What is the most common title on a funeral program cover?

'In Loving Memory', followed by 'Celebrating the Life of' and 'A Celebration of Life'. Catholic programs often use 'Mass of Christian Burial'; Black church tradition uses 'A Homegoing Celebration for'; Episcopal services, 'A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of'.

How do I write the dates on a funeral program?

'March 19, 1965 – August 5, 2026' with an en dash and spaces, under the name. Small cards often carry the years alone: '1965 – 2026'.

How do I list survivors with their spouses?

The child's name with the spouse in parentheses: 'her children, Sarah (James) Ellison-Park and Thomas (Ann) Ellison'. Grandchildren by first name. Those who died before go under 'preceded in death by'.

What do I write instead of 'in lieu of flowers'?

Name a charity, or give an instruction the person would have given: 'plant something that comes back every year', 'take a kid fishing', 'read to a child tonight'. If flowers are welcome, say nothing or name the funeral home.

Do I have to include pallbearers?

Only if there are any. Where there is no casket — a cremation, a memorial service — the section is left out and the program closes up the space.

Funeral Program Wording: Every Section, With Examples

Exact wording for every part of a funeral program — cover, order of service, survived by, pallbearers, acknowledgement, in lieu of flowers, closing line.

Most of the wording in a funeral program is fixed by long custom, which is a mercy: you do not have to invent it. This page gives the standard wording for every section, with the alternatives families use, so you can copy what fits and change a word or two.

The cover

A title line, the name, the dates, and the service. Titles: In Loving Memory (the most common), Celebrating the Life of, A Celebration of Life, In Memory of, A Homegoing Celebration for (Black church tradition), A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of (Episcopal and Anglican), Mass of Christian Burial, Forever in Our Hearts. The name in full, with a nickname in quotation marks if it was what people called them: Robert "Bob" Lee Hastings. Dates as "March 19, 1965 – August 5, 2026" (an en dash, spaces both sides), or the years alone on a small card. Then the service: "Memorial Service · Saturday, August 22, 2026 · 10:00 a.m." and the venue and address.

The order of service

One item per line, the item then a dash then who: "Reading — Psalm 23, read by Karen Jensen." A traditional Protestant order: Prelude · Processional · Welcome · Opening Prayer · Hymn · Scripture Reading · Remembrances · Eulogy · Hymn · Prayers · Benediction · Recessional. A Catholic Mass: Entrance Hymn · Greeting · First Reading · Responsorial Psalm · Second Reading · Gospel · Homily · Prayers of the Faithful · Offertory · Communion · Words of Remembrance · Final Commendation · Recessional. A celebration of life: Gathering · Welcome · Music · Reading · Remembrances · Eulogy · Open Floor · Closing Words. The editor on this site has all three as starting points under the order-of-service library, ready to edit.

Survived by

"She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Robert; her children, Sarah (James) Ellison-Park and Thomas (Ann) Ellison; her grandchildren, Margaret, Robert and Hale; her brother, John (Kay) Hale; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Margaret Hale." Spouses in parentheses after the child; "preceded in death by" for those who died before. Partners, stepchildren and close friends are listed in the words the family uses: "her partner of twenty years," "his stepdaughter," "her dear friend."

Pallbearers

A heading, then names one per line, six or eight. Honorary pallbearers — those who do not carry but are honoured — under a second heading: "Honorary Pallbearers: The Tuesday Trail Crew." Where there are none, the section is left out; the program simply closes up.

Readings and verses

Give the reference and the reader: "Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, read by Erik Lindqvist." Print the text in full only when the family wants people to follow along or take it home — a verse on the back cover is usual. The verse library has Psalm 23, 1 Corinthians 13, John 14, Ecclesiastes 3, the Irish blessing and forty others, each in a length that fits a program page.

Interment and reception

"Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh." "Private interment at a later date." "Her ashes will be scattered on the Boardman River, as she asked." Then: "The family invites you to join them for lunch in the parish hall following the service." For a celebration of life, plainer: "Chili and cornbread at the pavilion after the walk. Bring a chair and a story."

In lieu of flowers

"In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to [charity] in Margaret's name." Or the newer kind: "In lieu of flowers, plant something that comes back every year." "Take a kid fishing." "Please read to a child tonight." Where the family welcomes flowers, say nothing, or "Flowers may be sent to [funeral home]."

The acknowledgement

Almost always in the same shape: "The family wishes to thank [the nurses of X hospice, Dr. Y, Pastor Z, the neighbours who…] for their kindness and care. Your prayers, visits, cards and casseroles have carried us." Name specific people; a general thank-you means less than three names.

The closing line

A verse, a line of a poem, or the person's own saying, on the back cover under the photo: "Well done, good and faithful servant." "Keep your face to the sun." "Measure twice." "Take the long way home." One line. The families whose programs people keep are usually the ones that ended with something the person actually said.

Signing off

"With love, the Whitfield family" or "The family of Anne Bergstrom." The welcome sign at the door: "Welcome to the memorial service for" above the name. The thank-you card: "Thank you for your kindness, your presence and your prayers. Your support has meant more than we can say. — The Jensen family."

All of this is a field in the editor — you type the words once and every piece uses them. Choose a design and start, or read what to include in a funeral program first.

Questions

What is the most common title on a funeral program cover?: 'In Loving Memory', followed by 'Celebrating the Life of' and 'A Celebration of Life'. Catholic programs often use 'Mass of Christian Burial'; Black church tradition uses 'A Homegoing Celebration for'; Episcopal services, 'A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of'.
How do I write the dates on a funeral program?: 'March 19, 1965 – August 5, 2026' with an en dash and spaces, under the name. Small cards often carry the years alone: '1965 – 2026'.
How do I list survivors with their spouses?: The child's name with the spouse in parentheses: 'her children, Sarah (James) Ellison-Park and Thomas (Ann) Ellison'. Grandchildren by first name. Those who died before go under 'preceded in death by'.
What do I write instead of 'in lieu of flowers'?: Name a charity, or give an instruction the person would have given: 'plant something that comes back every year', 'take a kid fishing', 'read to a child tonight'. If flowers are welcome, say nothing or name the funeral home.
Do I have to include pallbearers?: Only if there are any. Where there is no casket — a cremation, a memorial service — the section is left out and the program closes up the space.

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