Planning a funeral program involves choosing words that guide guests through the service while honoring your loved one's memory. This guide shows you what sections to include, how to word them properly, and how to make the program meaningful for everyone who attends.
A funeral program typically includes a cover with the person's name and dates, an order of service that lists what happens during the ceremony, a brief obituary or life story, and personal touches like poems or quotes. The wording you choose for your funeral program serves both as a practical guide for attendees and as a keepsake that families will treasure for years.
You can adapt your program wording to match any style of service, whether religious, non-religious, or a celebration of life. Using clear examples and templates makes the process easier during a difficult time.
Essential Elements of Funeral Program Wording
Every funeral program needs specific information to guide attendees and honor your loved one. The most important elements include the deceased's name and dates on the cover, meaningful photos that capture their spirit, and clear details about the service schedule and location.
Names, Dates, and Cover Phrases
Your cover page should display the full name of the deceased, including their middle name if they used it regularly. Place the birth and death dates directly below the name, typically formatted as "January 15, 1950 – February 20, 2026."
Choose a cover phrase that reflects the tone of your service. Common options include:- In Loving Memory (traditional funeral services)
- Forever in Our Hearts (personal, emotional tone)
- Celebrating the Life of (celebration of life service)
- Honoring the Legacy of (formal memorial)
You can also add a short phrase or quote below the dates. Keep it to one or two lines so the cover doesn't look crowded.
Photos and Visual Details
For the cover, select a high-quality portrait photo that shows your loved one at their best. Choose an image where their face is clearly visible and well-lit. Avoid blurry or heavily shadowed pictures.
Inside your order of service booklet, you can include additional smaller images from different life stages. Place photos near related text, such as above the obituary or next to tributes from family and friends.
Keep images balanced with text. Too many photos can make pages feel cluttered, while too few might seem plain.
Service Details and Venue Information
List the complete address of your service location, including the room or chapel name if applicable. Include the full date and time, such as "Saturday, March 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM."
Your funeral program wording should outline the order of events clearly:
- Opening remarks or prayer
- Musical selections with song titles
- Readings or scripture passages
- Eulogy and speakers' names
- Closing remarks
- Reception location (if different from service venue)
If guests need parking information or specific entrance instructions, add these details on the back page. This helps attendees navigate the day without confusion.
Order of Service: Structure and Wording Examples
The order of service section outlines the ceremony timeline from start to finish. It lists each part of the funeral or memorial service in sequence, including prayers, readings, music, and eulogies.
Common Components in the Order of Service
A typical funeral order of service includes several standard elements. The opening usually features a welcome message from the officiant leading the service.
Music selections appear throughout the service, including processional hymns, musical tributes, and recessional songs. Readings from scripture, poetry, or other meaningful texts come next, followed by the eulogy or personal tributes from family and friends.
Prayer segments might include an opening prayer, prayers of remembrance, and a closing benediction. Some services incorporate special rituals like candle lighting, moments of silence, or video presentations. For a graveside service, you'll include committal prayers and final farewells at the burial site.
Sample Order of Service Wording
Your order of service wording should be clear and easy to follow. Here's a standard format:
Opening Remarks – Reverend James Thompson
Opening Hymn – "How Great Thou Art"
Scripture Reading – Psalm 23
Prayer of Comfort
Eulogy – Read by Robert Martinez, Son
Musical Tribute – "Amazing Grace" performed by Sarah Chen
Closing Prayer and Benediction
Recessional – "Go Rest High on That Mountain"
Keep each line brief and include the names of speakers or performers and any cues (for example, “please stand” or “song will play during slideshow”) to help guests participate without confusion.
Order of Service for Different Service Types
Religious services typically include scripture readings, hymns, and prayers specific to that faith tradition. A Catholic funeral service program might feature Bible verses and traditional hymns, while a Jewish service would include the Mourner's Kaddish.
Non-religious services focus on personal readings, secular music, and shared memories without spiritual elements. A celebration of life ceremony often includes upbeat music, photo slideshows, and open microphone time for guests to share stories.
Memorial services held without the body present follow similar structures but may skip elements like the committal. Virtual or hybrid services should note whether portions will be livestreamed for remote attendees.
Writing and Personalizing the Obituary Section
The obituary gives guests a snapshot of your loved one's life story. It should include basic facts like birth and death dates, family members, and key life achievements while reflecting their personality and values.
