Sample Funeral Program

Elements of a Funeral Program

Since the booklet will become a keepsake for many who attend the funeral, there are several items that should be included:

• Full legal name of deceased person
• Dates of birth and death
• Time, date and place of funeral
• Name of the priest, minister or other dignitary officiating the service
• Place of interment
• Full names of pallbearers
• Name of person delivery the eulogy
• Titles of songs played and/or sung

Religious Funerals

If the deceased person is having a religious funeral, there are other elements that can be included in the program:

• Scripture, Gospel or Bible citations: State the reference and the person who is reading it
• If the funeral service has servers, as is used during a Catholic Mass, those names should be listed as well.
• Bereavement verses

Optional Elements to Include

Depending on how many pages you want the funeral program to be, there are many other elements you can include:

• Pictures of the deceased person
• Favorite poetry
• List of surviving family members
• Brief biography
• Charities where donations may be made
• Time and place of the "after funeral" breakfast or luncheon
• Funny anecdotes or quotes
• Words of gratitude from the family to those who attended the service
• Artwork created by the deceased person

Selecting a Cover for the Funeral Program

The cover of the funeral program should speak not only of the person who died, but also about the type of funeral being held. The cover will be the first thing everyone will see and most likely remember the most about the program. Samples of funeral program covers include:

• A sunrise or sunset
• Any nature scene
• Falling rain
• Flowers, trees or plants
• Crosses, rosaries or other religious symbols
• Collage of photos or a single photo of the deceased person

Paper for the funeral program covers can be found at any office or stationary store. Religious gift stores also carry a line of spiritual pages that can also be used. If you do decide to create you own, a short bereavement verse or Bible quote can be added.

Sample Funeral Programs Found Online

The Internet may be your best bet for finding a sample funeral program. There are many types of websites available, from free templates to actual program examples:

• Tribute to Dylan Fargher: This site has an actual booklet from the funeral of a young man and includes many photographs, letters and song lyrics.
• Kessia's Funeral Booklet: View the entire eight-page booklet from the funeral of a 7-year-old girl. It includes personal artwork, photographs and quotes from the little girl.
• Mass Booklet for Elemér Kozma: This online funeral booklet (you can also download a PDF) has the entire Mass of Thanksgiving outlined, including hymns, readings and psalms. The website also has photographs taken during the service.
• CTS Graphics has the program from the funeral of Pastor Willie Burrell Sr. Besides a brief biography, the family included letters to him from each of his granddaughters.

Final Thought

Funeral booklets don't have to be complex, yet they don't to be simple either. If you have time, put as much as you want into a program, especially photographs. Keep the booklet a simple size; a standard sheet of paper folded in half horizontally should be sufficient. Make sure you make enough extra copies for families to take an extra one home as a keepsake or for others who couldn't attend the service.