Creating a last wishes booklet is a profound act of love and responsibility. It moves beyond legal documents to capture the personal essence of your wishes, providing your family with a clear guide and a heartfelt connection during a difficult time. This booklet often includes your preferences for a memorial, private messages to loved ones, and practical instructions for a smoother transition. Our 2025 guide walks you through every component, from free templates to writing your ethical will. Ultimately, your last wishes booklet is a final gift of clarity and comfort, ensuring your voice is heard and your love endures.
Quick Answer
What is a last wishes booklet?
A last wishes booklet is a personal, non-legal document that complements your will. It details your preferences for funeral or memorial services, shares final messages with loved ones, and provides practical instructions to guide your family, offering them immense comfort and clarity.
TL;DR
• It’s a personal guide for your family, not a legal will.
• Start with a free template to organize your thoughts.
• Blend practical instructions with heartfelt messages.
• Share values and stories through an ethical will.
• Store it securely and tell key people where it is.
Last Wishes Booklet Template
A good template provides structure without rigidity, guiding you to consider all important aspects. It turns a daunting task into a manageable, step-by-step process. Use these prompts to begin filling in your own booklet.
• My wish for the atmosphere of my remembrance is one of [peaceful reflection/joyful celebration].
• Please play [song name] to remind you of our connection and shared memories.
• I authorize [Person’s Name] to make final decisions in harmony with this document.
• For my resting place, I prefer something simple and natural that doesn’t burden the earth.
• Let any gathering feel like a reunion, not a somber event.
• I wish for any readings to focus on themes of [hope, love, or renewal].
• Please use [these specific photos] to illustrate the story of my life.
• My preference for flowers is donations to [Charity Name] instead of formal arrangements.
• I release you from any obligation to hold a traditional service if something personal feels right.
• Direct my loved ones to [this special location] for a moment of quiet remembrance.
• For my obituary, highlight my role as a [loving parent, dedicated teacher, curious explorer].
• I wish for my memorial website to serve as a place for shared stories and condolences.
Last Wishes Booklet Free
You don’t need to purchase anything to create a meaningful document. Many organizations offer free PDF guides and worksheets that you can adapt. Here are wishes that cost nothing but offer priceless guidance.
• Take the pressure off by knowing my only true wish is for your peace of mind.
• Feel free to use a simple, free online template to organize these thoughts—it’s the content that matters.
• My first preference is always whatever is easiest and least stressful for you to arrange.
• I gift you the freedom to adapt any plan if circumstances or costs change.
• Please know that a heartfelt note from you at the kitchen table fulfills every wish I have.
• Use social media or a free memorial page to coordinate with friends and family if needed.
• Let your own comfort guide the decisions; my plans are just a starting point for you.
• I wish for any savings from simple choices to go towards a family meal or future needs.
• Remember, the most valuable part of this booklet is my message of love, not the logistics.
• You have my full trust to make the final call, even if it differs from what I’ve written here.
• If any part of planning becomes a burden, set it aside and focus on supporting each other.
• My ultimate hope is that this free document saves you from guessing during a hard time.
Ethical Will Examples
An ethical will, or legacy letter, shares your values, life lessons, hopes, and forgiveness. It’s the emotional core of your last wishes booklet. These examples can inspire your own words.
• More than anything, I hope you inherited my sense of curiosity and my belief in kindness.
• The lesson I learned too late is that time with loved ones is the only real currency—spend it generously.
• I am so proud of the person you’ve become; carry that confidence with you every day.
• Forgive me for my shortcomings, as I forgive you for any unresolved words between us.
• Always trust your own moral compass; it’s more reliable than you think.
• I hope you remember our home as a place of laughter, safety, and unconditional support.
• My wish for you is a life rich in experiences, not just possessions.
• Never underestimate the power of a simple “thank you” or “I love you.”
• Carry forward our family tradition of [specific tradition] and make it your own.
• In moments of doubt, ask yourself what the most loving action would be.
• I leave you with this hope: may you find joy in ordinary days and strength in challenging ones.
• Remember that my love for you is a permanent thread in the fabric of your life.
End of Life Planning Checklist
A checklist ensures nothing important is overlooked, from practical details to personal notifications. It provides a clear path for your executors. Consider these items for your list.
• Please contact my employer, [Company Name], and my close colleagues to inform them.
• Locate all important documents in the [specific location, e.g., blue filing cabinet].
• Settle my recurring subscriptions and digital memberships promptly.
• My preference for organ donation is registered with [Donate Life America/state registry].
• Arrange for the care of my pets, [Pet Names], with [Friend’s Name] as first contact.
• Please water the plants in my garden; they were a source of daily joy for me.
