A funeral program is just a small part of a memorial or funeral service, yet it plays a significant role. This simple brochure is also known as an order of service which is usually distributed to the guests. In this document, you will see a summary of the process of the service. Sometimes it can even consist of a short overview of the accomplishments and milestones of the deceased.
Just like the other features in a memorial or funeral service, programs are not necessarily required. However, they can be an excellent feature for honoring your loved ones. At the same time, it can create happy memories with the attendees. If you are planning to accompany a program on the funeral service of your loved one, then the following tips can help you.
Should You Outsource, or Do It Yourself?
Although planning a funeral can be an overwhelming task, you might still find some time to create your own funeral program. When you do an outline of the life of your loved one, you might find it can be therapeutic and healing. At the same time, it can help you imagine what will happen during the memorial or funeral service. This can be reassuring on your part.
On the other hand, if you find that making the funeral program might be too hard for you or you don’t have some extra time to do it, then you can always outsource them. You can let an online service or a printer make the program for you. When done, they can mail the program to you.
However, you still might need to supply them with some information that will be required in the program as well as a photo of the deceased. The printer or online service will also need some guidance from you with regards to the art that will be included, the type of paper to be used, and the font for the program.
What Should a Funeral Program Consist Of?
Most often, a funeral program is a folded document that looks like a greeting card. One of the famous styles is to include a large photo of the deceased on the cover. Aside from the image, it also includes the name, date of birth, and date of death of the deceased. The inside pages will include the events during the service as well as the obituary. Poems or scripture readings that will be read during the service can also be included.
If you want to save money, then the best option is to make a one-page program. If you want to choose this style, then you can place a small photo of your loved one at the top of the page. Then, you will have to include their name, life, and death dates as well as the events during the service.
At the back of the page, you can place a short obituary. However, this is only optional, it is not actually necessary. Some of the things that you can include in your funeral program are the full name of the deceased, their date of birth and date of death, a photo of your loved one, an obituary as well as the events for the service.
How to Choose Funeral Program Templates
If you want to make and print your own funeral programs, then funeral program templates can greatly help you. There are a lot of places where you can find these templates. There are free websites that offer templates that you can download. All you have to do is enter some personal information, then add some design elements. Although you can simply use Microsoft Word or any other text editing software, using templates can make your funeral program look more polished and professional.
Why Are Funeral Programs Essential?
Funeral programs can help in making the event more organized for the family of the deceased and other guests. Simplicity and organization are essential, most especially when you are in grief. However, making a funeral program shouldn’t add more stress or burden to what you are feeling right now.
If you have some time, then the funeral program can be added to the memorial service. However, it should not add to your burden, especially when you are in a time of grief. That is why when it comes to making a funeral program, it is important that you have to make a well-informed decision depending on your particular circumstances.
What is a Funeral Program?
Also known as the funeral order of service, funeral pamphlet, or funeral brochure, the funeral program is the document distributed during the memorial or funeral service. It summarizes the important points that will happen during the memorial or funeral service.
Consequently, it also includes the achievements and milestones of the deceased. Aside from giving out printed documents, you can also choose to distribute the memorial or funeral programs electronically. For instance, you can post them through memorial websites and social media networks or send them through email.
Usually, the members of the family will gather around to prepare the information needed to be included in the funeral program. When creating the document, you can ask for some help from the church, funeral home, or graphic designer. Or if you want to make your funeral program unique and personalized, then you can use funeral program templates. You can use your own computer and printer in making your funeral program.
Some of the relevant information that can be included in funeral programs is an image with background graphics or clipart along with a caption, an expressive obituary, an outline of the services, memorial clipart, or memorial photo collages as well as funeral scriptures and poems.
Funeral Program Cover
There are many sections that can be included in the funeral programs. The cover of the funeral program should include the complete name of the deceased, the photo of the deceased, the time and location of the service, life and death dates, the officiant, and most of all, it should have a title. Some examples of titles are Homegoing Celebration, In Loving Memory, and Celebration of Life.
Order of Memorial Service
Another important section in the funeral program is the order of memorial service. This section lists down the order of events that will occur during the memorial service. The information that is included in this part will greatly depend on the cultural and religious beliefs of your loved one. If the religious clergy runs the service, then it is recommended that you should get in touch with your religious officiates. Also, you can contact the funeral director if you need some information or a sample of an outline of the memorial service.
Typically, an order of service that is religious-based might include a musical prelude, prayers, processional, funeral readings, song, cards, condolences, acknowledgments, obituary reading, final viewing, eulogy, recessional, Benediction, and interment.
An order of service that is more secular based may include eulogies and tributes, secular music, favorite poems or quotes, song, and impromptu comments from family and friends. You can check the internet for more ideas about the order of service.
Obituary
A written obituary is something that you can also include in your funeral program. It contains the details of the life of the deceased. For instance, where your loved one was born and had lived, details about their family such as their spouse and children, as well as any other important information such as their hobbies or stories that they have shared.
Keep in mind that the information included in the obituary should be accurate, most especially, the names and the dates. For your reference, you can see some newspaper obituaries or sample obituaries.
List of Any Surviving Family Members
The first on the list should be the immediate family members such as the father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Next are the uncles, aunts, in-laws, cousins, grandparents, and grandchildren. You could also include predeceased family members so the relation of the deceased to an extended family or the genealogy can be established.
Design Elements
Aside from the written information, you could also include other design elements to make it personalized and more polished. Adding pictures of family and friends or photo collages can make your program a special memento or keepsake.
Another option would be to add some memorial clipart including frames on text and photos, and fancy borders. Clipart can be used for describing the personality of your loved one such as a favorite flower or a religious image. To make your funeral program look neat and well-organized, you can use separators and flourishes.
The Back Portion of the Funeral Program:
On the back portion of the funeral program, you can place a prayer, song, or a memorial poem. There are different things that you can put on the final section of the program such as the list of pallbearers, a personal quote from the family, the names of the flower bearers, or acknowledgments from the family.
When creating a funeral program, it is important to understand that you are making a keepsake that highlights the life of the deceased. The funeral program should showcase the unique personality of your loved one.
Personal Touch Printing can help you in designing your Funeral Program. We also make posters and DVDs. For more information, you can call us at 661-809-4807 or send us an email at personaltp.williams@gmail.com.
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