🕯️

Free Printable

Class Reunion Memorial Board

A dignified place for classmates to remember those we've lost.

Every milestone class reunion needs a memorial board — a printed display of deceased classmates that guests can visit on their own time during cocktail hour. The board is more powerful than a slideshow or a moment of silence because it lets each person have their own quiet moment, in their own time, without making the whole evening grief-heavy. The template below is a layout you can recreate in Google Slides, Canva, or any design tool and have printed at Staples or FedEx Office (typical cost: $30-50 same day). Use senior yearbook photos for visual consistency, list maiden names where applicable, and pair the board with a small table, a candle, tissues, and a sign-in book for written messages.

Use in Reunly Free →

In Loving Memory

[SCHOOL NAME] Class of [YEAR]

Classmates we have lost

Senior
photo

Jennifer Walsh

(Anderson)

1987–2019

Senior
photo

Michael Torres

1987–2021

Senior
photo

Rebecca Chen

(Park)

1987–2023

Senior
photo

David Kim

1987–2018

Senior
photo

Sarah Mitchell

(Johnson)

1987–2024

Senior
photo

James Rodriguez

1987–2020

Senior
photo

Lisa Brooks

(Thompson)

1987–2022

Senior
photo

Mark Patel

1987–2017

“Those we love don't go away — they walk beside us every day.”

Class of [YEAR] Reunion · [MONTH YEAR]

Setup Checklist

  • 24x36 or 36x48 inch print on foam board ($30-50 at Staples or FedEx Office)
  • Display easel ($15-25)
  • Small table near the entrance or in a quiet alcove
  • One or two battery-operated candles (real flames are usually not allowed)
  • A small box of tissues
  • A guestbook for written messages from classmates
  • A small lamp or LED light if venue lighting is dim
  • Set up 30 minutes before doors open — never during the event

Questions

What is a class reunion memorial board?

A printed display — typically 24x36 or 36x48 inches — showing photos and names of deceased classmates. Placed on a table near the entrance or at a quiet corner of the venue with a candle, a guestbook, and tissues. Guests can stop, look, and reflect on their own time without making the whole evening about it.

Where should I display the memorial board?

Near the entrance so classmates pass it on arrival, or in a quiet alcove away from the dance floor and bar. Avoid placing it in the middle of the dining room — guests will feel awkward eating next to it. Light it with a small lamp or candles so people can read the names even in dim venue lighting.

Where do I get photos of deceased classmates?

Senior yearbook photos are the most consistent source — every classmate has one, and the photos are roughly the same age/era. Don't try to find recent photos for everyone; the senior photo gives the board cohesion. For classmates who passed shortly after graduation, the senior photo is also the one their family will recognize.

How big should a class reunion memorial board be?

24x36 inches works for 8-15 classmates. 36x48 inches for 16-30. Larger lists usually mean rotating slideshow on a TV — printed boards become unwieldy past 30 photos. Print at any office supply store (Staples, FedEx Office) — same-day service runs $30-50.

Should the memorial board be displayed before or during the program?

Before — set it up when doors open. Classmates will pause and reflect during cocktail hour. By the time the formal memorial moment happens during the program, they've already had their private time with the board. This is much better than asking everyone to look at photos for the first time during a 5-minute program block.

Built for Class Reunion Organizers

Reunly handles guest lists, RSVPs, payments, name tags, and memorial walls — all in one place. Free.

Try Class Reunly Free →