What to Include in a Four-Page Funeral Program

Start with the information guests need

A four-page funeral program is a folded sheet: one cover, two inside pages, and one back page. It can guide guests through the service and give them something personal to keep. You do not have to fill every inch. Clear names, dates, and a readable order of service matter more than squeezing in every detail.

Before editing a template, gather the person's preferred name, life dates, a portrait, the service date and location, the sequence of the ceremony, and any message the family wants to include. Check spellings with someone close to the family before downloading the final file.

A useful page-by-page structure

This is a starting point, not a rule. Move or omit sections to suit the service and the amount of material you have.

• Cover: portrait, name, life dates, and the service date or a short remembrance line.
• First inside page: a brief biography or obituary, written in a voice that feels true to the person.
• Second inside page: order of service, including readings, music, speakers, and any moments guests should follow.
• Back page: acknowledgments, pallbearers, a poem, memorial contributions, or a short thank-you note.

Edit for the printed size

A US Letter sheet folded in half makes pages about 5.5 × 8.5 inches. A paragraph that looks comfortable on a computer screen can feel dense at that size. Read the preview at roughly the size of the finished booklet, and break long text into short paragraphs where possible.

Keep names and service details away from the fold. If a photo fills much of the cover, avoid placing small type over a busy part of the image. Print one test copy before making several copies; it is the easiest way to catch a reversed inside spread or text that is too small.