75 Father’s Day Quotes for a Dad Who Has Passed (2026)

1. “The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature.” – Prevost Abbe
2. “To her, the name of father was another name for love.” – Fanny Fern
3. “A father’s love is forever imprinted on his child’s heart.” – Jennifer Williamson
4. “No matter how old we become, we can still call them ‘daddy’ and that’s the greatest thing.” – Unknown
5. “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: He believed in me.” – Jim Valvano
6. “The loss of my father will always sting. But now, everything that I do is in honor of him and celebrates his life.” – Adrienne C. Moore
7. “When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
8. “My father didn’t tell me how to live. He lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Budington Kelland
9. “Dad, your memories have become my heartbeats which means I am thinking of you all the time.” – Unknown
10. “May each tear and each fond memory be a note of love rising to meet you.” – Jennifer Williamson
11. “What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller
12. “A father’s love is eternal and without end.” – Unknown
13. “My appreciation for my father’s greatness cannot be measured.” – Jennifer Williamson
14. “He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Unknown
15. “The power of a dad in a child’s life is unmatched.” – Justin Ricklefs
16. “A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.” – Unknown
17. “Dad, you taught me the love of a father. In your arms, I was always safe.” – Unknown
18. “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.” – Unknown
19. “My Father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Kelland
20. “It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.” – Johann Friedrich Von Schiller
21. “Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.” – Pam Brown
22. “A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.” – Unknown
23. “The pain of losing you is immeasurable. I know the biggest star in the sky that is shining the most is you.” – Unknown
24. “My father didn’t do anything unusual. He only did what dads are supposed to do—be there.” – Max Lucado
25. “I love my father as the stars—he’s a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart.” – Terri Guillemets
26. “Dad, I miss our talks, your smile, your laugh, and just being with you.” – Unknown
27. “A father’s love is eternal and without end.” – Unknown
28. “Dad, even though you are not in front of me, your spirit is forever guiding me.” – Unknown
29. “Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.” – Eskimo Proverb
30. “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.” – From an Irish Headstone
31. “Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.” – Pam Brown
32. “Behind every great daughter is a truly amazing dad.” – Unknown
33. “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Budington Kelland
34. “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” – Maya Angelou
35. “The best dads get promoted to grandpas.” – Unknown
36. “A father’s love is forever imprinted on his child’s heart.” – Jennifer Williamson
37. “Dad, your love has shaped me in lasting ways.” – Unknown
38. “Not a day goes by that I don’t look at your picture and smile. Or cry. Or both.” – Dean Jackson
39. “You have been there for me, no matter what. Dear father, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” – Unknown
40. “Dad, I keep thinking about, you even though it pains. I’d give anything to relive those memories again.” – Unknown
41. “The quality of a father can be seen in the goals, dreams, and aspirations he sets not only for himself but for his family.” – Reed Markham
42. “Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.” – Pam Brown
43. “The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature.” – Prevost Abbe
44. “Some people don’t believe in heroes, but they haven’t met my dad.” – Unknown
45. “Your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.” – Unknown
46. “Dad, your memory lives on in us, and it’s a treasure forever cherished.” – Unknown
47. “A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.” – Unknown
48. “You were my anchor and when you died, dad, I felt as if my anchor was gone.” – Unknown
49. “My father, my hero, your voice in my head is a comforting memory in my times of need.” – Unknown
50. “He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Budington Kelland
51. Bindi Irwin reflects on the essence of a father’s impact, saying, “It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.”
52. “Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.” – Unknown
53. “When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
54. “Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime and falling in at night. I miss you like hell.” – Edna St. Vincent Millay
55. Pierre Auguste Renoir offers a comforting thought, “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” – Pierre Auguste Renoir 
56. “There is no expiration date on the love between a father and his child.” – Jennifer Williamson
57. Hilary Stanton Zunin provides insight on love and loss, “The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief – But the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with the pain of never risking love.” -Hilary Stanton Zunin
58. “Death ends a life, not a relationship.” -Robert Benchley
59. “Only people who are capable of loving strongly can also suffer great sorrow, but this same necessity of loving serves to counteract their grief and heals them.” -Leo Tolstoy
60. “Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.” – Eskimo proverb
61. “When my father didn’t have my hand, he had my back.” – Linda Poindexter
62. “You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” – Anne Lamott
63. Father: Respected for his wisdom. Appreciated for his strength. Admired for his love.” — Barbara Loots (Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration).
64. “Of all the gifts a dad can give his kid, maybe the best one of all is a good example to follow.” — Joey Benevento (Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration).
65. “My dad, like any coach, has always stressed the fundamentals. He taught me responsibility, accountability, and the importance of hard work.” — Steve Young (Reader’s Digest).
66. “A father is the perfect blend of superhero, coach, and friend.” — Jeannie Hund (Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration).
67. “What a father says to his children is not heard by the world, but it will be heard by posterity.” — Jean Paul (Reader’s Digest).
68. “A great father makes his family feel so blessed.” — Diana Manning (Hallmark Ideas & Inspiration).
69. “Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes.” — Gloria Naylor (Reader’s Digest).
70. “No one in this world can love a girl more than her father.” — Michael Ratnadeepak (Reader’s Digest).
71. “The most important thing in the world is family and love.” — John Wooden (Reader’s Digest).
72. “Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. The moments that used to define them – a mother’s approval, a father’s nod – are covered by moments of their own accomplishments. It is not until much later, as the skin sags and the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit atop the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.” (Mitch Albom Quotes About Parents | A-Z Quotes).
73. “Lost love is still love. It takes a different form, that’s all. You can’t see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it.”  (TOP 25 QUOTES BY MITCH ALBOM | A-Z Quotes).
74. “The human spirit knows, deep down, that all lives intersect. That death doesn’t just take someone, it misses someone else, and in the small distance between being taken and being missed, lives are changed.” (The 72 Best Mitch Albom Quotes).

Father’s Day can feel especially emotional when your dad has passed. If this day brings up sadness, longing, or mixed feelings, it may help to know that support exists for anyone navigating grief. Here are trusted resources that can offer comfort, guidance, and connection.

Grief Camps

Grief camps create safe, supportive spaces for kids, teens, and families who have experienced loss. They offer activities, peer support, and opportunities to process emotions alongside others who understand.

GriefShare

GriefShare is a structured support program that combines weekly group meetings, video sessions, and workbook exercises. It’s designed to help individuals work through grief with guidance and encouragement from trained facilitators and others who are grieving.

Books on Grief

Books can be a comforting resource, especially when you want to process feelings privately. Alan Wolfelt’s titles — such as “Understanding Your Grief” — are highly recommended. There are also books specifically for men, grandparents, teens, and children coping with loss.

OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center

OUR HOUSE offers workshops, support groups, and creative programs that incorporate art, music, cooking, and writing into the healing process. This approach can be especially meaningful for people who benefit from hands-on or expressive activities while processing grief.

HealGrief.org

HealGrief.org provides access to local and national bereavement resources, including virtual support groups, educational materials, workshops, and online communities. It’s a helpful place to explore different types of grief support and find what fits your needs.

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Father’s Day can be a tender day when you’re missing your dad. Whether you’re seeking quiet reflection, connection with others, or professional support, remember that you don’t have to face this day alone. If reaching out feels right, these resources can guide you toward comfort and healing as you honor your father’s memory.

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💛 If someone you love is facing illness – especially a child – you may find comfort and strength in these inspirational quotes for a sick child. They offer gentle encouragement and hope for the hardest days.