• Distribute the personal items listed in the attached inventory according to my notes.
• Close my email accounts and social media profiles, or memorialize them as you see fit.
• Settle any small personal debts from my listed contacts.
• Please write thank-you notes to the caregivers or medical staff who showed me kindness.
• Have one final family meal together and share a favorite story about me.
• Ensure my vehicle registration and insurance are transferred or canceled.
Funeral Planning Guide
This section provides clear direction for your service, relieving your family of the weight of guesswork. Be as specific or as general as you feel is necessary.
• I wish for the dress code to be casual and comfortable—wear what makes you feel at ease.
• If music is played, let it be a mix of [your favorite genre] and songs that make you smile.
• I prefer a green burial or natural decomposition to return my body to the earth gently.
• Please hold the gathering outdoors if weather and location allow for it.
• I would be honored if people shared their memories, even the silly or imperfect ones.
• Instead of a formal procession, I wish for a quiet, private committal for immediate family only.
• Serve my favorite dessert, [dessert name], and share the recipe with anyone who asks.
• Choose a celebrant or speaker who knew me well and can speak authentically.
• I release you from any expectation of a viewing or wake if it causes additional stress.
• Please use recycled or biodegradable materials for any programs or decorations.
• Set up a memory table with my hiking boots, favorite books, and that well-worn coffee mug.
• Conclude the service with a moment of silence followed by a recording of [meaningful sound].
Legacy Letter Ideas
Your legacy letter is your chance to speak directly from the heart across time. These ideas can help you articulate the intangible gifts you wish to leave behind.
• I bequeath to you my optimism, which has been my most reliable tool in hard times.
• My greatest legacy is the love I shared with you; please pay it forward in your own way.
• Remember the story of [personal anecdote]; it contains a piece of my philosophy on life.
• I hope you champion the cause of [value, e.g., local education or animal welfare] in my memory.
• The recipe box isn’t just for food; it’s filled with the ingredients of our family’s happiness.
• I gift you my permission to be fully, unapologetically yourself.
• May you always find the same solace in nature that I found at [special place].
• My life’s work was building this family; seeing you thrive is my success story.
• Carry my sense of humor with you; laughter is a healing force.
• I leave you the challenge to live boldly and love without holding back.
• Remember that our family’s strength has always been our ability to rally around each other.
• In your career, prioritize purpose over prestige, just as I tried to do.
What to Include in a Memorial
These wishes focus on the public tribute—the obituary, memorial website, or service details that celebrate your life story. They guide how you wish to be remembered by your community.
• In my obituary, please describe me as a “devoted friend and relentless learner.”
• I wish for the memorial fund to support [Specific Scholarship or Community Project].
• Please share the link to my memorial website, [optional website idea], for distant friends.
• Feature the photo from [specific event, e.g., my 50th birthday hike] as the primary picture.
• I’d love for the service to include a communal singing of [song like “Lean on Me”].
• Instead of an in memoriam, suggest a “random act of kindness” done in my name.
• Include my lifelong nickname, “[Nickname],” so old friends immediately recognize me.
• Please thank my book club, bowling team, or [social group] for their years of fellowship.
• I wish for the focus to be on the life I lived, not the illness I may have had.
• Share my favorite quote: “[Inspirational Quote]” as a parting thought.
• Encourage people to post their memories and photos to a shared online album.
• Mention my volunteer work with [Organization] as something that truly mattered to me.
How to Write Final Wishes
Finding the right words can be challenging. This section provides phrasing that is clear, compassionate, and leaves no room for misinterpretation. Use these as a model for your own voice.
• It is my sincere wish that you not feel obligated to spend beyond your means on any arrangements.
• I explicitly do not want a traditional funeral; a casual life celebration is my preference.
• Please honor my request for cremation, with my ashes handled according to the separate letter.
• My strong preference is for immediate family only during the initial moments after my passing.
• I wish for my body to be donated to [Medical School Name] for the advancement of science.
• Feel empowered to make changes to these plans if they bring you more comfort.
• This document expresses my hopes, but your well-being is the final priority.
• I ask that you respect my wish for privacy regarding the specific cause of my death.
• Please follow these instructions as a guideline, not as a strict command.
• My desire is to minimize environmental impact in every choice you make.
• I release you from any guilt if logistical realities prevent following a wish exactly.
• Consider this my voice in the room, helping but not dictating your decisions.
Last Wishes for Family
These messages are directed to specific relationships, offering tailored comfort and guidance. They acknowledge the unique bond you share with each person or group.
• For my spouse: You have been my greatest adventure; my wish is for you to find peace and new joy.
• To my children: My love for you is your eternal safety net. Be there for each other.
• For my parents: Thank you for my life. I am at peace, and I wish the same for you.
