20 Death Announcement Examples for a Best Friend
Simple, respectful death announcement messages to help you share the news with clarity and care.
Losing a best friend can feel especially disorienting — someone who felt like chosen family, and who held so many shared memories. In the early days, even simple wording can feel strangely difficult.
A death announcement is a short message used to inform others that someone has died, shared clearly and respectfully and without personal reflections. In the UK, this is sometimes called a death notice.
Often, a death announcement is the first step — shared before fuller details are available, or before a longer obituary is written later. These examples aim to help you choose wording that fits your audience, timing, and level of privacy.
There’s no right way to approach these examples — you may find that only one or two feel right for you.
Names are optional in death announcements. These examples are written without names, making them easy to adapt to your own situation.
Short Death Announcement Examples
Brief wording often used for quick sharing or initial notifications.
Our best friend has passed away. Funeral arrangements are being made, and details will be shared when confirmed.
We confirm that our best friend has died. Further information will follow shortly once arrangements are fully finalised.
Our best friend has died. We will share funeral information as soon as the arrangements are confirmed for everyone.
We’re letting friends know our best friend has passed away. Further details will follow when arrangements are confirmed.
Our best friend passed away peacefully. Service details will be provided as soon as arrangements are fully confirmed.
We regret to share that our best friend has died. More information will follow once arrangements are confirmed.
Standard Death Announcement Examples
A slightly fuller message, suitable when you want to share a little more detail.
We’re sharing the news that our best friend has passed away. We’re reaching out to friends in the wider circle, and funeral details will be shared once arrangements are confirmed.
Our best friend has died, and we are informing friends and colleagues. Please share this message thoughtfully, avoid reposting for now, and we will confirm service details when fully finalised.
We confirm the passing of our best friend. For now we’re keeping this within a small circle while close family are informed, and we’ll share arrangements once everything is confirmed.
Our best friend has passed away peacefully. We know many people will want to pay respects, and funeral details will follow once arrangements are agreed and the venue is confirmed.
We’re letting people know that our best friend has died. If you can help pass the message on discreetly to others, service information will be shared when arrangements are confirmed.
Our best friend has died recently. We’ll share funeral arrangements as soon as we can, and we appreciate your patience while plans are made, checked, and confirmed with immediate family.
ℹ️ Unsure If You’re Saying the Right Thing?
If you’d like a little more reassurance, our guide explains what a death announcement is, what it can include, and how others approach sharing sad news.
Read: Death Announcement Messages – Thoughtful Ways to Share Sad News
Formal Death Announcement Examples
More traditional wording, often preferred for formal or printed notices.
Notice is given of the death of a best friend, which occurred recently. Funeral arrangements are in progress, and further information will be announced to friends, acquaintances, and colleagues once fully confirmed.
It is announced that a best friend has died. At this time, arrangements are being made, and service details will be communicated to friends and colleagues as soon as they are confirmed.
Formal notice is hereby given of the passing of a best friend. Details of the funeral service will be shared in due course, once the venue, date, and time are fully confirmed.
The death of a best friend is announced. Information regarding the funeral service will be provided to friends when arrangements are finalised, and updates will be issued as required, in due course, once confirmed.
Death Announcement Examples with Funeral Details
These examples focus only on sharing arrangements and practical details.
The funeral service for our best friend will take place on Tuesday 14 June 2026 at 11.00am at St Andrew’s Church, Leeds. All welcome. This notice is shared to confirm the date, time, and venue for those wishing to attend. Thank you.
A service for our best friend will be held on Friday 22 July 2026 at 2.30pm at Greenfield Crematorium, Bristol. Family flowers only. This announcement is to confirm the date, time, and venue, and further details are not required here. Thank you.
The funeral of our best friend is scheduled for Monday 5 September 2026 at 10.15am at Riverside Chapel, Norwich. Donations in lieu of flowers. This notice confirms the date, time, and venue for anyone who may wish to attend in person. Thank you.
A service for our best friend will take place on Thursday 18 August 2026 at 1.00pm at Meadowview Chapel, Exeter. Private burial to follow. This announcement is shared to confirm the date, time, and venue for invited attendees at this time. Thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a death announcement?
A death announcement is a short message used to inform others that someone has died. Its purpose is to share the news clearly and respectfully, without going into personal details or reflections.
Is a death announcement the same as an obituary?
No. A death announcement focuses on sharing the fact of the death and, sometimes, practical details. An obituary is usually written later and reflects on who the person was and their life story.
Is a death announcement also called a death notice?
Yes. In the UK, a death announcement is often referred to as a death notice. Both terms are commonly used and generally mean the same thing.
How much should I include in a death announcement for my Best Friend?
Most death announcements are kept brief. It’s enough to share that your best friend has died and, if appropriate, whether any arrangements are known. You don’t need to say everything at once.
Do I need to include funeral details straight away?
No. Many families share a death announcement first and add funeral details later. It’s completely acceptable to say that details will follow when arrangements are confirmed.
🕊️ When You’re Ready to Share More
A death announcement helps inform others of the loss.
An obituary is different — it offers space to reflect on who your best friend was and what they meant to others. Many families choose to write an obituary later, once the initial announcement has been shared.
If and when you feel ready, you may find these obituary examples helpful: