Funerals are not only about endings - they are also about threads that continue…
A funeral ceremony, at its heart, is underpinned by creative offerings that express the unique essence of a person. It might be music, flowers, readings, or the choice of place. And sometimes, it can be something as simple as a badge – a tiny circle of colour, words or symbols that surmise the legacy or rejoice in the qualities of your person. Badges hold a kind of quiet magic. They’re small enough to be worn close to the heart, visible enough to become a conversation starter and enduring enough to travel far beyond the funeral day itself.
Let me share a couple of personal examples…
Good Times Badge
When my beautiful friend Blair Milan died suddenly in 2011 aged 29, it felt impossible to capture the size of his spirit or the brilliance of his charisma. Blair was known as the king of ‘Good Times’ – so much so that it is even written on his headstone.
For his funeral, we had badges made that simply read: GOOD TIMES. As we gathered with heavy hearts, we pinned them to our chests. And in doing so, we carried him with us - not only in sorrow, but in celebration. That small act was defiant and tender all at once – it gave us something to hold, something to wear, something to remind us that joy was his legacy.
Over time, those little circles of metal and colour became a legacy in themselves. A scholarship was established in Blair’s honour at our regional university, and each year the winner of the Blair Milan Scholarship is presented at the Honours Assembly not just with a certificate and funding, but also with a GOOD TIMES badge.
We wear them when we gather to mark his anniversaries and birthdays. We wear them because, even in grief, good times were the essence of who he was. They remind us that joy was his gift to the world, and that his legacy continues through the years.
Love Works Badge
Two years later, in 2013, my beloved Nan died suddenly. She was one of the first women ordained in the Uniting Church of Australia – a woman of fierce courage and deep devotion. Her motto, spoken often and lived daily, was: LOVE WORKS.
For her funeral and thanksgiving service we created rainbow-coloured LOVE WORKS badges. They were handed out to everyone who came – a scattering of bright colour in the midst of grief. Two small words that held an entire lifetime’s teaching. There is no situation, no matter how hard, that isn’t bettered or softened or enriched by a loving response.
When I was ordained as an Interfaith Minister in 2016, I had 200 more badges made. As I stepped into that calling, it was moving beyond words to feel her presence woven into the day. It was as if her spiritual legacy was shining from every lapel, every bag, every pocket where those badges were pinned.
Over the years, I’ve gifted LOVE WORKS badges to people far and wide - even beloved author, Elizabeth Gilbert! They’ve become a tiny but powerful way of passing on Nan’s message, a reminder that outlives her physical presence. These little tokens continue to travel across the world on jackets and handbags, carrying Nan’s message far beyond what she could have imagined. Each one is a bright, enduring whisper that love does, in fact, work.
Small Acts, Big Love
Funeral badges are such a simple thing – yet they hold extraordinary power. They become small circles of memory that move with us into our lives. They remind us that the people we love are not contained by the finality of a funeral, but carried forward in words, colours and gestures that live on.
A badge can turn grief into connection. It can hold a legacy in the palm of your hand. So often, the days after the funeral can be the hardest. But sometimes the smallest keepsakes can open a doorway – a way of saying: they were here, they mattered, and they live on in us…
Sometimes, the smallest keepsakes turn out to be the most powerful.
How to make or order funeral badges
The good news is that funeral badges are genuinely simple to organise, even in the days before a service. Here is everything you need to know:
What to put on them
Start with the person. A word they lived by. A phrase they always said. A nickname that only the people in that room would understand. A colour that was completely theirs. A symbol that held meaning. Two or three words tends to work better than a sentence. The simpler the better. The badge needs to be readable at a glance and carry meaning at a depth.
What size to choose
The standard 38mm round pin badge is the most commonly used and works beautifully. It's large enough to read clearly and small enough to wear without feeling costume-like. If you want something more refined, enamel lapel pins are a more premium option and feel more like jewellery than a button badge.
How to order in Australia
Several Australian companies offer easy online ordering with no minimum quantities, which matters when you're ordering for a funeral rather than a conference.
Make Badges offers custom made badges in a range of sizes with no minimum order limits and fast turnaround. Their online design tool is straightforward enough to use under pressure.
Patrick Australia has been making button badges since the early 1900s, offer no minimum order requirement and can turn around production and delivery in only a few days. They are one of the most established badge makers in the country.
For something more premium, PinBadges.com.au works in metal with enamel, brass or iron finishes and offers free design assistance. Production takes longer so factor that in if you choose this option.
How much time do you need
For a standard button badge, most suppliers can turn around an order in two to five business days. If you are organising a funeral at short notice, contact the supplier directly and explain the situation. In my experience, people go out of their way to help when they understand the context.
Making them yourself
If you have access to a badge-making machine, many local print shops, schools and community organisations have them available. You design and print the artwork yourself, then press the badges. This can be a meaningful activity to do together in the days before the funeral, particularly with children or young people who want something to do with their hands and their grief.
How to use them in the ceremony
Badges can be handed to guests as they arrive, placed on seats, or offered as people leave. You might say simply: here is something to wear today and keep. This was him. This was her. No further explanation needed.
Some families choose to keep a handful back to give to people who couldn't attend, to mark anniversaries, or to pass on to people who come into the family's life later and never got to meet the person they loved.
That is the gift of a badge. It keeps travelling long after the day itself.
Wedding Badges
Oh, and badges are not only for funerals - they work just as beautifully at all other ceremonies and occasions too! At my cousin’s wedding, each guest received a badge with a baby photo of either the bride or the groom – a clever way of showing “which side” you were there for. It was an instant icebreaker, an easy conversation starter and a keepsake that made everyone smile.
A reminder that in both joy and sorrow, these tiny tokens can weave us closer together, helping us to carry the spirit of the occasion far beyond the day itself.