Finding the right words is often the hardest part of making a funeral program. I remember staring at a blank page, knowing exactly who I was writing about and still not knowing how to begin. When you're grieving, even a simple sentence can feel impossible.
So here are words to lean on. Below are wording examples for every section of a program. Use them as written, mix and match, or change a word or two so they sound like your family. If you're still deciding what sections to include, start with our guide on what to include in a funeral program.
Cover Titles
The line above or below the name sets the tone for the whole program.
Traditional
- In Loving Memory of
- In Memory of
- Funeral Service for
- Memorial Service Honoring
Warm and celebratory
- Celebrating the Life of
- A Celebration of Life
- A Life Well Lived
- Forever in Our Hearts
- Remembering with Love
Faith-based
- Homegoing Celebration for
- Called Home
- Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord
- A Service of Witness to the Resurrection
- Gone Home to Be with the Lord
Simple and modern
- Honoring
- Remembering
- With Love, for
Writing the Dates
There are a few ways to show birth and death dates. Choose the one that fits the tone of the cover:
- March 4, 1948 – October 2, 2026
- 1948 – 2026
- Sunrise: March 4, 1948 | Sunset: October 2, 2026
- Born March 4, 1948 | Entered Eternal Rest October 2, 2026
- Welcomed into the world March 4, 1948 | Welcomed home October 2, 2026
Service Details
Keep this clear and easy to scan:
Saturday, October 10, 2026
11:00 in the morning
Grace Community Church
123 Main Street, Springfield
Writing out "in the morning" or "in the afternoon" is a traditional touch, but "11:00 a.m." is perfectly fine.
From experience: Service times and locations change more often than you'd expect. Confirm them with the funeral home the day before you print, even if you're sure.
Welcome Lines
A short welcome on the first inside page helps guests feel received.
- Thank you for being here today to honor and remember [Name].
- Welcome. Your presence today means more to our family than words can say.
- We are grateful you have come to celebrate a life that touched so many.
- Today we gather not only to grieve, but to give thanks for the gift of [Name]'s life.
- [Name] would have loved seeing all of you here together.
Order of Service Headings
Most programs title this section one of these ways:
- Order of Service
- Order of Worship
- Program
- Celebration of Life Program
- Today's Service
Then list each part of the service, with names where they apply:
Opening Prayer ........ Pastor James Carter
Scripture Reading ........ Psalm 23
Reflections ........ Family and Friends
Eulogy ........ Michael Thompson, Son
Obituary Openings
Getting the first sentence down is often the hardest part. These openings can get you started:
- [Full Name], [age], of [Town], passed away peacefully on [date], surrounded by family.
- On [date], [Name] went home to be with the Lord.
- [Name] was born on [date] in [Town] to [Parents' Names], the [first/second/youngest] of [number] children.
- Anyone who met [Name] knew two things right away: [a trait] and [another trait].
- [Name] lived [number] years full of [laughter / hard work / faith / adventure], and left this world on [date].
From experience: Once you get started, you may find you have far more to say than will fit, and that's a good thing. Write it all, then save the full version for the funeral home's website or an online obituary, and keep a shorter version for the program.
For complete, ready-to-fill obituaries, see our fill-in-the-blank obituary templates.
Survived By and Preceded in Death
- [Name] is survived by [his/her] loving [wife/husband] of [number] years, [Name]; children...
- [He/She] leaves behind to cherish [his/her] memory...
- [Name] was preceded in death by [his/her] parents, [Names], and [his/her] brother, [Name].
- [He/She] joins in heaven [his/her] beloved [wife/husband], [Name].
From experience: Name spellings are where the most painful mistakes happen, especially for in-laws, step-family, and grandchildren. Ask a second family member to read every name before you print.
Pallbearers
- Pallbearers
- Those Who Carry [Name]
- Honorary Pallbearers
- Bearers of Love
Family Acknowledgment and Thank-You
This short message is usually on the back cover. Here are examples in different tones.
Simple
The family of [Name] thanks you for your prayers, kindness, and support during this time. Your presence today means so much.
Warm
Every card, meal, phone call, and hug has carried us through these days. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for loving [Name] and loving us.
Faith-based
The family of [Name] is deeply grateful for every prayer, visit, and act of love. May God bless each of you as you have blessed us.
Thanking caregivers
A special thank you to the nurses and staff of [Hospice Name], whose gentle care brought [Name] comfort and peace in [his/her] final days.
Need thank-you cards to match? See how to edit and print your thank-you cards.
Repast and Reception Invitations
- Please join the family for a time of fellowship and refreshments immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall.
- All are welcome to gather with us after the service at [Location], [Address].
- The family invites you to share a meal and your favorite stories of [Name] following the burial.
Interment Wording
- Interment will follow at [Cemetery Name], [City].
- Burial immediately following the service at [Cemetery Name].
- Private interment will be held at a later date.
- Final resting place: [Cemetery Name], [City, State].
In Lieu of Flowers
- In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [Organization] in [Name]'s memory.
- Those who wish may make a memorial gift to [Organization], a cause close to [Name]'s heart.
- In place of flowers, please consider a donation to [Organization], or simply do something kind for someone today, as [Name] always did.
Closing Lines
A final line at the bottom of the back cover gives the program a gentle ending:
- Forever loved. Forever missed.
- Until we meet again.
- Gone from our sight, never from our hearts.
- Well done, good and faithful servant.
- Rest easy. We'll take it from here.
- Love never ends.
For more short lines, browse our collection of funeral quotes for a program.
Put Your Words Into a Finished Program
Once you have your wording, drop it into a ready-made design. Our Canva-editable funeral program templates come with the layout already done, so you just click and type.
Have the Words but Not the Time?
If you've found your words but the thought of designing feels like too much right now, you can hand that part to us. With our Done-For-You Service, you do everything online in our Program Portal, no design skills needed:
- Pick your design and your finished size
- Choose exactly which pages go in your program, and in what order
- Fill in everything online: names, dates, obituary, order of service, and photos
- Save and finish later if you need to step away
We build your program and send you a proof to approve. Once approved, you receive a print-ready digital file to take to any print shop or print at home. The template is included.
Please note: This is a digital design service only. We do not print or ship physical programs.
Say It Your Way
There are no perfect words, only honest ones. If a line here doesn't sound like your family, change it. The wording that matters most is the wording that sounds like the person you're honoring.