Best Tributes

12 of the Best Famous Eulogies (Examples for Inspiration)

Writing and delivering a eulogy can be challenging. Most of us are not professional speakers, and grief makes finding the ability to say the right thing even more difficult.

100 Best Examples of Epitaphs

An epitaph is a meaningful tombstone tribute to someone who has died. Here are 100 of the best epitaph examples.

Why We Need Funerals

There are people who declare that they don't want their families and friends to have a funeral for them when they die. "Just cremate me," they say. "I don't want any fuss."

Understanding How Are Cremation Diamonds Made: A Comprehensive Guide

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most profound challenges. Families often search for a way to carry their memory forward, not only in their hearts but in something tangible they can hold onto. Cremation diamonds, also called memorial diamonds, have emerged as a deeply meaningful option. They transform ashes or hair into a gemstone that can be cherished for generations.

How to Plan an Ash-Scattering Ceremony

There are many options for holding a memorial service after a cremation.

Tonight, President-Elect Biden Will Lead Tribute to Americans Who Have Died of Covid

This evening, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will lead a pre-inaugural ceremony honoring the Americans who have died of COVID-19.

Love and Mourning: Remembering Mothers We've Lost

Many of us will be missing our moms this Mother’s Day.

How to Pre-Plan a Funeral

Planning your own funeral may not be easy, but deciding your funeral arrangements in advance can give peace of mind to your family when the time comes. Learn why funeral pre-planning is helpful, then use our detailed checklist to guide you through the steps of pre-planning a funeral. 

The Surprising Ways a Funeral Director Can Help You

If you've never had to help plan a funeral, your idea of a funeral director's job is probably a little vague. They arrange the funeral, right? They handle the burial or cremation, and are at the visitation and the funeral service to make sure everyone's in the right place at the right time. Is that it?

Memorial Tattoos Photos

Tattoos are moving from the counterculture into the mainstream, and as more and more people get inked, they're discovering just how personal and emotionally significant a tattoo can be. That especially applies when the tattoo is in memory of a loved one. Check out our gallery of some of the best memorial tattoos.

10 Holiday Gifts for Grievers

If you’re shopping for someone who is grieving, the usual gifts may not seem quite right.

Vera Clemente (2019), widow of baseball legend Roberto Clemente

Vera Clemente was the widow of baseball legend Roberto Clemente who was a 15-time All-Star outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roberto Clemente was killed Dec. 31, 1972, in a plane crash while en route to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to earthquake victims. After his death, Vera continued his humanitarian work as the chairwoman of the Roberto Clemente Foundation. Roberto and Vera married in 1964 and had three sons, Roberto, Luis, and Enrique.

How to Preserve Our Precious Memories Forever

Departed family and friends remain with us in the stories we tell and the memories we share.

Remembering Lives Lost to Epilepsy

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, and we're honoring everyday warriors in the fight against epilepsy.

Why Publish an Obituary in the Local News? Here Are 5 Good Reasons

It’s more than just someone’s death notice—it’s also their life story, preserved to make sure the world remembers them.

What Is a Living Funeral?

Celebrating life before the end lets everyone share in the love.

9/11: The Grief of Ordinary Americans

When terrorists attacked the United States on September 11, 2001 — killing nearly 3,000 people in the World Trade Center and Pentagon, and aboard four passenger jets — Legacy was a young internet company serving families, funeral homes, and newspapers in the online obituary space. By 2001, Legacy recognized that our online Guest Books, because we screen each message before it appears online, were uniquely safe spaces for those dealing with a loss to share and grieve together. In the wake of 9/11, we knew one way we could help was to provide .

21 Most Common Family Heirlooms

A family heirloom is any treasured item that’s been passed down by a family member who has died. Some are treasures in the most literal sense, valuable antiques that could sell for many thousands of dollars. Others have strictly sentimental value, but the fact that they’re not worth much money doesn’t make them any less beloved. Family heirlooms can be many generations old, passed from parent to child for centuries. Or they can be newer, something inherited from a parent or grandparent that will be passed along in the future. Most important, whatever they may be, family heirlooms conjure memories of the special people who passed them along to us. 

MIA Vietnam vet's son flies his remains home 52 years later

A full military funeral will be held for Col. Roy A. Knight Jr. on Aug. 10 in Weatherford, Texas.

What Is a Wake?

A wake is one of the ceremonies some people perform after a death. It’s often used interchangeably with visitation or viewing, though historically it was a different kind of ceremony from our modern-day visitation.

Should I Make a Memorial Donation?

Flowers have traditionally been the most common sympathy gift. But today, more and more people are choosing to make a memorial donation instead of or in addition to sending flowers to grieving friends.

