Making funeral service information easy to find

Someone opening a memorial page on the day of a funeral may be looking for one immediate answer: where to go, when to arrive, or whether a particular gathering is open to them. Clear service information helps the page serve that practical purpose alongside the person’s story.

Make each gathering distinct

If there is a ceremony, a committal, and a reception, name them separately. Give each its own date, time, and location. Do not assume that every visitor knows the difference between the venues or that all parts of the day are open to everyone.

Check whether the time shown is an arrival time or the start of the service. For visitors joining from elsewhere, include the relevant local time zone in the description when it would prevent confusion.

Write directions for someone who has never been

Include the venue name and full address. Where useful, add a short note about the entrance, parking, or which room to find. Confirm these details with the venue rather than relying on an old template.

If accessibility information or a contact number would help guests, verify it before publishing. Say how visitors can ask a question when an arrangement depends on their particular needs.

Agree what should be shared

Ask the family which details belong on the memorial and which should go only to invited guests. A private reception address, access code, or personal phone number may need a different channel.

Review the memorial’s visitor settings before putting sensitive arrangements on the page. Being absent from a public directory does not, by itself, prevent someone with the link from opening it.

Check the page against the printed version

Before printing an order of service or QR card, compare the names, dates, times, and locations with the published memorial. Ask one staff member to check the details and another to open the visitor link on a phone.

A useful final checklist is:

• Each gathering has an unambiguous date, time, and location.
• Invitation limits and arrival instructions are clear.
• The family has reviewed the information intended for visitors.
• Links and QR codes open the correct published page.
• Someone is responsible for updating any changed arrangements.

Plan for changes

If a time or venue changes, update the page and contact the family about how guests will be told. Updating a page alone does not ensure that everyone who read an earlier version will see the change.

Our guide to using memorial QR codes at a service covers the printed link between guests and the page.