• To my siblings: Remember our childhood secrets and laughs; let those memories connect you forever.
• For my best friend: Keep telling our stories. Your friendship was one of my life’s treasures.
• To my grandchildren: I wish for you a world of wonder. Carry a piece of my curiosity with you.
• For the whole family: Please don’t let logistics or disagreements come between you. Support each other.
• To my caregiver: Your kindness gave me dignity. I release you with profound gratitude.
• For my extended family: I am grateful for our shared history. Keep the reunions going.
• To my work family: I valued our teamwork. Please continue the project with passion.
• For my spouse, practically: You are fully capable of managing our home; trust yourself.
• To my children, emotionally: It’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to be happy again, too.
Digital Estate Planning
In our connected age, your digital footprint needs management. These wishes provide clear instructions for your online accounts, files, and digital assets.
• My social media accounts should be memorialized, not immediately deleted.
• Please download and save all family photos from my cloud storage to the hard drive labeled “Family.”
• I grant [Trusted Person] access to my password manager using the master key in my safe.
• My email account ([address]) contains important correspondence; please review it before closing.
• I wish for my professional blog/website to be archived but left online as a resource.
• Please close my online shopping and subscription accounts to prevent recurring charges.
• The files in my “Legacy” folder on the desktop are for you to read when you’re ready.
• I authorize the deletion of my browser history and personal device data for privacy.
• My cryptocurrency wallet information is stored with my attorney; please follow his guidance.
• Please respond to any pending messages on my accounts with a gentle, pre-written note.
• I wish for my digital music and book libraries to be transferred to [Family Member’s] account.
• Manage my online gaming accounts according to the terms of service and your discretion.
Heartfelt Messages for Your Last Wishes Booklet
These are the core emotional sentiments you might struggle to say out loud. They form the soul of your booklet and offer direct comfort.
• If you’re reading this, know I am at peace and my love for you remains, unwavering.
• You made my life infinitely brighter; thank you for every single moment you shared with me.
• Do not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there. I am in the love I planted in your heart.
• My greatest regret is any time I was too busy or distracted when you needed me.
• I am so proud of the family we built and the love that will continue to bind you.
• Carry me in your heart, not as a weight of grief, but as a spark of joyful memory.
• I hope you feel my presence in the quiet moments, in the shared laughter, in your strength.
• You gave my life meaning and purpose beyond anything I could have dreamed.
• Forgive yourself for any harsh words or missed opportunities; I forgave us long ago.
• My spirit is tied to yours, so in caring for yourself, you are also caring for me.
• I loved you yesterday, I love you still, I always have, and I always will.
• This is not goodbye; it’s just me loving you from a different place.
Simple and Direct Wishes to Record
Clarity is a gift. These short, unambiguous wishes leave no room for confusion and are easy for your family to follow.
• Cremation, please.
• No formal funeral service.
• Donate my usable organs.
• Simple wooden urn.
• Scatter my ashes at the cabin.
• Play “Here Comes the Sun.”
• Casual dress only.
• Potluck gathering at home.
• Obituary in the local paper only.
• Donations to the animal shelter.
• Tell my best friend first.
• Keep my wedding ring.
Faith-Friendly Wishes and Blessings
For those drawing on spiritual comfort, these wishes express hope, eternal peace, and divine love in an inclusive and respectful manner.
• I go now to my rest in God’s perfect peace, and I pray the same peace for you.
• May the Lord bless you and keep you; may His face shine upon you and give you peace.
• I believe I am returning to the light of the Divine, and I will be watching over you.
• My prayer is that you feel the comfort of your faith and the support of your spiritual community.
• I am grateful for the blessings of this life and trust in the mercy and love of heaven.
• “Well done, good and faithful servant” is my hope, and my hope for you is the same.
• I leave you with this blessing: may you walk always in grace and never lose hope.
• Remember that love is eternal, and in God’s kingdom, we will be reunited.
• I commend my spirit and entrust my family to the loving hands of the Almighty.
• May angels surround you and carry you through the days of grief that follow.
• My soul finds its home in the Eternal; let your heart find its comfort there, too.
• I believe in the resurrection, so this is a temporary parting. Look for me in the love around you.
Wishes of Comfort for Your Loved Ones
These messages specifically aim to alleviate guilt, sorrow, and anxiety, giving your loved ones explicit permission to grieve and heal.
• It is okay to miss me, and it is equally okay to feel relief when the hard days are past.
• Please don’t feel guilty for laughing, enjoying life, or finding new love after I’m gone.
• Grief is not a linear path; be patient and kind with yourselves through every wave of emotion.
• My wish is for you to support each other, but also to seek professional help if the burden feels too heavy.
