How to Write a Memorial Program: What to Include and What to Skip

A memorial program is one of those small details that ends up doing big work. It gives people something steady to hold in their hands when emotions are high. It quietly answers practical questions (“What’s happening next?” “Who is speaking?” “What is this song?”) without forcing anyone to ask. And, for many families, it becomes a keepsake—tucked into a drawer, placed in a memory box, or scanned and shared with relatives who couldn’t attend.

If you’ve never created one before, it can be surprisingly easy to overthink. You may feel pressure to fit an entire life onto one page. Or you may be juggling different expectations from family, clergy, friends, and a funeral home. The good news is that a clear memorial program doesn’t try to be everything. It’s a simple guide to what’s happening—written for real humans, in real grief, who want to follow along without strain.

This guide walks you through how to write a memorial program in a way that is clean, readable, and kind. We’ll cover what to include, what to skip, and how to build a one-page layout that works for print or a PDF. We’ll also weave in practical considerations for modern services—like livestream links, cremation decisions, and meaningful keepsakes—so your program supports the moment you’re planning, not a fantasy version of it.

Start with what the program is actually for

Before you open a template or pick a font, it helps to name the program’s job in one sentence: “This is a simple roadmap for the service and a gentle keepsake for guests.” If you keep that in mind, you’ll make better decisions about what to include and what to leave out.

Today, memorial services also look more varied than they used to. Many families are choosing cremation and hosting gatherings that feel more personal, less formal, or more spread out across locations and time. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025 and is projected to rise to 82.3% by 2045. The Cremation Association of North America similarly reports a 2024 U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% and projects 67.9% by 2029. Those numbers matter here because they reflect a practical reality: your program may need to support a memorial that includes an urn placement, a scattering plan, or a later interment—rather than a traditional graveside flow.

That doesn’t mean your program needs to become a policy document. It simply means your program can gently help guests understand what’s happening, especially if your loved one chose cremation, if you’re holding a celebration of life after the cremation, or if you’re planning something like water burial at a later date.

What to include: the essentials that make the day easier

When families ask what to put in a program, what they’re usually asking is, “What will help people feel oriented?” The essentials are simple, and once you lay them out, the program nearly writes itself.

Service title and identity come first. “In Loving Memory of” is common, but you can also use “A Celebration of Life,” “Memorial Service,” or a phrase that matches your tone. Include the full name, and if your loved one was widely known by a nickname, include it in a way that feels natural. Dates (birth and death) can be included if you want, but you are not required to include every detail if it feels too raw.

Service details are the next anchor: date, time, location, and officiant (if applicable). If there is a reception afterward, you can include a short line about where people should go next. If the service is being livestreamed, include the link or a QR code reference in simple language. The National Funeral Directors Association notes that just over half of NFDA-member funeral homes offer livestreaming, with additional firms planning to add it—so it’s increasingly normal to include a digital participation option for distant guests.

Names and roles matter more than families often realize. Guests want to know who is speaking, who is leading a prayer or reading, and who is playing music. This is also a quiet way to honor the people who are helping carry the day. Keep it clean: “Officiant,” “Eulogy,” “Reading,” “Musician,” “Pallbearers” (if applicable), or “Honorary pallbearers.” If your service is informal, roles can be described in plain language—“Welcome,” “Sharing time,” “Closing words.”

The order of service is the heart of the program. The key is to write what will actually happen, in the sequence it will happen, using language a guest can understand at a glance. If you want examples of how other families phrase this, Funeral.com has practical guides you can reference, including Funeral Programs: What to Include, Examples, and Printing Options and Funeral Program Examples: Order of Service Layout, Wording, and Template Ideas.

Readings and music should be listed with enough clarity that guests recognize them. For a song, include the title and performer/composer. For a hymn, include the hymnal number if your community uses one. For a poem or scripture, include the reference and, if guests are expected to participate, include the text or where they can find it. A program is not a literary anthology; it’s a guide. Choose the pieces that will be used in the service and present them in a way people can follow without squinting.

Acknowledgments and thank-you language are optional, but often comforting. A short thank-you line can be as simple as, “Thank you for being here and for supporting our family.” If you are listing a charity or memorial fund, keep it short and legible. If you’re struggling to find wording that feels human, Funeral.com’s guide to quotes and verses can help you choose language that fits the space: Memorial Verses and Funeral Quotes: What to Write on Memorial Cards, Programs, and Keepsakes.

