Funeral program template: 12 editable designs you can finish tonight

What is inside the funeral program templates

The $15 download is built for the person who has two days to make something good. You get twelve designs, each in three layouts, plus pages most families forget until the night before.

• Bifold program. One letter-size sheet (8.5 x 11 inches) folded to 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Four pages: cover, order of service, life story, and a closing page for thanks and pallbearers.
• Trifold program. One sheet folded in thirds, six panels. Good for a longer obituary, a photo collage or a hymn the congregation will sing.
• Single sheet. Front and back on one page. A simple option for a graveside service or a small memorial.
• Order-of-service page with sample wording for a church funeral, a memorial service and a celebration of life, so you are not guessing what goes where.
• Matching prayer-card layouts at 2.75 x 4.25 inches, four to a sheet, to cut and hand out with the program.
• A print guide with paper weights, print-shop questions and a proofreading checklist.

Every design uses a readable serif or sans font, leaves room for a photograph, and is laid out so a long name or an extra verse does not break the page. See the funeral order of service guide if you are still deciding the running order.

How it works in 3 steps

1. Buy and download. Check out securely and download the files straight away. There is nothing to wait for and no account to create.
2. Add their name, then edit in Canva, Word or Google Docs. Pick your favorite of the 12 designs and type their name, dates and he or she once, so every page arrives filled in. Then replace the sample life story, photo and order of service. The layout stays in place.
3. Print at home or at a print shop. Print on your home printer tonight, or send the PDF to a print shop and pick up folded programs the next day.

Most families finish a program in an evening: an hour to gather the facts and a photo, an hour to type, and then proofreading by someone who is not too close to it. Ask a second person to read every name aloud before you print.

What to put in a funeral program

A funeral program is a keepsake and a map. It tells guests what is happening, in what order, and who the service is for. Here is what goes on each page, with wording you can borrow.

1. The cover

A full name, the dates (birth and death years are enough), a photograph, and one short line. Common lines: “In loving memory,” “Celebrating the life of,” “A service of witness to the resurrection.” Add the service date, time and place at the bottom if the program will be shared before the day.

2. A short obituary or life story

Four to six sentences is plenty. Lead with who they were, not how they died. Here is a sample you can adapt.

Margaret Ellen Hart, 84, of Dayton, Ohio, died on March 3, 2026, with her family beside her. Born in Springfield on June 12, 1941, she worked for thirty-one years as a school librarian and sang alto in the choir at Grace Methodist Church. She loved crossword puzzles, her rose garden and a good cup of coffee. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Tom; her daughters, Anne (Mark) Delgado and Beth Hart; four grandchildren; and her sister, Jean. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Paul.

3. The order of service

List each part in order, with the name of the person leading. Guests are grateful to know when to stand, who is speaking and when the service will end.

• Prelude
• Welcome and opening prayer — Pastor James Cole
• Hymn: “It Is Well with My Soul”
• Scripture: Psalm 23 — read by Anne Delgado
• Life story — Beth Hart
• Tributes — Jean Brandt and Dolores Park
• Message of hope — Pastor Cole
• Prayers and the Lord’s Prayer
• Benediction
• Committal at Oak Hill Cemetery, followed by lunch in Fellowship Hall

Need a different format? See the funeral order of service for a church funeral, memorial service, celebration of life and Catholic funeral Mass.

4. A poem, verse or prayer

One short piece gives guests something to hold. Scripture is a common choice. This is from the King James Version:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. (Psalm 23:1–3, KJV)

More ideas: Bible verses for a funeral. A short original prayer works too: “God of all comfort, thank you for Margaret. Thank you for her songs, her gardens and her love. Hold us now, and help us hold each other. Amen.”

5. An acknowledgment

The back page is a good place to thank people, and to answer questions before they are asked: where to go afterward, where to send memorials.

The family of Margaret Hart is deeply grateful for the prayers, flowers, food and kindness shown to us. We thank Pastor James Cole, the staff of Miami Valley Hospice, and the Grace Methodist choir. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dayton Public Library. Please join us for lunch in Fellowship Hall.

6. Names that matter

Pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, musicians and readers belong on the program. Double-check spelling with each person, and list the officiant and the cemetery.

Template vs. funeral-home printed programs

Funeral homes do beautiful work, and some include basic programs in their packages. If yours does and you like the result, use it. A template is for families who want to write the program themselves, who want it printed somewhere else, or who would rather not pay extra for it.

Printing tips for funeral programs

• At home. Choose “actual size,” not “fit to page.” Print one copy first and fold it. Use matte paper for a calm look.
• At a print shop. Send the PDF and ask for “letter size, double-sided, folded in half.” Ask when it will be ready and whether they fold. Pick up a few days early if the schedule is tight.
• How many. Count the guests you expect and add 25 to 50 percent. Extra copies are a gift to relatives who could not come.
• Proofread. Read the names, dates and times aloud. Have someone else read them too. Most errors survive because the person who wrote the program is too tired to see them.

While you are at it, you might want the eulogy. The Eulogy Writer turns your memories into a draft, and eulogy examples show what a finished one sounds like. Afterward, the thank-you card wording is ready when you are.