Honoring a loved one’s memory can be done in different ways. One of them is arranging a funeral or memorial service for them and having a funeral program custom-made so that it can be shared with those who are in attendance. Here at Personal Touch Printing, we will be sharing with you a blog post discussing what a funeral program is.
If you want to celebrate your loved one’s life, you must consider a funeral service and a funeral program. It is something that you can keep as a memento that will pay tribute to them. It can also be a keepsake for the family and friends to hold on to for years to come.
What is a funeral program?
A funeral program is also known as a memorial service program. It is a printed paper that includes the details and events of a funeral service. This pamphlet includes the key points of the memorial service. It can also include the favorite poems, quotes, or sayings of the deceased.
A printed memorial program serves as a guide for the family and friends to know what they should expect during the memorial service. The bereaved family members usually want to provide a funeral program to those who are in attendance so that they can participate and follow along according to the outlined events of the service.
When the attendees arrive, they can be handed the funeral program or it can be placed on each seat for convenience. A funeral program can also serve as a token, memento, or keepsake for those who attended the funeral service of their loved one that passed away.
What should a funeral program include?
A funeral program serves as a guide for the family and friends to navigate through the memorial service. It is a reference document that includes the order of the memorial service. It can also be a keepsake to remember their deceased loved one. It can also be used to share the obituary of their deceased loved one and include some of their photos and special memories.
What are the different elements of a funeral program?
Special cover
- Includes a photo of the deceased and a meaningful theme (doves, flowers, cross)
- Name of the deceased, birth and death dates, the location where the memorial service is held, the time the service will be held, name of the officiant, and the title for the funeral program
Inside left
- Share a poem, quote, saying, or the favorite scripture from the Bible of the deceased
Inside right
- This includes the order of the funeral service. It outlines the order of the events for the funeral service.
- The content of this section is affected by the religious and cultural beliefs of the deceased. If the funeral service is going to be run by the religious clergy, the family of the deceased must contact their religious officiates. The funeral director has the information and can provide the service outline for the funeral service program.
Religious based
- Musical prelude, processional, prayer, song number (hymn), funeral readings (scripture reading from the Bible), acknowledgments, card and condolences, obituary reading, eulogy, final viewing, benediction, recessional, internment, and committal location
Secular based
- Secular music, his or her favorite song or poem, quotes, sayings, tributes, eulogies, and impromptu words from family and friends.
Here is an example of a funeral service:
- Opening song
- Welcome message or Prayer
- Scripture reading
- Special song number
- Sermon/ eulogy
- Scripture reading
- Special song number
- Closing prayer or closing remarks
- Dismissal (end of memorial service)
Or it can be this format where the key information will be listed such as:
- Name of the deceased
- Birth and death dates
- Location of funeral service and time
- Name of the officiant
- Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers
- Name of Speaker
- Location of the burial site
Back
- A thank you message from the family obituary of the loved one
- The content of a funeral program may vary depending on the preference of the deceased’s family members. A funeral program usually includes a simple outline, important information and details, a photo of the deceased, and includes a design layout that fits the personality of the deceased loved one.
- An obituary can also be included in the funeral program. The obituary must include some of the highlights or accomplishments of the deceased’s life. It can also provide information on where the deceased was born, where they grew up, information about the surviving family members, and other information like hobbies, memories, and personal stories about the deceased. The obituary must include accurate dates and names.
Family members
- The immediate family must be listed first such as wife/husband, children, mother, father, and siblings. Secondly, the immediate family aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, grandparents, and grandchildren. Deceased family members can also be included to establish genealogy or relation of the deceased to his or her extended family.
Design Elements
Aside from the important written information included in the funeral program, design elements can also be included in the program to give it a more polished and personalized look. Family photos and photo collages can also be added to make the program a memento or keepsake for the family members and friends of the deceased. Memorial clipart can also be added like borders and frames on the photo of the deceased. The clipart that you can use can be a religious photo or flower. Use white space on the program so it will look organized and neat.
The back of the funeral program
This part can include a poem, a hymn, a favorite song, or a prayer. It can also include a favorite quote from a family member, a listing of pallbearers, flower bearers, and a short thank you message from the bereaved family.
When designing a funeral program, make sure to consider the personality and preferences of the loved one who passed away. You must consult the family members about important details. It should include important information and allow the personality traits of the loved one to shine through.
Funeral program wording and ideas
The wording and ideas that will be used in the funeral program may vary depending on the style of the memorial service.
Customizing funeral service programs
To make a funeral program more personal, you can consider the ideas below so you can create a memorable program for your loved one’s memorial service.
- Design and color – You must choose a theme and color that matches the personality of the deceased. You can choose flowers, stars, trees, etc.
- Tone – It can be formal or informal. For example, if the deceased is of high status or a member of the military or army, you must use a formal tone.
- Style types – The font or style you choose for the funeral program must reflect the mood of the event. If the memorial event is formal, you can use script styles that exude elegance while if the event is simple, you can use simple styles that have a modern look and low-key effect.
- Photos – Choose 1-3 photos of the deceased so you can include them in the program. You can also include more photos of the deceased such as his or her photo as a child, during their youth, with family members, or while working in the workplace.
When creating a funeral program for a deceased family member, you must remember that it should reflect the event. The design choices must honor the loved one. You can include family members and friends when creating something special to honor the deceased loved one. This funeral program can be a memento or a keepsake that family members and friends can treasure for years to come. It is something that those in attendance of the service can use as a token to remember their deceased loved one during special events.
The goal for create a funeral program is to honor your loved one who passed away. You must create the program according to the family’s preferences and consider the family’s traditions, religion and beliefs, and cultural influences.
Printing funeral programs
You can honor the memory of your loved one by preparing a memorial or funeral service. You can find a local company to help you with the printing of the funeral program for your deceased loved one. If you are based in Bakersfield California, you can rely on Personal Touch Printing for the printing of a funeral program for your loved one who passed away. You must coordinate accordingly so the funeral programs will be ready for the funeral or memorial service. You can check our gallery to see some examples of our previous work. To view our store to see our other services please click this link here.
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Based in Bakersfield California, we can provide custom prints such as funeral programs that can be used for your loved one’s memorial. If you have any questions regarding our services you can reach out to us anytime. Please contact us by calling us at 661-809-4807 or sending an inquiry email at personaltp.williams@gmail.com. Choose Personal Touch Printing so that we can help you honor your loved one’s memory.
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