What to skip: the parts that make programs harder to read

The most common mistake families make is trying to fit too much life story into a small space. It comes from love, and it makes sense. But in practice, long biographies and dense paragraphs become unreadable in the moment. Guests are not sitting down with a cup of tea. They are arriving, hugging, finding a seat, and trying to hold themselves together. Your job is to make the page easy on their eyes.

Skip long blocks of text. If you want to include a life summary, keep it brief and skimmable. A program is not the same thing as an obituary. An obituary can be longer and can live online; a program should stay light enough to read in real time. If you have a long story you want preserved, consider putting it on a memorial website or including a longer insert as a separate page, rather than forcing it into the main program.

Skip overly formal language if it doesn’t match your family. “The family of the deceased requests the honor of your presence” may be traditional, but it can feel stiff for a casual celebration of life. Plain language is respectful. “Thank you for coming” is respectful. Your words don’t need to perform.

Skip full song lyrics or lengthy poems unless participation requires them. Copyright and space constraints aside, long lyrics in small font tend to look like a wall of text. A title and attribution often do the job. If there’s a communal hymn, a short excerpt may be appropriate, but keep readability as the priority.

Skip clutter. Multiple fonts, multiple alignments, too many decorative graphics, and too many photos can make the program feel busy. A memorial program can be beautiful without being elaborate. A single strong photo on the cover and one consistent font family is usually enough.

A clean one-page memorial program layout that works for print or PDF

Families often ask for a “one-page” program, and what they usually mean is a single sheet that prints cleanly and can also be shared digitally. The simplest approach is a front-and-back page (still “one page” in practical terms), but you can also keep everything on one side if the service is short and you avoid long text.

Think of the page like a gentle hierarchy. The top needs to tell guests where they are. The middle needs to guide them through what happens. The bottom can hold optional details like acknowledgments or a small quote.

• Top third: Name, service type, date, location, and one photo or meaningful image.
• Middle: funeral program order of service in plain language, plus names/roles.
• Bottom: Music/reading credits, a short quote, and a brief thank-you or donation line.

If your service includes participation—responsive readings, a hymn, or a group prayer—this is where many families choose a front-and-back format so the order of service stays clean while participation text sits on the reverse side. If you want a dedicated guide to structuring the service flow itself, Funeral.com’s order-of-service resource is a helpful companion: Funeral Order of Service: What to Include + Sample Layouts and Templates.

For readability, prioritize white space. Use a font size that feels generous in print (many families find that 11–12pt body text is the minimum for comfort, especially for older guests). Use bold sparingly for section labels, not for entire paragraphs. And if you are making a PDF, view it on a phone before you finalize it. If it’s hard to read on a small screen, it will feel hard to read in a hand.

How to write “program wording” that sounds human

In grief, even small decisions can feel heavy—especially wording decisions. When in doubt, aim for warmth and clarity over formality. Guests don’t need perfect phrasing; they need a steady tone.

For headings, simple labels work: “Welcome,” “Opening Words,” “Reading,” “Eulogy,” “Reflection,” “Closing,” “Reception.” If your family is religious, use the terms your community recognizes. If it’s nonreligious, plain language is still respectful. The program is there to help people follow along, not to prove anything about your family’s values.

For acknowledgments, a single sentence is enough. If you’re worried about leaving someone out, avoid listing too many names. You can thank “friends, family, clergy, caregivers, and everyone who supported us” without getting into a list that might accidentally miss someone important.

When cremation is part of the memorial: gently include the right details

If your loved one chose cremation, your memorial program may need to orient guests to a slightly different rhythm. Sometimes the cremation happened days or weeks before the service. Sometimes the urn will be present. Sometimes the family is planning scattering later and wants the memorial to be focused on sharing stories now. All of those choices are normal.

If an urn will be present, the program doesn’t need to explain it in detail. A simple line such as “Urn placement” or “Moment of reflection” can be enough. If you’re still deciding what kind of urn fits your loved one and the setting, browsing options can make the decision feel more concrete. Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes is a broad starting point, and if you know you want something smaller for a home shelf or a shared family arrangement, small cremation urns can be easier to compare quickly.