Making Amends: Last Chance for Mom's Love

Mom’s sobs were operatic as she walked in the front door, accompanied by her brother-in-law. “That thing wasn’t Harry,” she said. She meant my Dad’s body. 

Top Funeral Songs 🎵

This article examines the deep emotional connection between music and funerals, explaining how songs and hymns help families honor loved ones, process grief, and find comfort during memorial services. It presents a curated list of 76 popular funeral and celebration-of-life songs, organized by themes such as remembering parents, partners, or children, as well as religious, uplifting, humorous, love, and alternative music choices. The article serves as a practical guide for selecting meaningful music that reflects personal memories and supports emotional healing.

Lives Told Well: The Best Obituaries

The best obituaries find the extraordinary in the lives of ordinary people.

What Is a Eulogy?

A eulogy is a remembrance speech that pays tribute to someone who has died.

The NYT Is Publishing Great Black Americans' Obituaries After the Fact

The history of the U.S. is full of the accomplishments of great African Americans. But that hasn't always been a fact you'd find reflected in the obituary pages of U.S. newspapers. The obituary page—for instance, that of the New York Times, our country's "newspaper of record"—is where fame, talent, and ingenuity have always been summed up as a notable life comes to a close. That is, if that notable person was white.

A Historic Memorial Service: The U.S. Navy's First Ever All-Woman Flyover Tribute

"Missing Man" formation honors the late Captain Rosemary Mariner.

R.I.P. to the 'What's Your Story?' Dad

Steve Dishman: a life well-lived + a story well-told = endless inspiration

People Who Love Southwest Airlines Have Turned Out in Droves to Mourn Its Founder

Was Herb Kelleher one of the most beloved corporate executives ever?

This Veteran Died Alone, But Hundreds Attended His Funeral

When U.S. Army veteran Stanley C. Stoltz died recently, a heartbreakingly short obituary was published by , which handled his arrangements.

Celebrating Day of the Dead (video)

2017 may be remembered as the year that the Day of the Dead finally reached broad popular awareness as a holiday celebrated widely across the United States.

Todd Bol (1956–2018), founder of the non-profit Little Free Library

Little free libraries are on front lawns in 88 countries.

This Man’s Obituary Respects His Wife As Much As He Did

We're cheering Toledo man Freeman Hudson after reading his extraordinary obituary.

Tom Flynn, the Man Behind "America's Cemetery"

Tom Flynn, the founder of America's Cemetery, who was honored with the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association's 2018 Lasting Impact Award , died June 18 after a battle with cancer.

20 Creative Ways to Honor a Loved One's Memory

Unique options for paying tribute to a lost loved one.

Best. Mom. Ever.

At the end, their children remembered them with a lifetime’s worth of love.

This Grieving Father Pledged to End the Addiction Epidemic

Jim Hood is determined that his son’s overdose will not be in vain—and now Facing Addiction with NCADD is backing him up.

The New York Times Is Retroactively Publishing Great Women's Obituaries

The "Overlooked" series seeks to begin correcting historical biases in reporting notable lives and deaths.

Walter Skold (2018), founder of the Dead Poets Society of America

Walter Skold, founder of the Dead Poets Society of America, visited the final resting places of more than 600 poets.

Giving Tuesday: How to Keep Your Loved One's Legacy Alive

Honor their memory by supporting a good cause in their name.

Why Is Jerry Orbach's Face Painted All Over This Car?

A very unlikely tribute to Law & Order's late star.

Before She Was Grandma, She Was a Hero

How one California woman’s selfless act left ripples that lasted for decades.

Died Doing What They Loved

Somehow, knowing that a person died doing what they loved gives us comfort.

Why Choosing Funeral Music is So Important

It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning.

Celebrating Jackie Robinson Day (video)

Jackie Robinson changed baseball when he stepped onto the field on April 15, 1947 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The first Black player in the major leagues since the 1880s, he was under tremendous pressure to succeed—and succeed he did. His talent and ability as a ballplayer was undeniable and he maintained his composure in the face of racist taunts both on field and off. Before the end of the 1947, other African Americans would join him in the big leagues, including fellow future Hall of Famer Larry Doby.

As Mom’s Memories Blossom

Celebrating Mother’s Day after a loss can be hard. Two things that help: children and flowers.

How Do I Start a Memorial Fund?

On #GivingTuesday, pay forward a loved one's legacy and help those in need by starting a memorial fund.

Almost Got To See the Cubs Win World Series

A few lifelong Cubs fans came tantalizingly close to seeing their team win the World Series.

The Legacy of Loving

In 1958, Richard and Mildred Loving did a daring thing: They got married. It's something that millions of people in the U.S. do every year, but for the Lovings, it wasn't as easy as setting a date and picking out rings. In their home state of Virginia, their love was a felony.