Planning a funeral or memorial service comes with countless details, and creating the funeral program is one of those tasks that can easily become overwhelming.
A funeral program serves as both a guide for the service and a keepsake for family and friends. It provides guests with important information about the ceremony while also creating a meaningful tribute to the person being remembered.
If you're wondering what to include in a funeral program, this complete guide walks you through the essential sections, optional elements, and a simple checklist to make the process easier.
What Is a Funeral Program?
A funeral program is a printed or digital document that provides information about a funeral, memorial service, celebration of life, or homegoing service.
Depending on the family's preferences and traditions, it may include the order of service, a photograph of the deceased, their obituary or life story, poems, scriptures, acknowledgments, and other meaningful details.
There is no single correct format. A funeral program should reflect the person being remembered and the family's wishes.
What Should Be Included in a Funeral Program?
While every service is different, most funeral programs contain several key sections.
1. A Photo of Your Loved One
A photograph is often one of the most important elements of a funeral program.
Choose a photo that feels representative of your loved one. It could be a formal portrait, a favorite photograph, or a picture that captures their personality.
You may also choose to use:
- A recent portrait
- A favorite family photo
- A childhood photograph
- A wedding or milestone photo
- A candid photo
- A collage of several photographs
For a multi-page program, you can include additional photos throughout the design.
Tip: Make sure you have a high-resolution version of the photograph whenever possible so it prints clearly.
2. Full Name
Include your loved one's full name prominently.
You may also include:
- Nickname
- Maiden name
- Honorific or title
- Date of birth
- Date of passing
A common format is:
Full Name
Date of Birth – Date of Passing
The cover may also include wording such as:
In Loving Memory
Celebrating the Life of...
Forever in Our Hearts
3. Funeral or Memorial Service Details
Guests need to know when and where the service is taking place.
Include:
- Date
- Time
- Location
- Address
- Name of funeral home, church, or venue
- Cemetery or burial location, if applicable
If there are multiple parts to the service, clearly distinguish between them.
For example:
Funeral Service
Saturday, October 10, 2026
11:00 AM
[Church Name]
Interment
[Location]
Repast
[Location]
4. Order of Service
The order of service tells guests what to expect during the ceremony.
The exact order will depend on the family's traditions, faith, and type of service.
A traditional program might include:
- Processional
- Opening prayer
- Scripture reading
- Hymn or musical selection
- Welcome
- Remarks or acknowledgments
- Obituary reading
- Eulogy
- Tributes
- Musical selection
- Closing remarks
- Closing prayer
- Recessional
Not every service needs every element.
If you're planning a celebration of life rather than a traditional funeral, the program may have a much more personalized structure.
5. Obituary or Life Story
Many funeral programs include an obituary or a shortened version of the person's life story.
This section can include:
- Birth information
- Childhood
- Education
- Career
- Marriage and family
- Community involvement
- Accomplishments
- Hobbies and interests
- Faith
- Personality and character
- Important milestones
- Information about their passing
You don't necessarily need to include a lengthy obituary. A shorter "Life Remembered" or "A Life Well Lived" section can be just as meaningful.
Tip: If the obituary has already been published online or in a newspaper, you can use an edited version in the program to save space.
6. Family or Survivors
Depending on the family's preference, the program may include a list of surviving family members.
This might include:
Left to cherish their memory:
Children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, extended family members, and other loved ones.
Some families also include a section remembering relatives who passed before them.
For example:
Preceded in death by:
Parents, siblings, spouse, or other close family members.
There is no requirement to list every relative. Keep the focus on the people and relationships the family feels are most meaningful.
7. Poems, Scriptures, Quotes, or Favorite Sayings
A meaningful poem, scripture, prayer, lyric excerpt, or favorite quote can add a personal touch to the program.
Popular choices include:
- A favorite Bible verse
- A meaningful poem
- A prayer
- A quote about love or remembrance
- A favorite saying
- A short passage written by the family
Choose something that reflects your loved one's personality, beliefs, or values.
Important: If you're using copyrighted material, make sure you have the appropriate permission or use material that is in the public domain or otherwise permitted for your intended use.
8. Special Tributes or Messages
You may want to include a short tribute from children, grandchildren, a spouse, siblings, or close friends.
This could be as simple as:
"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure..."
Or it could be a personal letter or message written specifically for the program.
For longer tributes, consider dedicating an entire page rather than making the text too small.
9. Acknowledgments and Thank You Message
The acknowledgment section gives the family an opportunity to thank everyone who provided support during their loved one's illness, passing, and funeral arrangements.
You may want to thank:
- Family and friends
- Medical professionals
- Caregivers
- Clergy
- Funeral home staff
- Church members
- Those who sent flowers or donations
- Those who attended the service
A simple message of appreciation is often enough.
10. Funeral Home or Service Provider Information
Including the funeral home's name and contact information can be useful, particularly on formal funeral programs.
You may include:
[Funeral Home Name]
[Address]
[Phone Number]
[Website, if applicable]
You can also include the church, cemetery, officiant, or other service providers where appropriate.
11. Cemetery or Interment Information
If burial follows the service, consider including the cemetery information.