• You are not betraying me by moving forward; you are honoring the life I wanted for you.
• Talk about me often, with tears and with laughter—it keeps my spirit alive in your home.
• There is no timeline for your grief. Take all the time you need, without judgment.
• If you feel anger, direct it at the situation, not at each other or yourselves.
• Remember the love more than the loss; let that be what defines your memory of this time.
• Celebrate my birthday with my favorite cake, and know I am celebrating with you in spirit.
• It was my time, not your failure. Please release any sense of responsibility for my passing.
• Your task is not to live in perpetual mourning, but to live fully, carrying my love with you.
Personal Instructions and Private Thoughts
This section is for the specific, sometimes quirky, or deeply personal details that don’t fit elsewhere but are important to you.
• Please give my vintage watch to my nephew; I promised it to him.
• Delete the folder on my computer named “Old Writing” without reading it.
• Make sure the dog gets his favorite treat every day for the first week; he’ll be confused.
• There is a letter for you taped behind the headboard in our bedroom.
• Please burn my journals without reading them; they were for my processing, not your burden.
• Use the money in the cookie jar to take everyone out for pizza one last time.
• My favorite tree in the backyard is the maple; please don’t let anyone cut it down.
• Return the library book on my nightstand; it’s overdue, and I hate the thought of a fine.
• Tell my old friend [Name] that I never stopped valuing our friendship, despite the distance.
• The key in the envelope opens a safety deposit box at [Bank Name, Branch].
• Please list the house with [Realtor’s Name]; she’s a friend and will be fair.
• For my birthday each year, listen to [Album Name] and have a glass of good red wine.
Final Words of Love and Wisdom
Conclude your last wishes booklet with a powerful, lasting sentiment that feels like a final embrace. These are parting thoughts of love and wisdom.
• You were my greatest story. Thank you for letting me be a part of yours.
• Love each other fiercely, laugh often, and be kind—that’s the summary of my life’s learnings.
• My journey continues in a different form, but my love for you remains a constant, guiding star.
• This is not an ending in my heart, but a transition in how I care for you.
• I am not far away. I am in the next room, in the next breath, in your next happy thought.
• Go now, live your beautiful lives. I am always with you.
• May you be blessed with love, surrounded by peace, and guided by hope, today and always.
• I leave you with a heart full of love and a soul full of gratitude. Farewell, for now.
FAQs
What is the purpose of a last wishes booklet?
Its primary purpose is to provide clear, personal guidance to your family during an emotional time. It details your preferences for memorials, shares final messages, and offers practical instructions that a legal will does not cover, thereby reducing uncertainty and potential conflict among loved ones.
Is a last wishes booklet legally binding?
No, a last wishes booklet is generally not a legally binding document. It serves as a letter of instruction and a personal guide. Your last will and testament, power of attorney, and advance healthcare directive are the legal documents that must be properly executed to carry legal weight.
What should be included in a last wishes booklet?
Include four key areas: funeral or memorial service preferences (music, readings, location), practical instructions (organ donation, pet care, digital accounts), personal messages to loved ones (an ethical will), and logistical details for your executors (document locations, key contacts).
How is a last wishes booklet different from a will?
A will is a legal document that distributes your assets and names guardians for minor children. A last wishes booklet is a non-legal, personal guide focused on your funeral preferences, personal messages, and practical instructions for after you’re gone. They complement each other but serve different functions.
Where should I keep my last wishes booklet?
Keep the original with your other important estate documents in a secure but accessible place, like a fireproof safe at home. Give copies to your executor, your attorney, and perhaps one trusted family member. Always tell your key people where it is located.
Can I write my own last wishes booklet?
Absolutely. In fact, writing it yourself ensures it captures your authentic voice and wishes. You can use free templates to get started. While you don’t need a lawyer for this booklet, having your legal will reviewed by an attorney is highly recommended.
Who should get a copy of my last wishes booklet?
Provide a copy to your named executor and your estate attorney. You may also choose to give a copy to your spouse, adult children, or a very close family member who will be involved in carrying out your wishes. The key is ensuring it can be found when needed.
Conclusion
Completing your last wishes booklet is a final, deeply considerate act that provides irreplaceable clarity and comfort to those you love. It ensures your voice guides them, your values inspire them, and your love surrounds them long after you’re gone. Use this guide and the included wishes to begin crafting this lasting gift of peace.
Jordan Reed is a US-based lifestyle and celebration content writer. At Wishhmii, he helps shape wishes and messages for a wide mix of occasions, from everyday check-ins to milestones and big celebrations. Jordan focuses on making each message flexible enough to fit different relationships and cultures, while still feeling personal, warm, and easy to adapt.