What to Include in a Funeral Program

A funeral program has two jobs. On the day, it guides guests through the service: who is speaking, what is being sung, when to stand, where to go afterwards. After the day, it becomes a keepsake – something people keep in a drawer, a Bible or a memory box for years. A good program does both jobs without trying to hold everything.

This checklist covers what to include in a funeral program, page by page, from the cover to the back. For each element it explains why it's there, how to word it, and when you can leave it out. At the end you'll find optional extras, things to leave out, and sample layouts for different kinds of services.

The essentials at a glance

If you include nothing else, include these:

• The person's full name
• Their dates of birth and death
• A photo (strongly recommended, though not required)
• The service date, time and place
• The order of service
• Interment and reception details, if guests are invited

Everything else – the life story, the poem, the pallbearers, the acknowledgement – adds warmth and meaning, and most programs include it. But if you're short of space or time, the list above is the core.

The cover (page 1)

The cover is what guests see first and what they'll remember. Keep it uncluttered.

A heading

A short line above or below the name that sets the tone. Common choices:

• In Loving Memory
• Celebrating the Life of
• A Celebration of Life
• In Memory of
• Mass of Christian Burial
• Home-Going Celebration for
• A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of
• Forever in Our Hearts
• Remembering

Choose one that fits the service. "Mass of Christian Burial" belongs on a Catholic Funeral Mass program; "Celebrating the Life of" suits a lighter gathering; "In Loving Memory" works almost anywhere. Our funeral program wording ideas has many more.

The full name

Use the full name, including a middle name if they used it. Nicknames are often included in quotation marks or brackets: Margaret Anne "Peggy" Collins, or Margaret (Peggy) Collins. For married women, some families include the maiden name: Margaret Brandt Collins, or "née Brandt."

Titles – Reverend, Doctor, Deacon, a military rank – can be included if they were important to the person. See military and veteran funeral programs for how to list rank.

Dates

Dates of birth and death, in a consistent format:

• March 12, 1942 – November 3, 2026
• 12th March 1942 – 3rd November 2026 (common in the UK)
• 1942 – 2026 (simpler, and avoids publishing a full birth date)
• Sunrise: March 12, 1942 · Sunset: November 3, 2026 (traditional in many home-going programs)

A photo

A clear photo where the person looks like themselves. Most families use a head-and-shoulders portrait. See choosing and preparing photos for a funeral program.

Service details

The date, time and place of the service, with the venue's name and town. Some families include the full address on the cover; others put it inside. If there's a visitation beforehand, include its time too.

• Friday, November 13, 2026 · 10:00 a.m.
• St. Brigid's Catholic Church, Springfield

Check that the day of the week matches the date. It's one of the most common errors in programs.

Optional cover extras

• A short verse or quote beneath the name
• The officiant's name (customary in some churches)
• A small religious symbol or decorative element

The inside pages (pages 2 and 3)

The life story or obituary

Most programs include a life story on the inside left page. It tells guests – especially those who knew only one part of the person's life – who they were. For a four-page booklet, roughly 250 to 450 words is a comfortable length.

What to include:

• Where and when they were born, and to whom
• Where they grew up and went to school
• Work, career and military service
• Marriage and family
• Faith and community involvement
• Passions, hobbies and what they were known for
• How they will be remembered

Our guide on how to write an obituary for a parent has a full structure and two complete examples. If you'd like help drafting, our obituary writer builds a first draft from your answers.

Survivors and predeceased

Many families include the survivors list at the end of the life story: "She is survived by..." and "She was preceded in death by...". If space is tight, it can be shortened ("her three children and seven grandchildren") or left to the published obituary. If you include it, check every name carefully with another family member – leaving someone out is the mistake that hurts most.

The order of service

The order of service is usually on the inside right page. It lists each part of the service in order, with the person responsible or the title of the music or reading.

What to include:

• Music: prelude, processional, hymns, solos, recessional – with titles
• Readings: with the scripture reference or poem title and the reader's name
• Prayers: including the Lord's Prayer if the congregation joins in
• Tributes and eulogy: with the speakers' names
• The sermon, homily or message: with the officiant's name
• Special elements: candle lighting, a slideshow, military honors, a moment of silence
• The committal or final commendation
• The benediction or closing words

Format each line consistently: item on the left, name or title on the right. Mark the parts where the congregation participates, so guests know when to join in.

