Four Extras To Improve A Funeral Program

Funeral programs are traditionally printed documents that are handed out at a funeral. They list the order of services, so people know what to expect during the memorial service. They also typically give information about the deceased person and may summarize the person's achievements.

When you go beyond the basics, though, you can best help others remember your loved one and provide an even greater comfort to mourners. Try these four extras to improve a funeral program.

Include a Bio through Photographs

While most funeral programs do include a brief biography of the person who passed away, you can help others see beyond the basics when you include a series of photographs that reveal the person's biography in a visual way, too. An arrangement of pictures that show the person throughout a lifetime, from birth through the many phases of a life well-lived, can be extremely meaningful to those who attend the funeral.

Have a Page of Fun Facts

Sometimes people forget to include a sense of fun in a funeral program, but there is no need to accentuate the inherent sadness of the funeral itself. That will be there even if you have some light-hearted gestures in the funeral program. Include a page of fun facts to help others appreciate some more personal aspects of the person who passed away.

Give Written Thanks to Helpers

Oftentimes many people come together to provide help at the end of a person's life, and sometimes relatives really step up when you need them after a loved one passes away. Consider adding a "thank you" page to the funeral program. It can simply thank the people who were especially helpful in the person's life. Try to be thorough when making this list and acknowledge that some may be accidentally left out.

Empower Mourners to Remember with Actions

One thing that many people want to do after a funeral is be useful and helpful. You can empower mourners to do just that by suggesting two to five ways that a person can take actions to help in memory of the loved one. For example, you may have a fundraising campaign with proceeds going to a charity the person loved, or you may suggest volunteering at a certain food pantry the person assisted. Customize the suggested actions to things that would be meaningful to the lost loved one.

Finally, keep in mind that each funeral program should be as unique as the person whose life is being celebrated. You don't have to stick to a formula, and only you can determine what would best work as a tribute to your loved one. Trust yourself to make the right decisions on the funeral program and ask for help from friends and family if you need it.


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