What Goes in a Funeral Program

A funeral program (sometimes called an order of service) is the printed piece guests hold during a visitation, funeral, or celebration of life. It helps people follow the service and take home a keepsake. It does not need to be elaborate. Clear names, times, and a simple order of events are enough.

This guide covers what usually goes in, a common layout, and one clearly labeled fictional example. For writing the life story itself, see our obituary guide.

What most programs include

Not every service needs every item. Pick what fits.

1. Cover. Full name, years of life (for example, 1948–2026), photo if you want one, and the words "In Loving Memory," "Celebration of Life," or similar.
2. Service details. Date, time, and place of the visitation, service, burial or reception.
3. Order of service. The sequence guests will hear: welcome, readings, music, remarks, prayer or blessing, closing.
4. A short life story or obituary. A warmer, shorter version of the full obituary works well here.
5. Family list. Survived by / preceded in death, in wording the family actually uses.
6. Participants. Who is officiating, reading, singing, or serving as pallbearers.
7. Acknowledgments. A thank-you to caregivers, friends, or the funeral home.
8. Memorial wishes. "In lieu of flowers" donations, with the organization's exact name.
9. Optional. A favorite quote, poem the family has rights to use, hymn titles, or a small photo collage. Avoid long copyrighted lyrics unless you have permission.

Typical order of service (adapt freely)

Every tradition is different. A common non-denominational outline:

1. Prelude / seating music
2. Welcome and opening words
3. Reading or scripture
4. Remembrance or eulogy
5. Music
6. Open sharing (optional; set a time limit if you do this)
7. Closing words or blessing
8. Committal, procession, or invitation to the reception

Religious services often follow a set liturgy. Ask the clergy or funeral director for the order they usually use, then fill names and music into that frame.

Layout choices that stay readable

• Single sheet (front and back): fine for a short service.
• Bifold (four panels): the most common keepsake format.
• Trifold: more room for photos and a longer life story.

Use a font large enough for older guests. Put the order of service where it is easy to find (often the inside left or center). Proofread names twice; ask a second person to check spellings.

Privacy tips

Programs are often photographed and posted online. Many families leave out the home address, the full birth date, and anything that advertises when the house will be empty. Town and service venue are usually enough.

Example program text (fictional)

Example only. This person is fictional. Do not treat the details below as a real obituary or service notice.

In Loving Memory
Margaret "Meg" Ellen Ruiz
March 12, 1952 – October 3, 2026

Celebration of Life
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Oak Street Community Chapel, 200 Oak Street, Riverton

Order of service
Welcome — Rev. Anita Cole
Reading — "For Everything There Is a Season," read by her daughter, Lena Ruiz
Remembrance — her son, Daniel Ruiz
Music — "What a Wonderful World" (recording)
Open sharing — two minutes each, please
Closing words — Rev. Anita Cole
Reception to follow in the fellowship hall

Survived by her husband, Carlos Ruiz; children Lena Ruiz and Daniel Ruiz; grandchildren Maya and Sam; and her sister, June Harper.
Preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Frank Doyle, and her brother, Paul Doyle.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the Riverton Public Library Foundation.

Thank you to the staff at Riverton Hospice for their gentle care.

You can shorten this to a death-notice length for a newspaper, or expand the remembrance section for the funeral home's website. Same facts, different length.

A quick checklist before you print

• [ ] Names and spellings checked by a second person
• [ ] Dates and ages agree
• [ ] Service times and addresses confirmed with the venue or funeral home
• [ ] Donation organization named exactly
• [ ] Photo cropped and printed clearly (if used)
• [ ] Enough copies for expected guests, plus a few extras

For the wider timeline of calls, certificates, and decisions around a service, see our funeral planning checklist.

Want editable layouts? Our Funeral Program & Obituary Kit includes bifold, trifold, and single-sheet program templates (Google Slides / Canva–friendly), a 14-page obituary writing guide with prompts, and three full fictional examples.

A writing and planning aid. Not legal or professional funeral-planning advice. Confirm service details with your funeral home, clergy, or venue. Example names above are fictional.