French Obituary Terms

[Below is a list of French terms commonly found in obituaries. The list was prepared by Jacques Trempe and posted to the GEN-OBIT mailing list.]

feu = deceased
est decede(e) = deceased
est decede accidentellement = died in an accident
apres une longue maladie = after a long illness
a l'age de = aged
fils/fille de = son/daughter of
epoux/epouse = husband/wife
premiere noces = first marriage
deuxieme noces = second marriage
il/elle demeurait a = he/she was living in
selon ses volontes = as per her wishes
la famille recevra les condoleances a = family will receive condolences at
maison funeraire/funerarium = funeral home
le service religieux sera celebre le = the funeral service will take place on
eglise = church
sous la direction de = under the care of
il/elle laisse dans le deuil = he/she leaves for mourning
et de la au = and from there to
cimetiere paroissial = parish cemetary
mere = mother
pere = father
enfants = children
petits-enfants = grand-children
arrieres-petits-enfants = grand-grand children
gendre = son-in-law
brue = daughter-in-law
belle fille = daughter-in-law or step-daughter (if remarried)
belle-mere = mother-in-law or step-mother (if remarried)
belle-soeur = sister-in-law
beau-pere = father-in-law or step-father (if remarried)
beau fils = son-in-law or step-son (if remarried)
beau-frere = brother-in-law
oncle = uncle
tante = aunt
neveux = nephew
niece = nieces
cousin, cousine = cousin
ami(e)s = friends
toute marque de sympathie peut etre remplacee par des dons a = all tributes may take the form of a donation to

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