Include:
- Cemetery name
- Location
- Address
- Approximate time of interment
If guests are expected to travel from the funeral service to the cemetery, clear information can be especially helpful.
12. Reception or Repast Information
If there will be a gathering following the service, include those details as well.
You can list:
Repast / Celebration of Life Gathering
Location
Address
Time
This helps guests know where to go after the funeral.
13. Additional Photos
For a multi-page funeral program, photographs can transform the document from a simple service guide into a meaningful keepsake.
Consider including photographs from different stages of your loved one's life:
- Childhood
- Family
- Marriage
- Career
- Holidays
- Vacations
- Milestones
- Favorite activities
- Special memories
A chronological photo section can be especially beautiful for a celebration-of-life program.
How Many Pages Should a Funeral Program Be?
There is no required number of pages.
The length depends on how much information and how many photographs you want to include.
Common formats include:
Single page:
Best for a simple memorial or service outline.
Bi-fold / 4 pages:
A popular option that provides room for the cover, order of service, obituary, photos, and acknowledgment.
8 pages or more:
Ideal for a more detailed memorial booklet containing an obituary, extensive photo collection, tributes, family information, and additional memories.
The most important rule is readability. Don't try to squeeze too much information into a small space just to keep the program short.
Funeral Program Checklist
Before sending your program to print, use this checklist to make sure you've included everything you need.
Cover
☐ Loved one's full name
☐ Photograph
☐ Birth and passing dates
☐ Memorial wording
Service Information
☐ Date
☐ Time
☐ Location
☐ Address
☐ Officiant / clergy
☐ Funeral home information
Order of Service
☐ Processional
☐ Prayers
☐ Scriptures
☐ Musical selections
☐ Readings
☐ Tributes
☐ Eulogy
☐ Closing
Life & Family
☐ Obituary or life story
☐ Family/survivors
☐ Predeceased family members, if desired
☐ Personal tribute
☐ Favorite quote, poem, or scripture
Photos & Memories
☐ Main portrait
☐ Additional photographs
☐ Photo captions, if desired
Additional Details
☐ Acknowledgment / thank-you message
☐ Cemetery information
☐ Repast or reception information
☐ Donation or memorial information, if applicable
☐ Final proofreading
Before You Print: Don't Skip These Steps
A funeral program is often created under significant time pressure, so proofreading is extremely important.
Before placing your order, ask at least one or two other people to review the final version.
Double-check:
Names: Are all names spelled correctly?
Dates: Are the birth, passing, and service dates accurate?
Times: Are the service, burial, and reception times correct?
Locations: Are addresses and venue names correct?
Photos: Are the correct photographs being used?
Order of service: Does it match the actual ceremony?
Contact information: Are phone numbers and other details accurate?
It's much easier to correct a mistake before printing than after hundreds of copies have been produced.
Download Your Free Funeral Planning Checklist
Creating the funeral program is only one part of planning a funeral or memorial service. There are many other details to coordinate, and keeping everything in one place can make the process feel much more manageable.
That's why we've created a FREE Funeral Planning Checklist to help you organize the important tasks, details, and decisions involved in planning a meaningful service.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE FUNERAL PLANNING CHECKLIST
Keep it handy, print a copy, and use it to work through the planning process one step at a time.
Want More Helpful Resources?
If you're planning a funeral or memorial service, you don't have to navigate every detail alone.
Join our email list for helpful planning resources, memorial ideas, template tips, and new resources designed to make creating meaningful tributes a little easier.
We'll send helpful resources straight to your inbox so you can spend less time worrying about the details and more time honoring the person you love.
Create a Beautiful Memorial Without Starting From Scratch
Once you have the information gathered, the next step is bringing everything together into a beautiful, cohesive design.
Our Memorial Collection includes professionally designed templates to help you create meaningful funeral and memorial stationery without having to design everything from the beginning.
Explore options for:
- Funeral programs
- Memorial booklets
- Celebration of life materials
- Memorial cards
- Prayer cards
- Thank-you cards
- Memorial signs
- Matching stationery
- And more
EXPLORE THE MEMORIAL COLLECTION →
Need something changed or personalized?
Custom editing is also available if you'd like help adapting a template with your loved one's photos, wording, colors, service details, or other personal touches.
Because every life is unique, every tribute should be too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important thing to include in a funeral program?
At minimum, include the loved one's name and photograph, service details, and order of service. Additional sections such as an obituary, tribute, family information, and acknowledgment can be added based on the family's preferences.
Does a funeral program need an obituary?
No. An obituary is common, but it isn't required. You can use a shorter life story, biography, tribute, or favorite memories instead.
What size should a funeral program be?
Funeral programs can be created in several sizes and formats. A common option is a folded letter-size program, but the best size depends on the amount of content and photographs you want to include.
Can I create a funeral program myself?
Yes. Many families choose to create their own funeral programs using an editable template. A template can save time by providing the layout and design while allowing you to add your own photographs, wording, and service information.
What is the difference between a funeral program and a memorial program?
The terms are often used interchangeably. A funeral program generally accompanies a funeral service, while a memorial program may be used for a memorial or celebration-of-life service that takes place without the body present. The contents can be very similar.