If you’ve hunted around for free funeral program templates, you’ve discovered that most of the sites have digital products and funeral programs that are not free at all.
Some “Free” Funeral Program Templates are NOT Free!
I did a web search for “free funeral program templates” and find quite a few results. But are these top ones are really free?
Sure, I was able to design or edit the program for free, but for every one, in order to access or download the file, I had to pay a fee.
Here are some culprits in this charade:
AVOID: Canva — Canva is actually a pretty great site that you can use to design things yourself for free (from templates or from scratch). Their site is usually one of the first results, and you can browse and edit templates. But when you put in all the work and click “download” — lo and behold — there is a charge. Go figure.
AVOID: Quick Funeral — This site has a page called “Free Funeral Program Template – Self Editable and Printable.” Unfortunately, it’s nothing more than a marketing ploy. They showcase their templates without listing any costs, but by the time you choose one, edit, and go to download, it costs $29.99 to do so.
AVOID: Template.net — Here’s another first-page search result that claims, “17+ Funeral Program Templates | Free & Premium Templates.” But where are the free ones? Once again, if you wish to download, you have to pay for a subscription.
AVOID: Word Templates Online — Their listing claims “25+ FREE Funeral Program Templates (Word, Photoshop, Illustrator),” but we counted four funeral program templates, two obituary templates, and one mass template. The designs look awful, and when you click to download you have to subscribe. Highly misleading and disappointing.
I’m sure you get the gist. You’ve probably already looked at some of those sites with your eyebrows raised. Save yourself a headache and avoid them.
Free Funeral Program Templates
But you’re still in need of a nice, free, editable template! That’s why we’ve created our very own templates for you.
Above, simply enter your email to gain access to our selection of funeral templates that are really, truly free. No marketing ploys or sneaky subscription fees in sight. Just download them and edit to suit your needs.
We’ve designed them to print on a standard 8.5×11 sheet of printer paper, which you’ll fold in half to create a “four page” brochure.
Here’s a preview of some of our templates: the best *actually* free editable funeral program templates.
1. Blossoms Funeral Program Template for Microsoft Word
This lovely program has a soft feel and contemporary design.
A beautiful way to celebrate the life of your loved one, the template includes setup for a photograph and plenty of space on the inside for the order of service, eulogy, and anything else you want to add.
2. Soaring Seagull Free Funeral Program Template
This is a four page bifold Word document that you can get for free, edit, and print on a single 8.5″ x 11″ standard sheet of paper. You’ll need to print it front and back, then fold it in half.
3. Red Flowers Free Funeral Program Template
This elegant funeral flyer template has a bright modern look and is easy to use. The red flower adds a bold stroke, yet the watercolor style of painting softens the effect.
Like the others on this list, this template is designed for you to print on the front and back of a standard sheet of printer paper, though you might want to get some smooth, pretty card stock for these programs.
If you have basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, you’ll be able to create your own funeral programs quickly and easily, then print at home.
4. Sunset Memorial Service Program Template
This is one design that can work for anyone, young or old, male or female. The warm sunbeams draw your thoughts to the heavens in memory of your loved one. The text is easy to edit — just click, replace with your loved one’s details, and move on to the next page.
This is a four-page, bifold template that prints on a single 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of printer paper. Printed on both sides then folded in half, you create a funeral program that is 8.5″ tall and 5.5″ wide, with front, two inside pages, and back.
5. Elegant Photo Funeral Service Program Template
Sometimes the simple things are the best. This simple yet classy funeral program template is free to download and easy to edit in Microsoft Word.
6. Picture Frame Free Funeral Program Template
Here’s one for the flower lovers. This lovely design features an oval-framed picture along with a bouquet of florals in bright colors.
For helpful tips on writing your funeral order of service details, check out our in-depth guide!
Tips for Making Your Own Funeral Programs
You really don’t need a degree in graphic design to put together a beautiful program with text, simple design elements, and even a photograph or two.
Here’s how to create and save your finished product as a PDF file, which can then be printed at home or sent to a print shop or service. You will need at least one of the following software programs on your desktop or laptop computer.
- Microsoft Word (free)
- Apple Pages (free)
- Google Docs (free)
- Apache Open Office (free)
- Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, or Illustrator ($)
- Microsoft Publisher ($)
What to Include in a Memorial Program
Here’s a simple outline for how to put together your own printable funeral program:
- Page 1: The first page usually starts with In loving memory of and is followed by a photo. Below this are the date of birth and date of death, followed by the date and location of the service.
- Page 2: The second page features a biography of the deceased. This is where you provide highlights and important aspects of the deceased’s life.
- Page 3: The third page provides the service order.
- Page 4: The final page of the program is the family’s opportunity to thank those who came to pay their respects. You can also add a comforting Bible verse, a poem, or one of these 33 Inspiring Life Celebration Quotes.
Using these guidelines and one of the software programs above, you can easily create simple programs or elegant memorials, then print them out yourself.
Or get it done by a quality online printing source! We like Prints of Love. They have great quality, excellent service, and fast turnaround times.
