How to write a funeral programme
A funeral programme is a one-page map of the service. It tells people what happens next, who is speaking, and when to stand, sing or pray. It does not need to be elaborate — it needs to be clear.
What goes on the front cover
- A photograph of the person who died
- Their full name, including the name family and colleagues actually used
- Date of birth and date of passing
- The date, time and place of the service
The order of service
Most South African services, whether in a church hall, a mosque, a home or at the graveside, follow a version of this order. Adapt the wording to your faith and family tradition.
- Opening and welcome by the programme director
- Opening prayer or scripture reading
- Hymn or song
- Obituary — a short reading of the life story
- Tributes from family, friends and the workplace (keep each to three minutes)
- Sermon or message of comfort
- Acknowledgements and thanks from the family
- Announcements — the route to the cemetery, the meal afterwards
- Closing prayer and recessional
Writing the obituary section
Keep it to roughly 200 to 300 words. Cover where they were born, their family, their schooling and work, what they loved, and who they leave behind. Read it out loud before you print it — if you stumble, shorten the sentence.
Tributes: how many, and how long
Three to five speakers is usually enough: one family member, one friend, one from work or church. Print their names and their relationship to the person so the programme director does not have to guess. Ask each speaker to keep to three minutes and tell them that in writing beforehand.
Practical printing notes
- Print about 20% more copies than the number of people you expect
- A4 folded to A5 is the most common and cheapest format
- Use a font size no smaller than 11pt — many mourners are older
- Put the family's thank-you message on the back page
- Add a QR code to an online tribute page so people who cannot travel can still leave a message
For HR teams
If a colleague has died, the workplace usually contributes one tribute and helps share the service details. Send the details once, clearly, and give staff a single private place to leave messages instead of a long reply-all email thread. That page can also carry your Employee Assistance Programme details, so anyone struggling knows where to call.
Create a private tribute page
Share service details, print the QR code on your programme, and let family and colleagues leave condolence messages in one quiet place. Private — link and QR only.