What Should Be Included in a Funeral Program? A Complete Guide

Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things anyone goes through. When it comes to planning the funeral service, the funeral program — sometimes called an order of service — is one of the most important details you’ll need to prepare. It’s the keepsake guests take home, and for many families, it becomes a treasured memento of the person they’ve lost.

Whether you’re a family member planning a service yourself or a funeral director supporting a grieving family, this guide covers everything that should go into a funeral program, along with tips to make it truly personal and beautiful.

What Is a Funeral Program?

A funeral program is a printed or digital document handed out at a funeral or memorial service. It guides guests through the order of events and typically includes information about the person who has passed, readings, music, and who is participating in the service.

Think of it as both a practical guide for the day and a lasting tribute to the person’s life.

Essential Elements Every Funeral Program Should Include

1. The Cover Page

The cover sets the tone for the entire program. It should include:

Full name of the deceased
Date of birth and date of passing (e.g., “January 12, 1942 – May 3, 2026”)
A favourite photo — ideally a clear, high-quality portrait
The date, time, and location of the service

A well-designed cover immediately makes the program feel personal and dignified.

2. Order of Service

This is the practical heart of the program. It tells guests what to expect and when. A typical order of service might include:

Welcome and opening remarks
Opening hymn or song
Scripture reading or poem
Eulogy or tributes
Musical interlude
Committal or final prayers
Recessional

List each item clearly with the name of anyone who is reading, singing, or speaking. Guests appreciate knowing who is participating.

3. Biography or Life Story

This is where you honour who the person truly was. A brief biography (usually one to two paragraphs) might cover:

Where they were born and grew up
Family — spouse, children, grandchildren
Career and passions
Defining personality traits or values
What they meant to those who loved them

This doesn’t need to be long — even a few heartfelt sentences go a long way.

4. Photographs

Photos bring a program to life. Consider including:

A main portrait on the cover
A collage of meaningful life moments inside — childhood, family, milestones
Captions if helpful (names, dates, or short descriptions)

When designing your program, make sure photos are high resolution so they print clearly.

5. Readings, Poems, or Scriptures

If readings are part of the service, include the full text in the program. This allows guests to follow along and also means the words are preserved in the keepsake. Popular choices include:

Bible verses or passages from other religious texts
Classic poems about loss and remembrance
A personally meaningful piece of writing

6. Song Lyrics or Hymns (Optional)

If the congregation will be singing together, include the lyrics so everyone can participate — especially for older guests who may not know the words by heart.

7. Acknowledgements

A short thank-you section is a thoughtful touch. This is where the family can acknowledge:

Pallbearers
Those who gave readings or spoke
The funeral home
Friends and community members who helped

8. Back Cover

Don’t leave the back cover blank. This is a great space for:

A favourite quote or scripture
A closing message from the family (“Thank you for celebrating his life with us”)
Details of the reception or wake to follow
Charitable donation information in lieu of flowers

Optional But Meaningful Additions

Depending on the person and the service, you might also consider:

A timeline of their life — key milestones at a glance
Favourite quotes they lived by
A personal message written directly to guests from the family
QR code linking to an online memorial or tribute page

How Long Should a Funeral Program Be?

Most funeral programs are either:

4 pages (a single sheet folded in half) — ideal for simpler services
8 pages (two sheets folded) — better for longer services with more content
Booklet style — for larger services or those with extensive biographical content

The right length depends on how much content you have and how elaborate you want the design to be.

Designing Your Funeral Program

Once you know what to include, the design matters more than people realise. A beautifully designed program feels like a proper tribute — not something rushed together at the last minute.

The good news is you don’t need to be a designer to create something stunning. Canva funeral program templates make it easy to produce a professional, personalised program in a fraction of the time. Simply choose a design, drop in your text and photos, and you’re done.

At Memplates.co, we offer a range of professionally designed Canva funeral program templates that are easy to edit — even if you’ve never used Canva before. Our templates are designed to be dignified, beautiful, and fully customisable to suit any service.

👉 Browse our funeral program templates here

Final Tips

Start early — give yourself at least 2–3 days before the service to gather content, design, and print
Proofread carefully — dates, spellings of names, and order of events all need to be accurate
Print extras — it’s better to have too many than too few; leftover programs become keepsakes
Consider digital too — a PDF version can be shared with guests who couldn’t attend in person

Summary: Funeral Program Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist you can use when putting your program together:

[ ] Full name, dates of birth and passing
[ ] Cover photo
[ ] Service date, time, and location
[ ] Order of service
[ ] Biography
[ ] Additional photos
[ ] Readings or poems
[ ] Song lyrics (if applicable)
[ ] Acknowledgements
[ ] Back cover message or quote
[ ] Reception details

Creating a funeral program doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right template and this guide, you can put together something truly meaningful — a lasting tribute to a life well lived.

Ready to get started? Browse our easy-to-edit Canva funeral program templates at Memplates.co — designed with care, for moments that matter.