When someone you love dies, the list of things to do can feel endless, and it arrives at the exact moment you have the least energy to face it. This free checklist is meant to carry some of that weight for you, so you don’t have to hold every detail in your head.
It’s two simple printable pages. Take it one step at a time. You don’t have to do everything today.
No email or sign-up needed. Print it at home, or save it on your phone.
What’s Inside
Page One: The First Few Days
- Right away: who to call first, finding written wishes or a prepaid plan, and arranging help at home.
- What to gather for the funeral home: the personal details, documents, clothing, and photo you’ll be asked for, including military discharge papers (DD-214) for a veteran.
- Decisions to make: burial or cremation, the type of service, the date and place, who will officiate, military honors, and how many death certificates to order.
- Important numbers & notes: a lined space to write down phone numbers and details as they come.
Page Two: Planning the Service
- People to ask: pallbearers, readers, the eulogy, music, and someone to greet guests.
- Writing & printing: the obituary, readings and music, photos, and the funeral program.
- The day of the service: the small things that are easy to forget, like pens for the guest book and tissues.
- The weeks after: thank you cards, notifying Social Security, banks, and employers, veteran benefits, and a reminder to be gentle with yourself.
How to Use It
- Share the load. Print a few copies and let family members each take a section.
- Keep it with you. Bring it to the funeral home meeting so nothing gets missed.
- Skip what doesn’t apply. Every family and every service is different. Use only what helps.
When You Get to the Program
Our funeral program templates are editable in free Canva and ready to print at home or any copy shop. If it’s all too much right now, we can build the whole program for you.
Browse Canva Funeral Program Templates →Have Us Build It for You →You May Also Find Helpful
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- Memorial Resource Library
Feel free to share this checklist with anyone who needs it, including hospices, churches, and funeral homes. — Noted & Charmed