Planning a funeral is one of the most emotionally demanding tasks a family or celebrant will face. Having a clear run sheet takes the logistical burden off grieving loved ones and ensures every element of the service runs with the care and dignity the occasion deserves. This funeral run sheet template covers the key phases of the day: family briefing, service arrival, order of service, committal or graveside ceremony, and reception or wake. Adapt the tasks to suit your specific wishes — whether that's a church funeral, a crematorium service, a humanist ceremony, or a celebration of life.
| Time | Task | Responsible | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Funeral director and celebrant arrival — confirm order of service and final arrangements | Funeral Director | Venue Entrance |
| 09:15 | Floral tributes and coffin positioning in chapel | Funeral Director | Chapel |
| 09:30 | AV and sound check — microphone, eulogy slides, tribute video, and music playback | AV / Venue Staff | Chapel |
| 09:45 | Order of service booklets and seating reserved for family set out | Funeral Director | Chapel Entrance |
| 10:00 | Family briefing — celebrant confirms order of service, eulogy order, pallbearer duties | Celebrant | Family Room |
| 10:15 | Doors open — guests welcomed and seated by funeral staff | Funeral Staff | Chapel Entrance |
| 10:30 | Coffin procession — pallbearers bring coffin into chapel as music plays | Pallbearers | Chapel |
| 10:35 | Welcome and opening words — celebrant or minister opens the service | Celebrant | Chapel |
| 10:40 | First musical tribute — recorded or live | AV / Musician | Chapel |
| 10:48 | Eulogy — primary speaker (partner, child, or close friend) | Eulogist 1 | Chapel Lectern |
| 11:00 | Eulogy — second speaker | Eulogist 2 | Chapel Lectern |
| 11:12 | Photo tribute or memory video played | AV Staff | Chapel |
| 11:20 | Reading or poem — selected family member or friend | Reader | Chapel Lectern |
| 11:25 | Closing words — celebrant reflection and committal | Celebrant | Chapel |
| 11:35 | Committal music and final farewell moment | AV Staff | Chapel |
| 11:40 | Coffin recession — pallbearers carry coffin from chapel | Pallbearers | Chapel |
| 11:45 | Guests invited to view floral tributes outside | Funeral Staff | Garden Area |
| 12:00 | Graveside or committal ceremony (if applicable) | Celebrant / Funeral Director | Graveside |
| 12:20 | Guests directed to wake venue — family departs together | Funeral Staff | Venue Entrance |
| 12:45 | Wake / reception — catering service, light refreshments for guests | Catering | Wake Venue |
| 13:15 | Informal tributes and shared memories | MC / Celebrant | Wake Venue |
| 14:30 | Wake concludes — family farewells guests | Family | Wake Venue |
Confirm the running order with the celebrant or minister at least 48 hours before the service, and again on the morning of the funeral. Last-minute changes to eulogies or readings are common.
Brief all eulogists and readers privately before the service on timing expectations — a gentle suggestion of five to seven minutes per eulogy helps keep the service within the venue's allocated time slot.
Test all AV elements including the tribute video, slideshow, and music at full volume before guests arrive. Silence or technical failures during the service are distressing for families.
Reserve front rows with discreet signage or order-of-service booklets for immediate family, and station a funeral staff member at the entrance to guide guests respectfully.
Have printed order of service booklets as a backup even if a digital screen is being used — guests appreciate a keepsake, and it eliminates any uncertainty during the ceremony.
Confirm wake catering numbers and dietary requirements with the caterer at least 48 hours before. Plan for approximately 30 minutes of guests arriving before formal proceedings begin at the wake.
Most funeral services run between 45 minutes and one hour for the chapel service itself. Crematoriums often allocate a 30-minute slot, so confirm your booking carefully — if you need more time, request an extended booking. Add 15–20 minutes for a graveside committal and 90 minutes to two hours for the wake.
A funeral run sheet should cover: family arrival and briefing time, AV and music checks, guest arrival, the complete order of service with timed items (coffin procession, welcome, eulogies, readings, tribute video, committal), recession, graveside ceremony if applicable, and the wake. Include the names of all speakers and their roles.
The funeral director typically manages the logistical elements — coffin placement, pallbearers, procession timing, and guest flow. The celebrant or minister manages the service program itself. For larger services, a designated family contact or event coordinator can liaise between the two to keep everything on schedule.
Build a five-minute buffer between the close of the service and the coffin recession. If the service is running long, the celebrant can gently shorten the closing reflection. Communicate any time pressure to eulogists in the pre-service briefing rather than during the service itself. If using a crematorium with back-to-back bookings, be especially mindful of the allocated time slot.
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