How to Write an Obituary
Start with the full name of the deceased, including any nicknames they commonly used. Include their birth date and death date, along with their age at passing.
Next, list immediate family members. Start with surviving relatives like spouse, children, grandchildren, and siblings. You can also mention predeceased family members.
Add 2-3 paragraphs about their life. Cover where they were born, where they lived, their education, and career. Include hobbies, interests, volunteer work, and what made them special to those who knew them.
Keep the length between 200-300 words for a 4-Page funeral program. This gives enough detail without overwhelming readers. You can follow a step-by-step guide for writing a funeral program obituary if you need more structure.
Obituary Wording Samples
Sample 1 - Traditional Format: Mary Ellen Thompson, age 78, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026. She was born in Portland, Oregon on May 3, 1947. Mary is survived by her husband of 52 years, Robert Thompson, three children, and seven grandchildren. She worked as a school librarian for 30 years and loved gardening and baking.
Sample 2 - Personal Tone: James "Jim" Rodriguez brought laughter and kindness to everyone he met. Born June 12, 1965, Jim spent his life serving his community as a firefighter. He coached little league, built furniture in his garage, and never missed a family gathering.
You can adapt these examples using an obituary template to fit your needs.
Obituary Readings and Tributes
Add a short reading or quote after the obituary text. This could be a favorite Bible verse, poem, or saying that reflects their values.
Popular options include Psalm 23 for religious services, "The Dash" by Linda Ellis for celebrating how they lived, or a personal family saying. Keep readings to 4-6 lines so they fit well on the page.
You can also include a brief tribute from family members. Write 2-3 sentences expressing what they meant to you, like "Mom taught us that family comes first and kindness costs nothing."
Additional Program Wording: Quotes, Poems, and Special Messages
Personal touches like quotes, poems, and thank-you messages transform a basic funeral program into a meaningful keepsake. These elements add comfort and express feelings that might be hard to put into words during such a difficult time.
Including Inspirational Quotes or Verses
Adding a short quote or verse to your funeral program gives guests words of comfort they can hold onto. Scripture verses like Psalm 34:18 work well for religious services. Simple quotes from writers or philosophers fit secular services better.
Place quotes near photos or at the top of inside pages. Keep them short so they don't overwhelm the design. Popular choices include lines about love, memory, and legacy that speak the unspeakable when finding your own words feels impossible.
Many funeral program examples show quotes positioned as page dividers or section breaks. You can also feature a longer quote on the back cover as a final message. Choose words that match your loved one's beliefs and personality.
Poems and Special Readings
Poems add a personal touch that guests often remember long after the service ends. Classic funeral poems like "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" by Mary Elizabeth Frye offer universal comfort. You can also select poems that reflect hobbies, interests, or values your loved one held dear.
Short poems work best in 4-page sample funeral program layouts because they fit easily beside photos or service details. Longer readings can fill a full page or appear on the back panel in larger 8-page or 12-page programs.
Consider poems your loved one enjoyed or verses they shared with family. This makes the program feel more authentic and personal. You can feature one main poem or several short verses throughout different sections.
Thank-You Notes and Acknowledgments
A brief thank-you message shows appreciation to everyone who attended or helped with arrangements. Keep it simple and direct. Most families thank guests for their presence, support, and kindness during a difficult time.
Acknowledgments can also recognize specific people or groups. This includes pallbearers, clergy members, musicians, or healthcare workers who cared for your loved one. List names or simply mention their role.
Place thank-you notes on the back page or create a dedicated section inside the program. You can link this message to a memorial website where guests can share memories or condolences after the service. Keep the wording brief but sincere.
Funeral Program Templates and Sample Designs
Templates provide a structured starting point for creating your funeral program. You can choose from editable designs that can be customized in Word, PowerPoint or Canva to match your specific needs.
Editable and Printable Program Options
Editable Word funeral program templates let you customize text, photos, and layouts directly in Microsoft Word. You download the template file, open it on your laptop or desktop computer, and replace the placeholder content with your loved one's information.
These templates include pre-formatted sections for the order of service, obituary, photos, and acknowledgements. You simply click into each text box and type your own wording.
Key benefits of editable templates:
- Instant download after purchase
- Unlimited printing from your home or print shop
- Professional layouts that are already formatted correctly
- Easy to modify fonts, colors, and spacing
Once you finish editing, you can print as many copies as needed. Most printable funeral program templates work with standard US Letter 8.5 x 11-inch paper (or A4 paper) and fold into bifold or trifold formats.
