The funeral programme — sometimes called an order of service, a memorial booklet, or a tribute programme — is one of the most lasting physical artefacts of a funeral. Long after the flowers have faded and the food has been eaten, the programme sits in a drawer, a Bible, or a memory box, pulled out on anniversaries and quiet evenings.

Getting it right matters. This guide covers everything you need to include, how to structure it, and how to make it something the family will treasure.

What Is a Funeral Programme?

A funeral programme is a printed or digital document distributed at the funeral service. It serves two purposes: a practical guide to the service (so guests know what is happening and when) and a memorial tribute to the person who has passed (so guests leave with something that honours their life).

In many communities — particularly Ghanaian, Nigerian, Caribbean, and other African diaspora communities — the funeral programme is an elaborate, booklet-style document. In others, it is a simple folded card. Both are valid. What matters is that it reflects the person.

The Essential Elements

Cover

The cover should include:

  • A clear, beautiful photograph of the deceased
  • Their full name (including maiden name and any traditional or honorary titles)
  • Date of birth and date of passing
  • A short quote, scripture, or phrase — something they said often, a line from their faith, or a sentence that captures who they were

The design should be dignified. Choose colours that reflect the funeral's theme or the person's personality. Many families use the family's traditional colours or the church's palette.

Order of Service

This is the practical section — a chronological guide to the service. Include:

  • Opening prayer or processional
  • Welcome and introduction
  • Hymns or songs (with lyrics if guests are expected to sing)
  • Scripture readings (with full reference)
  • Tributes (who is speaking and their relationship to the deceased)
  • Sermon or eulogy
  • Committal or final prayers
  • Recessional
  • Reception details (where and when)

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Biography / Life Story

This is the heart of the programme. Write it as a narrative — not a bullet list of dates, but a story of a life. Include:

  • Where and when they were born
  • Their childhood, upbringing, and family background
  • Education and career
  • Marriage and family
  • Faith and community involvement
  • What they were known for
  • How they will be remembered

In Ghanaian and Nigerian programmes, the biography often includes the person's hometown, clan, and family lineage — information that is deeply meaningful to extended family and community.

Family Listing

List the immediate family: spouse, children, grandchildren, and any other close relatives the family wishes to name. In many African and Caribbean traditions, this section is detailed — naming siblings, in-laws, and even significant friends of the family.

Include both those who survive and those who preceded the deceased in death.

Tributes

Short written tributes from key people — a spouse, a child, a sibling, a close friend, a church elder, or a colleague. Keep each tribute to one or two paragraphs. Too many tributes can make the programme feel like a collection of speeches rather than a cohesive document.

If there are more tributes than can fit, consider creating a digital memorial page where all tributes can be collected without length restrictions.

Photographs

A good programme includes several photographs — not just the cover image. Consider including:

  • A formal portrait
  • A family photograph
  • A photo from a meaningful occasion
  • A childhood photograph if available

Keep image quality high. Blurry or very small photographs diminish the overall quality of the document.

Acknowledgements and Thank You

A short message from the family thanking those who have supported them — the church, the funeral home, friends who travelled, and anyone who helped organise the service. This is typically placed on the back page.

QR Code

Increasingly, families are including a QR code on the back of the funeral programme. When scanned, it links to the digital memorial page — where guests can view more photographs, leave tributes, and return to remember in the weeks and months ahead.

This is particularly valuable for large services where not everyone will have the chance to speak, and for family members who are attending remotely.

How Long Should It Be?

There is no fixed rule. A simple service may need only a four-page folded card. A large Ghanaian or Nigerian home-going celebration may produce a forty-page booklet. Let the person and the service guide you.

Design Tips

  • Use a consistent font pairing. A serif font for headings (elegant) and a readable sans-serif for body text works well.
  • Leave white space. A crowded programme feels rushed. Space allows the eye to rest.
  • Print on quality paper. The weight and texture of the paper matters more than most people expect.
  • Proofread three times. Names, dates, and scripture references are the most common sources of errors.

Digital Programmes

An increasing number of families are producing digital funeral programmes — either as a PDF or as a full memorial page — in addition to or instead of print. Digital programmes can be shared instantly via WhatsApp and email, accessed by family worldwide, and updated after the service if details change.

A digital memorial page serves as a living, permanent version of the printed programme — one that can grow over time as more memories, photos, and tributes are added.

The programme is what guests take home. Make it worthy of the person it honours.