Funeral Program vs. Newspaper Obituary
A newspaper obituary follows a general form, and a fairly traditional one at that. It's confined by space, cost, and a general, widespread audience. A funeral program is more intimate, since it's meant as a keepsake for those who personally attend a memorial service. The obituary in a funeral program can therefore differ from one found in a newspaper in a few key ways.
1. The funeral program can be longer. There's no cost per word for a funeral program, so you can go into more detail about the Deceased's personality, hobbies, and family. The focus can be more on anecdotes and life stories instead of on listing the survivors or the details of the service (which will be elsewhere in the program).
2. The funeral program can include additional material. If the Deceased really loved a certain band, you can include song lyrics in the program. Also consider quotations from famous authors, beloved poems, prayers, artwork, photography, and more. A broader picture can be displayed in a program, whereas a newspaper obituary should have one picture (or two, if doing a side-by-side comparison of the Deceased at young and older ages).
3. The funeral program can have multiple sources. A newspaper obituary should be written by one person to maintain form and consistency. A funeral program can have space for family, friends, and other loved ones to share their feelings and stories about the Deceased. This can be an important part of remembering and honoring the dead.
4. The funeral program is less traditional. A newspaper obituary should be written in the third-person perspective with a fairly impersonal style. The program obituary is not subject to the same confinement. It can be traditional or non-traditional. It may be from the perspective of a child or parent, or even be written from the Deceased prior to their passing.
Index of obituary templates