Memorial service programs

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A memorial service program, also called a funeral program, funeral booklet, funeral brochure or order of service, is a brochure that guides attendees through a funeral or memorial service. Not only does the memorial service program indicate what will happen during the service, the funeral program can honor your loved one and help attendees and those who are grieving remember them fondly.  It also acts as a tribute to the deceased, often including information about the person’s life.

Where to get memorial service programs

Funeral programs can be obtained from many places. If you are good with Microsoft Word or other editing program, you can create one yourself. Funeral homes or your church might offer the option of funeral programs in their services. Or, programs can be purchased online from publishing groups or artists, such as those on Etsy. Check out our Etsy shop for many beautiful options.

Purchasing a memorial service program online

When you purchase a funeral program online, there are many options. Some online retailers offer printing service as well, so you edit the program on their website, and they send you the printed program. Some retailers, like those on Etsy, may offer downloadable, editable files. In these cases, the design work is done, and you can edit the program on your own computer or online. When editing an already created funeral program, you can usually change any of the text, such as name, dates, order of service. You can also change the existing photos to your own.

For printing, you can bring the digital file to a printer or you could print out the programs yourself if you have a good color printer. Be sure you understand what format you will be receiving the program in – completely printed or digital file to be printed by you. Also understand what software you will need to edit the file, and how and where you will be able to get the funeral programs printed.

Creating your own memorial service program

You can also create a funeral booklet yourself with an editing or graphics software. Although you can create them yourself, often funeral planning happens very quickly and it is difficult to finish one more thing when bereaved and over-scheduled. Often, families assign someone who is not directly involved in other funeral planning to obtain or create the funeral program.

If a family member creates the memorial service program, they should know about the deceased’s life, have access to photos and the obituary, and be able to contact the place where the funeral will be held. The person creating the funeral program should also know the preferences of the deceased and their family. This way, they can choose meaningful designs for the funeral program.

If a funeral home or church creates the funeral brochure, they should be in close contact with the family. This way, you can tell them about the deceased, their life’s details, their loves. You can also provide them with photos of your loved one.

Sometimes, families like to create the funeral program together. Working together remembering your loved one can help families work through grief while thinking about their loved one’s life and accomplishments.

What to include in a memorial service program

A funeral program can really look like anything you want it to. Usually it is a bi-fold – an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet folded in half. The bi-fold has 4 pages total, with a front page, 2 inner pages and a back page. The funeral brochure could also be a tri-fold or another pamphlet shape.

The style of the memorial service program can be anything you and your loved one would like. Often the funeral brochures are decorated with flowers, scrolls, or are simply plain. However, if your loved one adored music or horses or baseball for example, these can be reflected in the design. Anything tasteful that reminds you of them would work to enhance the design.

The content of the funeral booklet usually includes at the minimum a photo, name, birth and deceased dates, a short obituary, and an order of service. The information in the funeral program can also include many other things, depending on your wishes and tastes.

Optional information includes

• Favorite quotes
• Music selections, including song titles, lyrics, artist, performer
• Bible passages
• Favorite poems
• A thank you or acknowledgement
• Date of service
• Date and place of interment
• A title such as “Celebration of Life,” “A Loving Farewell,” etc.
• A list of people involved in the service such as the officiant, a person who delivers a eulogy, the people who read, soloists, musicians, gift bearers, pallbearers, and anyone else involved.
• Funeral reception time and place
• Memorial service time and place
• Personal notes to the deceased
• Anecdotes of the deceased
• Additional photos

The obituary included in the funeral program can be a little more detailed than that you may have posted to the newspaper or funeral home website. In addition to the typical dates and milestones listed, you can include anything you would like that helps make a loving memento or tribute. These items may include the following:

• Surviving family members
• Favorites songs, poetry, television, movies, books
• Beloved pets
• Hobbies
• Crafts
• Awards
• Service
• Volunteer work
• Jobs

The funeral program can be a tasteful tribute to your loved one. With creativity you can share who your loved one really was and give attendees something very memorable.

How to write a funeral program

Gather information

At first, writing the memorial service program is similar to writing an obituary. First, you must gather personal information about your loved one. This is a good thing to do with others in your family or with friends of the deceased. Those directly involved with funeral planning may be too busy to help much. However, you may be able to collect the obituary, or some personal information and photos from them.