Always confirm the order of service with the officiant or funeral director before printing. For examples from different traditions, see our Christian order of service examples, Catholic funeral program guide, UK order of service guide and non-religious funeral program.

Officiant and participants

The officiant is usually named in the order of service ("Homily – Fr. Thomas Byrne"). Some programs also list musicians, the organist, the cantor or soloist, and ushers in a separate small section. Use the titles each person prefers.

The back page (page 4)

The back page carries the practical information guests need after the service, plus something to reflect on.

A poem, prayer or verse

A short reading the family has chosen – a favourite psalm, a poem, a prayer, a quote. See our collections of funeral poems and Bible verses. Choose something that fits comfortably at a readable size.

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers

Pallbearers carry the casket; honorary pallbearers are recognised for their relationship to the person but don't carry. Listing them is a way of thanking and honouring them.

• Pallbearers: Michael Hale, Steven Ortiz, Tom Hale, Jack Reynolds, Ben Collins, David Lee
• Honorary Pallbearers: The members of American Legion Post 112

Some services also have flower bearers (common in home-going services) or, in Scotland, cord-holders.

Interment or committal

Where the burial or committal will take place, and whether all are invited:

• Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1500 Oak Road.
• The family will gather privately for the committal.
• Cremation will take place privately. A memorial interment will be held at a later date.

Reception or repast

If guests are invited to gather afterwards:

• Please join the family for lunch in the parish hall following the service.
• Repast – Fellowship Hall, immediately following the interment.
• Everyone is welcome at The Red Lion, High Street, after the service.

Donations in lieu of flowers

• In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton.
• Family flowers only, please. Donations to the RNLI may be made at the door.

Use the charity's exact name.

The family's acknowledgement

A sentence or two thanking people for their support:

• The family wishes to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, visits and many acts of kindness.
• Thank you for being here today to celebrate Mom's life. Your presence means more than we can say.

You can sign it "The Collins Family" or with the names of the immediate family.

Optional extras

Depending on space and the person, families sometimes add:

• More photos: a small collage on the back page or a center spread in an eight-page booklet
• Hymn words printed in full (common in the UK; check copyright for modern hymns)
• A timeline of the person's life
• A personal list: "Things Dad always said," "Grandma's rules for life"
• A favourite recipe
• A message from the grandchildren
• Military service details and honors
• A QR code linking to an online memorial, livestream or photo album
• A note on dress code ("Mom loved color – please wear something bright")
• Details of a later memorial event or the scattering of ashes
• Thanks to caregivers, hospice staff or a hospital ward

For celebrations of life, many of these extras become the heart of the program. See celebration of life program wording.

Helpful notes for guests

A line or two of gentle guidance can make a big difference to guests who don't know the tradition, the venue or the family's wishes. Small notes that families often include:

• When to stand or sit: "Please stand as the casket enters." "The congregation is invited to stand for the Gospel."
• How to join in: "Words to the hymns are printed inside." "All are invited to say the Lord's Prayer together."
• Communion customs: at a Catholic or some Protestant services, a brief, kind note explaining who is invited to receive and that others are welcome to come forward for a blessing or remain seated. Ask the priest or minister for the wording they prefer.
• Speaking time: "Reflections – two minutes, please."
• Photography: "The family kindly asks that no photographs be taken during the service."
• Phones: "Please silence mobile phones."
• Children: "Little ones are very welcome. A quiet room is available at the back of the chapel."
• Accessibility: "Large-print copies of this program are available from the ushers."

Keep these notes short and warm. Guests appreciate knowing what's expected, and a clear program helps a nervous visitor feel welcome rather than out of place.

Information for people attending remotely

Many services are now livestreamed or recorded. If yours is, think about what remote guests need:

• The link or the name of the website hosting the stream, if the family is happy to print it (a QR code works well)
• The start time, with the time zone if relatives are joining from abroad
• A digital copy of the program, so they can follow along

A PDF or images of each page sent by email or message lets people far away read the life story and sing along with the hymns. Our print-ready download includes PNG images of each page for exactly this.

