The Funeral Order of Service
What goes in, in what order — with real examples for every kind of service.
The order of service is the spine of the funeral — it tells everyone, including the family, what happens next. Below are the structures real services follow. Our editor pre-fills whichever you choose and prints it with the detail beside each item: the hymn's name, the reader's name, the speaker's.
The traditional Christian order
- Opening hymn
- Prayer
- Scripture reading
- Life story / obituary
- Tribute(s)
- Sermon
- Closing hymn
- Vote of thanks & announcements
The Catholic funeral mass
- Entrance hymn; greeting and sprinkling with holy water
- First reading; responsorial psalm; Gospel
- Homily
- Liturgy of the Eucharist; Holy Communion
- Final commendation; recessional hymn
The homegoing service
- Processional; opening selection
- Prayer; Old and New Testament scriptures
- Reflections — family and friends ("2 minutes please")
- Reading of resolutions and acknowledgements
- Reading of the obituary; musical selection
- Eulogy; recessional
The South African service
- Opening hymn and prayer
- Welcome by the programme director
- Scripture; the umlando / life history
- Tributes in order: family, grandchildren, church, colleagues & friends
- Choir or special item; sermon
- Vote of thanks; funeral arrangements; procession
See the full South African programme guide — including the night vigil and the tombstone unveiling.
A non-religious celebration of life
- Entrance music
- Welcome and opening words
- Tribute — family; a reading or poem
- Photo slideshow with music
- Tribute — friends; closing words; exit music
Common questions
What is the usual order of a funeral service?+
Most services move: opening hymn → prayer → scripture → the life story or obituary → tributes → sermon or eulogy → closing hymn → thanks and announcements. Traditions vary the pieces; the arc is shared.
How many hymns should there be?+
Two to three is typical — opening, optionally mid-service, and closing. More lengthens the service; the officiant will guide what fits the time.
Who should give tributes, and how long?+
Commonly two to four speakers, two to three minutes each — family first, then friends or colleagues. Printing "2 minutes please" beside the item on the programme is a kindness everyone appreciates.
What's the difference between the eulogy and the obituary?+
The obituary is the factual life story, often read aloud from the programme; the eulogy is the personal address about who they were — usually the emotional heart of the service.