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Funeral Program Explained in Detail
By Titus Gerard
The funeral program is the printed instrument used by
funeral homes & funeral directors that communicate the
highlights and life achievements of the decease. The
program is prepared from the collection of data
retrieved by the bereaved family. Here we will examine
the most important parts of a funeral program.
The Layout
The funeral program consists of four main sections. The
first section of the memorial program is the cover or
main tribute page. Here you will list the full legal
name of the decease including nicknames shown in
(parenthesis).
Date of birth and date of death should also be
highlighted on the front cover of the program. The date
and time of the funeral services should be included
along with the location of the funeral service. It is
important to have these dates correctly noted on the
program as they communicate vital information about the
decease. In many cases employers will accept the funeral
program as proof of attending a funeral or memorial
service. You may also personalize the cover of the
funeral program with a photo of the decease, a famous
saying or a biblical verse.
Order of Service
The next section of the funeral program is the order of
service and or funeral rites. In many cultures there is
a variety of different customs associated with death.
Many of them are connected with the transition of the
soul, and laying the soul of the decease finally to
rest. You may want to contact the Officiating Minister,
Eulogist or Pastor for the outline of the order of
service. The funeral home may also be a good source of
information for an outline for a order of service.
The order of service provides a time where family and
friends can participate in a combined activity of
remembrance for the deceased. A typical Order of Service
will include: Opening Prayer by the Officiating
Minister, Musical Selections, the Eulogy, Obituary
Reading, Poem Tributes, Acknowledgments Cards &
Condolences, Remarks & Interment (Burial Location).
During the funeral or memorial service there may be a
section where the funeral director displays a final
viewing of the decease.
The Obituary
In this section of the funeral program the deceases life
is highlighted in a biography listing all the
achievements and accomplishments that he/she made in
life. It is also a known tradition to include personal
information about the decease such as the city and state
he/she was born, education, work history, special
interests and hobbies, associations of local an national
organizations, volunteer work and military ranking &
credentials. It is a great idea to highlight the spouse
and the immediate family of the decease, recognizing
them publicly during the funeral services.
All of the information that is included in the obituary
should be double checked for accuracy in the dates,
times and places of events. You can contact other family
members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues and former
employers to verify most information.
Listing the Survivors
The survivors of the deceased should be listed starting
with the immediate family such as mother, father,
sisters and brothers. Then expand the family list by
including: aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, grand
parents and grand children. It is also customary to
include predeceased family members in the obituary. The
main reason for including predeceased family members is
genealogy. Genealogy is the study and tracing of family
pedigrees. This involves the collection of the names of
relatives, both living and deceased, and establishing
the relationships among them based on primary, secondary
and/or circumstantial evidence or documentation, thus
building up a cohesive family tree.
Back Cover
The final section of the funeral program includes: a
Tribute Poem, Pall Bearers, Flower Bearers,
Acknowledgements and Funeral Home Arrangements.
The tribute poem should somehow reflect on the life of
the decease. There are many funeral poems available on
the Internet or you may ask the funeral director to
assist you in finding a suitable poem.
Pall Bearers & Flower Bearers
The pall bearers are the selected gentlemen that assist
in carrying the casket. The Flower Bearers are the
selected women that assist in carrying the flowers. Both
should be recorded in the funeral program by name, as it
is an act of recognition and honor to the decease.
Acknowledgment
The acknowledgment is a short thank you from the family.
Here is an example Family Acknowledgment: The Smith
family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the
many expressions of love, concern and kindness shown to
them during this hour of bereavement. May God Bless and
Keep You!
Final Arrangements Entrusted To:
The funeral home arrangements or final arrangements are
documented by listing the funeral home and funeral
directors who performed professional services. It is
always a good idea to document the professional services
of the funeral home and funeral director. It is a kind
gesture that simply states that the care of your loved
one was entrusted to the funeral home of your choice.
In every case the funeral program should reflect the
precious memories and life highlights of the deceased.
It should be treated as a document of high importance.
Funeral programs provide a great source of documented
information about the decease and family history. The
funeral program is the most widely used keepsake that is
distributed at the funeral. Funeral programs are kept in
the family by the family for many years.
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