For funeral homes, churches and coordinators

If you prepare programs regularly – as a funeral director, church secretary or event coordinator – a consistent checklist saves time and protects families from errors. Practical suggestions:

• Use a standard intake form that collects every item on the checklist above, with a line for the person who confirmed each fact
• Keep a house style for dates, times and titles, so programs from your venue look consistent
• Get the officiant's order of service in writing before typesetting
• Send families a PDF proof, not an editable file, and ask for corrections in a single numbered list
• Confirm the day of the week for every date as a separate check
• Keep the final file in case the family asks for more copies later

Families are under enormous pressure, and a clear process takes some of that weight off them. A template-based tool also helps: in our maker, the family or coordinator fills in one form, and every program comes out with consistent layout and print specifications.

What you can leave out

You don't have to include everything. Common things families choose to leave out:

• The cause of death – it's entirely optional
• The full birth date – the year is enough, and it protects against identity fraud
• Home addresses – not needed, and best kept private
• A long survivors list – it can go in the published obituary instead
• Every detail of the life story – the program isn't the only place to tell it

What not to include

• Unconfirmed information, especially in the order of service
• Anyone's name without their agreement as a speaker or participant
• Full lyrics of copyrighted songs or poems without permission
• Anything the immediate family hasn't agreed to – a cause of death, a former spouse, a family disagreement
• Too much text – if it won't fit at a readable size, cut or add pages

Sample layouts

Traditional four-page program

• Page 1: "In Loving Memory," photo, name, dates, service details
• Page 2: Life story with survivors
• Page 3: Order of service
• Page 4: Psalm 23, pallbearers, interment, repast, acknowledgement

Catholic Funeral Mass, four pages

• Page 1: "Mass of Christian Burial," photo or holy image, name, dates, church and time
• Page 2: Introductory Rites and Liturgy of the Word with readings and readers
• Page 3: Liturgy of the Eucharist, Final Commendation and hymns
• Page 4: Eternal Rest prayer, celebrant, pallbearers, interment, reception, short life summary

Home-going service, eight pages

• Page 1: "Home-Going Celebration," photo, name, Sunrise/Sunset dates, church and time
• Page 2: Order of service
• Pages 3–4: Obituary
• Pages 5–6: Photo collage
• Page 7: Acknowledgements, resolutions, pallbearers, flower bearers
• Page 8: Scripture or poem, interment, repast, family thanks

Celebration of life, four pages

• Page 1: "Celebrating the Life of," photo, name, years, event details
• Page 2: Welcome note and life story
• Page 3: Agenda and invitation to share memories
• Page 4: Favourite sayings, donation note, closing line

Short service, flat 5×7 card

• Front: Heading, photo, name, dates, service details
• Back: A short reading, the committal and reception details, a one-line thank-you

Checklist

Copy this list and tick off as you go:

• Heading
• Full name (with nickname if used)
• Dates of birth and death
• Photo
• Service date, day, time and venue
• Life story
• Survivors (optional)
• Order of service, confirmed by the officiant
• Officiant and participants' names and titles
• Poem, prayer or verse
• Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers
• Interment or committal
• Reception or repast
• Donations in lieu of flowers
• Family acknowledgement
• Proofread by at least two other people

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important thing to include in a funeral program?

The person's name, dates and the order of service. Everything else is valuable but optional.

Should the obituary go in the funeral program?

Usually, yes – a shortened version. A very long obituary can be printed separately or published online.

Do I need to list pallbearers?

It's customary and a nice way to honour them, but not required.

Should the program include the visitation times?

If the visitation is on the same day, yes – list it on the cover or the inside page. If it was the evening before, it's usually left off, since guests receive the program at the service itself.

Is it okay to have a funeral program without a photo?

Yes. Many traditional programs use a religious image or a simple design instead.

How many pages should a funeral program be?

Four pages is standard. Choose eight for longer services or more photos; a two-sided card for short services.

Put it all together

Our funeral program maker has a field for every item on this checklist, laid out in the order above, so nothing gets forgotten. Fill it in, preview it for free, and share the preview with family and the officiant before printing. When you're ready, the print-ready files are $4.99 – see pricing. For the full process, see how to make a funeral program.