Using Free Vs Paid Digital Templates
Free funeral program templates are available from some websites if you're working with a limited budget. These options give you basic layouts without any cost, though they may have fewer design choices than paid versions and take longer to customize.
Paid for funeral program templates work well when you have limited time and want to create a professional looking program quickly and easily. These options provide more sophisticated layouts and a wide range of designs that can be personalized by simple replacing the sample text and adding your own photos.
Where to find templates:
- Canva offers free online design tools to make your own template
- Microsoft Word has basic built-in template options
- Funeral-specific websites like FuneralTemplates.com provide customizable templates in both Word and Canva formats.
Design Tips for Personalized Programs
Your funeral program design should reflect your loved one's personality and the tone of the service. Traditional funeral program templates work best for formal services, while celebration of life designs can include brighter colors and casual layouts.
Choose readable fonts like Times New Roman or Arial in 11-12 point size for body text. Use larger font sizes (18-24 point) for names and headings so guests can read them easily.
Include high-quality photos that are clear and in focus. Blurry or pixelated images won't print well, so select pictures with good resolution (300dpi if possible).
Balance your text and images across each page. Don't crowd too much information into one section, as white space helps the program look clean and organized.
Design elements to consider:
- Border styles that match the service tone
- Background colors or patterns
- Religious symbols or nature imagery
- Favorite quotes or verses as design accents
Test print one copy before printing the full batch to check margins, image quality, and overall layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a funeral program raises common questions about what to include and how to word different sections. These answers will help you create a clear and respectful program that honors your loved one.
What should be included in a simple funeral program?
A simple funeral program needs the person's full name, birth and death dates, and a photo on the cover. You should add a brief order of service that lists the ceremony events in sequence.
Inside the program, include a short obituary or life story that highlights major life moments and family relationships. Many families add a meaningful quote, poem, or scripture verse that reflects the person's values or faith.
Essential elements for funeral programs also include acknowledgments where you thank attendees and supporters. A simple 4-page program is usually big enough to create a meaningful keepsake that includes each of these sections.
Can you provide guidance on the order of service for a funeral program?
The order of service lists all ceremony events from start to finish. Start with the welcome or opening remarks, followed by any musical selections or hymns.
Next, list scripture readings, poems, or personal messages in the order they will be presented. Include the eulogy and who will deliver it.
End with the closing prayer, benediction, or final remarks. A typical funeral service program helps attendees follow along and provides structure for speakers and musicians throughout the ceremony.
Where can I find examples of acknowledgments for a funeral program?
Acknowledgments are short thank-you notes that express gratitude to those who attended or provided support. You can write something like: "The family of [name] sincerely thanks you for your love, support, and prayers during this time of remembrance."
Another option is: "We are deeply grateful for the many expressions of sympathy, flowers, and acts of kindness shown to our family." Keep your message simple and genuine.
You can place acknowledgments on the back page of your program or on a separate panel. The message should feel personal while thanking everyone who helped during a difficult time.
What are some dignified wording options for a memorial service program?
For the cover, use phrases like "In Loving Memory of," "Celebrating the Life of," or "Honoring the Life of" followed by the person's name. These options work for both traditional and celebration of life services.
Inside the program, you can write: "A life filled with kindness leaves a legacy of love" or "Forever in our hearts and memories." Dignified funeral program wording reflects the person's character without being overly formal or complicated.
For religious services, include scripture like "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" from Psalm 23. For non-religious services, choose quotes about love, memory, or life's journey that feel appropriate for your family.
How can I create a funeral program using a template?
You can download editable templates that work with Microsoft Word or Canva. These templates have placeholder text you can replace with your loved one's information and photos.
Start by adding the person's name, dates, and photo to the cover page. Then fill in the order of service, obituary, and any poems or quotes you want to include.
Funeral program templates let you print as many copies as needed once you finish editing. Make sure to proofread all names, dates, and details before printing.
What are the key elements to focus on when writing a funeral program?
Focus on accuracy first by double-checking all names, dates, and spellings. Your program should clearly list the order of service so attendees can follow the ceremony.
Write a brief but personal obituary that captures the person's life, relationships, and qualities. Include at least one meaningful photo on the cover and consider adding more inside and on the back page if space allows.
Choose readable fonts and avoid cluttering pages with too much text. Balance your words with photos and white space to create a visually appealing program that people will want to keep.
