of blessed memory

A calque of Latin beatae memoriae, possibly a calque of Hebrew זיכרונו לברכה (zikhronó/á/ám/án livrakhá, “memory-of-him/her/them to blessing”), ז״ל (Z.L.).

of blessed memory

1. Honorific epithet used parenthetically to mark a beloved person as being deceased.
   • 1823, Walter Scott, Quentin Durward:

     he used often to scold, and sometimes even to beat, my great-grandmother of blessed memory.

   • 1858, Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table:

     It is the noblest domain in New England, and the present Lord of the Manor is worthy of succeeding "the Governor" of blessed memory.

   • 1873, Thomas Hardy, A Pair of Blue Eyes:

     It chanced to be the eve of St. Valentine's — that bishop of blessed memory to youthful lovers

   • 2002, Neil Gaiman, American Gods, page 193:

     Thus, McDonald's, Wal-Mart, FW Woolworth (of blessed memory): store brands maintained and visible across the entire country.

• God rest his soul, rest his soul

• late
• late lamented