30 Rest in Peace Quotes to Add to Your Sympathy Cards & Flowers

Posted on 06/19/2025 at 3:25 pm by Ben White Florist / Sympathy & Funeral

The loss of a loved one is among the worst forms of heartbreak. It’s hard to know how best to express your sympathy when people in your life lose someone close to them.

Flowers are among the most time-honored ways to recognize someone’s passing and show that you care for the people left behind, especially when you include a message of sympathy and encouragement. But sometimes, finding the right words can be challenging.

A good place to start is with “rest in peace” quotes from some of the best writers in history. You can also personalize your message to honor the specific type of loss. Here are several quotes and messages to pair with a lovely sympathy arrangement of white lilies or pink roses.

Those Who Said It Best

Authors, musicians, and luminaries throughout the ages have addressed subjects like death and grief. Here are some quotes that may comfort and uplift a loved one who is coping with loss.

1. “To the world you may have just been one person, but to one person you may have been the world.” – Dr. Seuss
2. “When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” – Khalil Gibran
3. “A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved.” – Ed Sheeran
4. “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller
5. “In every heart there is an inner room, where we can hold our greatest treasures and our deepest pain.” – Marianne Williamson
6. “Beyond the door, there’s peace, I’m sure, and I know there’ll be no more tears in heaven.” – Eric Clapton
7. “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” – Rumi
8. “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.” – Winnie the Pooh
9. “Many places I have been, many sorrows I have seen. But I don’t regret, nor will I forget, all who took that road with me.” – Billy Boyd
10. “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” – Irving Berlin

Personalized Sympathy Messages

If you want to express your condolences in a more personal way, consider rest in peace messages that focus on a particular type of loss, such as a parent, child, spouse, or friend.

For the Loss of a Parent/Grandparent

11. In remembrance of a life well-lived.
12. No one can love you like a parent, but that love lives on in your heart, and you pass it along to others.
13. Even when a parent is gone, you can feel the weight of their love like the comforting embrace of a warm blanket.
14. Honoring your parent’s legacy is as easy as telling their stories and keeping their memory alive.
15. The wisdom and guidance your parents provide will stay with you always.

For the Loss of a Child

16. No words can heal your wound, but know that you are not alone, and I’m here to listen if you need to talk.
17. [Child’s name] brought so much joy to the world, and [his/her] light will not fade in our hearts and memories.
18. In [his/her] time on this earth, [child’s name] touched so many lives.
19. [Child’s name] may have been here only a short time, but [he/she] left a lasting impression that will live on.
20. Losing a child is against the natural order, and there’s no way I can understand your grief. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I’m here to help if there’s anything you need.

For the Loss of a Spouse

21. Your path forward may be unknown, but [spouse’s name] will walk with you in spirit.
22. You opened your heart and chose love, and it will remain, even though [spouse’s name] is gone.
23. The bond between spouses transcends time and sorrow.
24. Death may part you from your chosen love, but it cannot diminish the love you shared.
25. I hope you can find some comfort in the beautiful memories you made together.

For the Loss of a Friend

26. The grief you feel is a testament to the love you shared.
27. The best way to honor [friend’s name] is to live every day with the joy and wonder [he/she] brought to your life.
28. Friends are a treasure, and the memories they create are precious jewels you carry with you.
29. The light and love of friendship live on in your heart.
30. In mourning the loss of a friend, you also celebrate the special person who brought so much to your life.

Love Lives On

The best sympathy messages recognize loss, remember with love, and offer a soft place to land for those who are grieving. When you send a sympathy bouquet, take a moment to add a few heartfelt words that show how much you care.