Funeral Service Program Template
Lay out the order of service clearly so every guest can follow along – from the prelude to the recessional – in a program that prints and folds perfectly.
Helping guests follow the service
A funeral service program does one important job: it lets everyone in the room know what is happening and what comes next. Guests can find the words to a hymn, see who is speaking, and quietly follow along during a moment when it is hard to concentrate. A clear program also helps the officiant, musicians and readers stay in step with one another.
Our funeral service program template gives you a ready-made order of service that you can adjust in seconds. Load a preset for a Christian funeral, a Catholic Funeral Mass, a celebration of life, a UK order of service or a graveside service, then rename, reorder, add or remove items until it matches what you have planned with the officiant.
A typical order of service
Every tradition is different, but many services follow a similar shape:
- Prelude – quiet music as guests arrive and are seated.
- Processional – the family and casket enter.
- Welcome and opening prayer – usually led by the officiant.
- Hymn or song – often a favorite of the person who died.
- Readings – scripture, poetry or a passage that meant something to them.
- Obituary – read aloud or printed for guests to read silently.
- Eulogy and reflections – a family member or friend shares memories.
- Sermon or message – in religious services.
- Committal and benediction – closing words and blessing.
- Recessional – music as the family and casket leave.
Each line in our template has two parts: the item (such as "Hymn") and a detail (such as "Amazing Grace" or the name of the reader). The layout keeps them neatly centered and easy to read, and it automatically reduces the type size if your service has many parts.
More than the order of service
The template also includes a cover page with a portrait photo, a life story page, and a back page for a poem or scripture, pallbearers, interment details, reception information and a thank-you from the family. Everything shares one design, so the program feels considered and complete.
Working with the officiant
Before you finalize the program, send a draft to the officiant or funeral director. They will confirm the correct names of hymns and readings, check the spelling of speakers' names and tell you about any parts of the service you may not know about, such as a military honors ceremony or a fraternal organization's ritual. Our free watermarked preview PDF is perfect for this – email it to them and make changes as they come back.
Printing your program
Once everything is right, the print-ready program is $4.99. It includes a print-shop PDF with bleed and crop marks, a home-printer version and PNG images. Print on a heavier paper (32 lb text or 80 lb cover) if you can – it feels more substantial in the hand and folds cleanly.
Want to see examples first? Browse our free sample funeral program template, or read our guide to what to include in a funeral program. Planning a Catholic service? Our Catholic funeral Mass program page walks through the parts of the Mass.
Make yours in about 20 minutes
One guided form, live preview, free watermarked preview. Print-ready PDF from $4.99.
Build your service program →Frequently asked questions
- Can I change the order of service items?
- Yes. Add, remove, rename and move items up or down. You can also load presets for different kinds of services.
- What if our service has a lot of parts?
- The layout automatically reduces the type size so long services still fit neatly on one page.
- Can I share a draft with the officiant?
- Yes. Download a free watermarked preview PDF and email it to them for review.