When writing the Order of Service in the funeral program, be sure to contact the officiant or representative from the institution where the service will be help. They can walk you through the elements of the service that they will be performing. They can let you know the order these elements will occur in, and where it will be appropriate to have personal participants. If you have something you want to do in the funeral service, be sure to ask the representative or church officials, to find out if it will be allowed and appropriate for the venue. They can let you know if any personal requests can be accommodated.

Using software and templates to create a memorial service program

First, you may want to see what your funeral home offers for funeral programs. These may be fine for you. However, if you would like something more personal or beautiful, there are many other options

You can use a word processor like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, Apple IWork or a graphics program like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign to create your own funeral program. Microsoft Word has several free templates for a bi-fold pamphlet that make a good starting place. However, you will have to do most of the design and word processing work yourself.

To make a lovely program, without having to own graphics software, you may want to consider purchasing a funeral program template. These can be purchased from Etsy or another funeral program designer as discussed above.

Put memorial service program together

Once you have collected the personal information, photos or your loved one, and order of service from the officiant, you can begin writing the funeral program.

If you are creating the program from scratch, consider the placement of photos, font, and any design images you may want to decorate the brochure.

See our example below for a sample of the layout.

Having the funeral program printed

To print the funeral program, you can use an online service, a local printing service or print it yourself.

Online service often also includes funeral program design. Or, you may send them the file, and they will send you the printed programs. A local printer, such as Staples, you can bring your digital file and they will give you the printed programs. Finally, if you have a good color printer you can print the programs yourself. However, remember that this will likely use a great deal ink and you may have to cut the paper to size after printing.

What is an Order of service

Memorial service programs often include an order of service. The order of service is the list of the elements of the funeral or memorial service. This will include anything that is happening at the funeral or memorial venue, when in the service it is happening and who is doing it.

If the funeral is being held at a church, there is usually a traditional way that each church/culture/religion may conduct funerals. Be sure to contact a representative from the venue to confirm this. If the funeral is being held at a funeral home, check with the funeral director. The funeral director can give you a sample outline of the service and let you know if personal requests can be accommodated.

Often, memorials services are not held at a place of worship but are more informal. These plans are more flexible and personalized. Again, you should check with the venue for any personal requests, but usually, the order of service can be more individualized in a memorial.

Traditional funeral sample order of service

A traditional funeral order of service at a funeral home may include the following:

• Music prelude
• Introduction / words of welcome
• Prayers
• Scripture readings
• Musical selections / hymns
• Obituary reading
• Eulogy
• Brief informal tributes or anecdotes
• Thank you and acknowledgements
• Viewing of deceased
• Closing / benediction

Order of funeral mass

If the funeral is being held in a catholic or other traditional church, the order of service may be similar to the following:

• Introductory rites
  • Greeting – the celebrant meets family, funeral procession, and casket at the doors of the church
  • Gathering hymn, entrance procession – the funeral procession will advance down the aisle in accompaniment to music
  • Opening prayer – the celebrant will offer an opening prayer
• Liturgy of the word
  • First reading – a reading from the old testament is read by family member or friend
  • Responsorial psalm – the responsorial psalm is a psalm that can be read or sung by a family member, friend or musical performer
  • Second reading – A family member or friend will usually then read a scripture reading from the New Testament
  • Gospel – a Gospel reading from the new testament that has been chosen by the family is read by the celebrant
  • Homily – celebrant speaks about the deceased according to conversations with them and family
  • General intercessions
• Liturgy of the Eucharist
  • Presentation of the gifts- family and friends bring up the gifts
  • Lord’s prayer
  • Communion
  • Communion hymn
• Final commendation
  • Prayer of commendation – priest commends the deceased into the hands of God
  • Recessional Hymn
  • Procession to place of committal (burial)

Non-traditional Order of Service

If the service is being held as a memorial service, it can be more individualized and unique. Here is an example of a non-traditional order of service.

• Introduction / words of welcome
• Opening music
• Readings
• Poetry
• Gathering hymn
• Moments of silence / meditation
• Eulogy / life tribute
• Memorial slideshow
• Brief informal tributes, anecdotes
• Thank you and acknowledgements
• Reception

What other funeral handouts do you need?

Other funeral handouts usually include a memorial or funeral prayer card. You can find out more in our articles about Funeral Booklets and Memorial Cards and Funeral Booklets and Memorial Cards