After a friend or loved one’s funeral, life seems to go back to normal for everyone else but the grieving individuals. While everyone may remember and think of the friend or loved one they lost, as time goes by, people sometimes forget to say anything about losing the deceased. When this happens, those closest to the deceased can feel like they are alone in remembering their loved one or best friend.
Our Top Picks for Sending eCards
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Show that you remember and care by sending a remembrance eCard to friends and family. You can send these on the anniversary of the person’s death or anytime you feel like sending a card to let someone know you care.
How and Where to Send a Remembrance eCard
Some digital card services require a subscription but many are free to use, customize, and send to multiple recipients.
Step 1: Choose an ecard service
You can choose from a plethora of services. Take some time to shop around, browse cards, and determine which digital card service has the type of card you want to send.
Free services often specialize in offering plenty of generic, non-customizable options, whereas paid services let you customize cards by changing auto-filled text, personalize lengthy messages, and add pictures. Whether you look through free or paid options, always start your search in the sympathy eCard category. Most of the time, you can find remembrance cards there.
Best customization (add photos, music, and text):
Best free eCards:
Best religious free eCards:
Best prewritten eCards:
Step 2: Sign up for an account (if required)
Some eCard websites request account signup. If you use a paid service, you’re almost always required to sign up for an account. Free services often have the option to check out as a guest instead.
- Smilebox offers completely free memberships but you must sign up to use the service. Account signup is easy and you can sync it with your Google or Facebook accounts. Some premium features require payment but you don’t need a credit card on file to sign up for and begin using the service.
- Blue Mountain offers a free one-week trial. After the trial ends, you can choose from three subscription models. The first option is a monthly subscription for $4.99 per month. The second choice is a yearly subscription with an upfront payment of $19.99. You can also choose a two-year subscription with an upfront payment of $29.99
- 123 Greetings is completely free. You can sign up for a free account to save your favorite cards and designs and have a record of the cards you’ve sent. Either way, you don’t need to provide credit card information.
- CrossCards is a completely free service and you don’t need an account to send eCards.
- American Greetings offers a free seven-day trial. After that, you can tap into the same options as its sister company, Blue Mountain. You have the option to sign up for a month-to-month subscription at $4.99 per month, a one-year membership for a flat fee of $19.99, or a two-year membership for a flat fee of $29.99.
- Hallmark offers numerous cards you can send for free. If you want to send a membership-only card, sign up for $5 per month.
Step 3: Customize your card
Customize your card by adjusting pictures, photographs, and text to suit your needs. You can include encouraging quotes, verses, sayings, and personalized messages. Even if you’re using a free non-customizable card, you can always add your own message. Adding a personal touch such as a heartfelt message goes a long way to bring encouragement and hope to someone who is hurting.
If you aren’t sure what to write, we’ve included some sample suggestions in this article. It’s always best to keep it simple and heartfelt. The person you’re sending the card to will love it and appreciate your thoughtfulness whether you write a poem like Maya Angelou or simply say, “I’m so sorry and I’m thinking of you today.”
Step 4: Add an optional gift
Some eCard services, such as American Greetings, provide the option to send digital gifts with the card. This is entirely optional but can be a nice touch if the gift options match up with what you know your friend or relative would enjoy. If no options seem suitable, you can always send a separate eGift card instead.
Step 5: Preview your card
Once you’ve customized your card and written your message, click the preview option. During the preview, you’ll see your card just as the recipient will with pictures, animation, text, and customization in place. If something is wrong, hit the “edit” button and go back to correct it.
Once you’re happy with the preview, continue on to the final step.
Step 6: Enter recipient information
When you’re ready to send the eCard, you’ll need recipient information at hand. This typically includes the recipient’s name and email address. The website will also ask for your name and email address so it will show up in the recipient’s inbox from you.
Double-check the recipient’s email address before you hit send. Even one wrong letter or number will prevent the card from reaching your friend or relative. Worse, if someone else owns the email address you mistakenly typed, that person will receive the card and gift (if included) instead.
What to Write in a Remembrance eCard
Read over some brief messages to help you get started with a custom message of your own.
1. Thinking of you and our dear friend, today and always.
Sometimes simple is best and this message fits the bill. It’s short and sweet and gets to the point without going over the top.
2. In fond remembrance of Suzy, our fellow gardener, lover of art, and dearest friend.
Include specific things you remember about the person who died to make your message extra special. Your memories might just bring up happy memories for the recipient.
3. We deeply miss Brent’s laughter and joy. May we always follow his cheerful example.
Share what you miss about the person who passed away. Highlight the deceased’s attributes or personality traits that specifically stuck out to you.
4. On this anniversary of Jack’s passing, I hope you feel his presence and love.
This type of message is appropriate even if you didn’t know the person who passed away very well. With this message, you communicate your sorrow over the recipient’s loss of a loved one.
5. Sharing in your sorrow as you remember Jessi’s passing.
This message is ideal if you want to share that you, too, remain impacted by the recipient’s loss. Only use this message if you knew the deceased person well. Otherwise, it might come off sounding trite or insincere.
6. I’m sending this card with lots of love, prayers, warm thoughts, and comforting hugs.
This message is appropriate for any type of remembrance card, from family members to pets.
7. All my sympathy and love as you remember your late wife on the anniversary of her passing.
Send this message to a bereaved spouse on the anniversary of a significant other’s passing.
8. Missing Brittany right along with you. I’ll always think fondly of her warmth and smile.
This message works if you knew the deceased person well. Briefly mention what you remember about the deceased to add a personal touch.
9. Our family keeps you and yours in our thoughts, especially during this time.
If you want to send a message from your entire family, use a message like this. If sending a family card, address your card to the family instead of to an individual.
10. No matter how much time passes, I’ll never forget Frank’s kindhearted ways, love for baseball, and love for his family.
A message like this is appropriate no matter how much time has passed since the deceased’s death — six months, one year, or five. Simply let the recipient know that you won’t forget the deceased.
11. Just want you to know that we’re here for you and we always will.
Help a grieving friend or relative to know that you’re in the grieving process with them with this kind of message.
12. If you need someone to talk to, a shoulder to lean on, or someone to cry with, I’m always available. Remembering your sweet girl today and always.
If you know the recipient well, you can always offer love and support with a message like this.
13. Jose meant so much to all of us. He brought so much enthusiasm and energy to our team. We think about him all the time.
Use a message like this when sending a card of remembrance for a coworker.
14. Thinking of your dad today. I planted a tree in his honor at our local park.
Did you do something in honor of the deceased? Let the recipient know about it.
15. In memory of your sister. May her sweet words, kindness, and love continue to live on through each of us.
Use a message like this to remind the recipient that the memory of their loved one will live on.
Remember Friends and Loved Ones
When someone is no longer physically present, memories still prevail. Sending a remembrance card shows those closest to the deceased that they are not alone in their grief and that the legacy of their loved one will continue on.