughed at her own jokes before she finished them."
- "He taught me to fish at Lake George when I was eight. I still use his knot."
- "Your mother welcomed me into her kitchen the first week I moved here. I never forgot it."
- "Thank you for sharing him with all of us. He made every room warmer."
Share how you knew the person, one memory, and one thing you will carry with you. That is all a family hopes to read.
Creating a tribute book about their life
A tribute book asks for more than a signature: it asks for the story. You gather what you and your family remember, and it is written as a literary portrait, from where they came from to what they leave behind.
Our memorial and tribute book is built from a gentle guided conversation that you can pause and resume. The text never invents facts about the person: where memories are missing, it stays faithful to what you shared. You review every page before approving it, and the hardcover is printed and shipped within the United States. Packages and prices are on the pricing page.
It can also be made while the person is still with you, for a milestone birthday or to record their voice. In that case, they can tell their own story with a life story book.