While we are grieving the loss of a loved one, creating documents for a funeral is the last thing on our minds. However, when arranging a funeral or celebration of life, you almost always need an order of service document. An order of service is like a program that gives information on what will happen at the funeral. People use these even at an informal funeral or celebration of life.
Funeral homes will often handle this for the family and ask the deceased’s family and friends for input. But you don’t necessarily need funeral home professionals for this, of course. With publishing software and online templates and services, many people can and do create their own order of service documents.
What is in an Order of Service?
In an order of service, you would generally list, in order of occurrence:
- Introduction
- Religious service or other prayers and scripture
- Musical selections
- Eulogy
- Informal tributes
- Viewing of the deceased
- Closing statements
Depending on the length of the service, there may be more or less involved. As you plan the service with family and/or Clergy or officiant, ask them to help you clarify the order of service for the document you will be creating.
Many people also use the order of service as an invitation to join the family after the service for a gathering. If you decide to do this, you will want to be specific about when, where, and how long.
You can use the order of service to request donations for a charity in the name of the deceased, as well.
Do You Need an Order of Service?
In the midst of grief, it can seem unimportant to think about creating this document, but the truth is that this is something people usually keep from the funeral. The choices you make about the document may physically last far longer than any other decision at the service. It is also a comfort for people who couldn’t attend the service so that they can still feel part of the service.
How to Create an Order of Service
When you lose someone close, friends and extended family usually offer their help. Because putting together the order of service is a fairly easy task, take advantage of the offer and delegate it out.
Find an Order of Service Template
If you plan to make your own order of service, the first step is to look at some samples online. A quick look will let you see how others have set up their documents. Of course, you do not have to do it the way that everyone else does, but this is an effective way to gather ideas.
Some pages offer no-cost templates. You’ll be able to download these templates as PDFs and in formats that are editable in Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, etc. If you are making this yourself, you may want to find a template in a format you can edit.
You don’t have to create a newfangled program during this challenging time. If all you can handle is changing the name and dates on a template and typing in the bare outlines, that is perfectly acceptable. Some families get very elaborate, but this is not a requirement.
Add Photographs
Once you have found a template and/or a sample that you want to use, choose any photographs and images of the deceased you want to include. You can include a lot, or just one simple, dignified photo. The choice is up to you.
Proofread
Accordingly, once you create the order of service document, have it proofread by several people. This makes the probability of an unfortunate typographical error to be far less likely but not impossible. If a mistake happens, don’t worry. Most people will not even notice.
Bear in mind that the more pages you have in the document, the more expensive the order of service will be to print. You’ll also need to consider printing turnaround times. There is no point spending hours making a document that you need in three days, but it will take a week for a professional service to print. You can, of course, print it yourself. The quality of home printers has increased so much over the years. Many families will print their orders of service at home.
The Takeaway
There are few if any, life experiences more stressful than the loss of a loved one. The bottom line is that however you want to approach the document is an acceptable way to do so. Do what is right for you. The order of service does not have to be perfection itself.