Thursday, May 30, 2013

How to Make a Template for an Obituary

The death of a loved one can be a traumatic time for those who are dealing with their loss.  Making funeral arrangements can seem overwhelming, and anything that makes these tasks a little easier make a huge difference.  Obituaries are an important means of honoring someone who has passed on, but many just do not know what to include.  Creating a template for an obituary will help ease the stress in these otherwise very difficult times.

Most obituaries are broken down into four or five categories, so you should make your template to reflect this.  You also have the option to offer obituaries of different lengths, however those would be set up a bit differently. 

The first step in making a standard obituary template is to ensure you have enough room for five sections.  Section one should be labeled “Name”.  You should also indent lines under this line to include areas for age, nicknames, place of birth or hometown, place of death, and cause of death.
Section two will be labeled “Life”.  You will want to include lines for the deceased person’s date of birth, their spouse’s name, employment, and education.  You can also choose to include a space for hobbies if desired.
Template for an obituary


The third section is for “Family”.  You should include lines with labels for children, parents, and siblings.  You can also have sections for other family members such as aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, or significant others if you would like to give the mourners enough space in the obituary for this.  You should break this section down into surviving relatives and deceased relatives in order to properly represent each person in the obituary.

Section four is should be labeled “Service”.  This is where you will include lines for the location of the services, the dates, and times.  You should make sure to include lines for both visitation and graveside services where applicable, and make sure the times are clearly marked to avoid confusion.
template for a memorial service


The final section is reserved for memorial information or thank you’s.  This section is where information such as where to send flowers should be, or where donations should be made in place of flowers.  This section can also include space for special quotes or dedications.

Creating an obituary template will ensure all information is included that is relevant to the deceased.  Templates will also make sure that all obituaries are uniform, and follow the same basic structure.  This is especially important for obituaries that will be printed in newspapers, pamphlets, or online.  

Reputable online companies such as http://www.funeralpamphlets.com can provide you with personalized memorial order of service templates to use to make sure the obituary can be easily created and printed with a minimum of fuss.
Obituary Templates at FuneralPamphlets.com

Writing an obituary can be just as difficult as the rest of the funeral arrangement making process.  Offering a clean, simple, clearly defined template will make one of life’s most difficult moments a bit easier for those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.



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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

What to Include in a Memorial Order of Service Template


Memorial services are held to pay tribute to a loved one.  These services can be short and sweet, with only a few words being said, or they can be filled with tributes, music, prayers, or anything else you feel will properly explain your loved one’s life. 

One of the easiest ways of creating a proper memorial service is to create a template that clearly defines what you want to include in the service.  When this information is included in the pamphlet, it ensures that all those who attend know what to expect, and when to expect it.

The first section can be used to include the information about the deceased, or at the very least the person’s name, date of birth, and their date of death.

funeral order of service template
Memorial template at FuneralPamphlets.com

Many memorial services begin with Opening Music.  You should be sure to include the title of the song, as well as the composer or singer.  If a group will be singing the opening music, you can shorten this to the name of the choir or group that is singing.  If you want those who are attending the service to join in the singing, you should include the lyrics for any songs that are not easily recognizable.

The second section will often be Welcoming Remarks or something similar.  You should include who will be speaking, as well as how they are related to the deceased.  If no family or friends are planning to speak, you can just include the name of the pastor or officiator.

You should also include any special ceremonies you wish to include in the service.  This can be a candle lighting ceremony, musical tributes, or readings.  You should be sure to include who is performing, leading, or singing, as well as their relationship.

Memorial order of service program
Memorial Program at FuneralPamphlets.com


The next section or line can be used for prayer, meditation, or moments of silence depending on whether you are choosing to have a religious or non-religious memorial service.  You should include the names of those who are leading the attendees. 

Final thoughts are often included at the end of the service to show that the services are coming to a close.  You can choose to have family or friends speak about their memories, or you can simply close the service with a reading of scripture or prayer.  Again, you should include the name and relationship of those involved.

You can also choose to include Closing Music, or Recessional.  This is usually when time is given for attendees to walk past the deceased and give their condolences to family members.  You should list the name of the song or songs, and who is performing it.  If you do not know this information, you should try to include the name of the composer or songwriter.


You can make the memorial order of service as long or as short as you like, depending on the amount of time allotted by the funeral parlor.  This is a personal choice that you should decide.You may choose to create yours from scratch, or for roughly $20 you may easily edit a print-ready memorial service template at FuneralPamphlets.com.


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

How to Choose Funeral Order of Service Templates



Funeral and memorial services are difficult times in anyone’s life, and choosing funeral order of service templates can be hard.  A funeral is usually much more than a simple speech, and you may want to include a variety of things in tribute to your loved one.  When you decide what you would like to include in the funeral service, you will want to create a funeral order of service.  Those in attendance will use these programs as a means of knowing what to expect during the service.

Many people choose to include the funeral order of service in the memorial pamphlet to save on expenses.  While you can choose to use the ones provided by the funeral home, you can also choose to make your own by using an easy to follow template at website such as FuneralPamphlets.com.

Order of Service Cover
The front cover of the funeral order of service is usually used as a space for a photo of your loved one.  The cover should also include the person’s full name, their date of birth, date of death, and the time and location of the services.  Many people choose to include “In Loving Memory” or another similar caption.
memorial order of service templates



Inside of Funeral Order of Service
The inside of the order of service pamphlet can include a favorite poem, Bible verse, or song that is meant as a tribute to the deceased.  If you choose to include one of these, you should make sure to include the composer, the name of the person who performed it, where the verse can be found in the Bible, or who wrote the poem.

You can also use one of the inside pages to display your loved one’s full obituary, or a simple layout that uses their name, date of birth, date of death, birthplace, place of death, and loved ones who have preceded them in death or are still living.
memorial order of service template


Order of Service
You will want to include a page dedicated to a timeline of the services.  This can include speakers, times for prayer or music, and closing remarks.  It will usually look something like this:

Procession – This is usually music, and should include the name of the piece.

Introduction --  Listing who the speaker or speakers are, and their relationship.

Songs, Music, and Poem Readings – You should include the titles of any songs or poems, as well as the authors or composers.  If someone will be reading it, you should also include their name and relationship to the deceased.

Funeral Readings - This area is used to list whomever will be speaking the eulogy or in memory of speeches.  Again, you should include each speaker’s name in the correct order, as well as their relationship to the departed.

You may also choose to play a musical tribute of their favorite songs or spiritual pieces.

Prayers – List who is saying the prayer 

Hymn or Music
 - Include lyrics if you want the attendees to sing along
Committal and Blessing – Include the speaker or pastor
Closing Music