Families also ask about sharing ashes among siblings or households. That is where keepsake urns can help, because they’re designed for a small portion of remains and often coordinate with a larger urn style. If you’re in that stage of decision-making, it can also help to read guidance that frames the options without pressure, such as Funeral.com’s article on what to do with ashes.

For some families, the memorial program is also where they gently signal a later plan—like water burial or a private scattering. If you want to include a brief note, keep it simple: “A private scattering will take place at a later date.” If you are actively planning a sea ceremony, Funeral.com’s resources can help you understand the language and logistics, including Water Burial and Burial at Sea: What “3 Nautical Miles” Means and How Families Plan the Moment.

How keepsakes fit into a program without feeling salesy

Many families want the program to do double duty: guide the service and offer a meaningful keepsake. That doesn’t have to mean turning the program into a catalog. It can be as subtle as a small line inviting guests to sign a memory book, share a story card, or take a memorial card home.

If your family is keeping ashes at home, you may be thinking not just about an urn, but also about how remembrance will live day-to-day. Some families choose a main urn plus a wearable keepsake, especially when family members live far apart. If that resonates, cremation jewelry can be a gentle option, and cremation necklaces are often chosen because they’re familiar in form while carrying private meaning. For practical guidance, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 is a straightforward read.

For families navigating home placement and safety, the emotional side and the practical side both matter. If you’re weighing keeping ashes at home and want clear, grounded guidance, you may find this article useful: Keeping Cremation Ashes at Home in the US: Is It Legal, How to Store Them Safely, and Display Ideas.

Including a pet memorial: keep it just as clear, just as tender

Pet memorials often come with their own quiet intensity. People may worry that honoring a pet “too much” will be misunderstood, even though the grief is very real. The same program principles apply: keep it readable, keep it honest, and include only what helps guests follow along.

If you’re creating a celebration of life program for a pet, you can mirror the same structure: name, dates (if desired), a short line about the bond, and a simple order of service for the gathering. If an urn will be present, you don’t need elaborate explanation—just a clean cue in the flow.

When families are choosing memorial items for a pet, it can help to browse options that match the pet’s personality and the family’s home. Funeral.com’s pet cremation urns collection covers a wide range, and if you want something that feels like a small sculpture, pet figurine cremation urns are designed to be both memorial and display piece. For households who want to share, pet keepsake cremation urns can make that easier.

Where cost and planning decisions intersect with the program

A memorial program is not a budget document, but it sits inside real-world logistics. If you’re making choices about printing, venue, catering, livestreaming, or memorial items, it’s normal to feel the financial side creeping in. That is part of funeral planning, and you’re not alone in it.

When families are comparing burial and cremation, cost is often one factor among many. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that the national median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial in 2023 was $8,300, while the median cost of a funeral with cremation was $6,280. If you’re trying to make sense of the range behind those numbers and the choices that change totals quickly, Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost breaks the topic down in plain language.

The program itself can help reduce stress by preventing confusion that leads to last-minute reprints or frantic questions. A clear program is a small investment that often makes the day feel smoother—especially when you’re coordinating multiple speakers, music cues, or an informal sharing time.

Printing and sharing: make it easy for people to access

For printing, the most important choice is legibility. Matte paper tends to reduce glare. A standard letter-size sheet folded in half is common and easy for local printers. If you’re sharing digitally, export a PDF and keep the file name clear (“Memorial Program – [Name] – [Date].pdf”). If you include a livestream link, test it before you print.

If you want more detailed options about printing styles, paper, and whether to use local printing or an online option, you can reference Funeral Programs: What to Include, Examples, and Printing Options, which is designed to help families choose a practical path without overcomplicating the decision.

The goal: a program that feels steady, not heavy

At its best, a memorial program feels like a steady hand on the day of the service. It doesn’t try to summarize an entire life. It simply helps people show up, follow along, and honor someone well. If you keep it readable, honest, and uncluttered, you’ll create something that serves both the living moment and the lasting memory.

And if you find yourself stuck—on wording, on layout, on what to include—remember that you’re not failing. You’re doing a tender, practical task in the middle of grief. A simple program is not a “lesser” tribute. It’s often the most compassionate choice you can make for the people gathering with you.

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