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Guide to Funeral
Programs
What is a Funeral Program?
The funeral program is the printed instrument used by funeral homes &
funeral directors that communicate the highlights and life achievements
of a decease person. The memorial 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 Program 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 also be
included along with the location of the funeral service. It’s 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 Written 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’s a great idea to
highlight the spouse and the immediate family of the decease,
recognizing them during 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 Survivor Members
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.
Reverse 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.
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.
The family acknowledgment is a short thank you from the family. Here is
an example Family Acknowledgment:
The Jackson
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!
The funeral
home final arrangements is 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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