If you're someone who naturally shows up for others in times of need — bringing comfort, offering a listening ear, or lending a helping hand — you may not realize it yet, but you have something powerful: a heart for service.
And that heart can be the foundation for something beautiful — a meaningful business that helps grieving families while also building steady income for you.
At Obituaries Made Simple, we’ve created ready-to-use memorial templates and products to make it easy for compassionate people like you to step into the memorial industry — no design background or business degree needed. You just need a laptop, a desire to help, and the willingness to begin.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to turn your care and creativity into a memorial keepsake business that serves others and supports your own financial goals.
Why a Memorial Keepsake Business?
When families lose a loved one, they often need support — not just emotionally, but practically. They’re trying to create a meaningful tribute in a short amount of time, and many feel overwhelmed trying to pull together funeral programs, banners, buttons, or photo displays.
That’s where you come in.
By offering personalized memorial keepsakes using professionally designed templates, you provide an affordable, heartfelt service that eases the burden for grieving families — and you get to earn income doing work that truly matters.
What You Can Offer
With the help of Obituaries Made Simple templates, you can create and sell:
· Funeral Program Booklets – Beautiful, editable designs that guide guests through the service.
· Retractable Memorial Banners – Large tribute banners to display at services or celebrations of life.
· Memorial Buttons – 3-inch keepsake pins featuring the loved one’s photo.
· Casket Panel Inserts – A unique, elegant addition to casket interiors.
· Photo Boards – Professionally arranged photo collages printed for display.
· QR Code Memorial Displays – Digital tributes that connect guests to photo albums, videos, or obituaries with a quick scan.
All of these items can be edited using Canva Pro, allowing you to offer a polished and professional service without starting from scratch.
How to Get Started (Even If You’ve Never Done This Before)
1. Choose a Few Products to Start With
You don’t have to do everything right away. Start with one or two popular items, like programs and buttons, and grow from there. Our templates give you a head start — just personalize them with your client’s details and you’re ready to go.
2. Get Comfortable with Canva Pro
We recommend Canva Pro because most of our templates use Pro elements. It’s easy to learn and intuitive to use, even if you’re brand new to design. Once you’re familiar with it, you’ll be able to customize templates quickly for each client.
3. Offer Your Services Locally
Reach out to local funeral homes, churches, hospice centers, or community groups. Let them know you offer fast, affordable, and compassionate memorial keepsake services. Word-of-mouth referrals in this space go a long way.
4. Partner with a Local Print Shop
Instead of buying equipment, find a reliable local printer who can handle production. This allows you to focus on personalization and service while meeting client deadlines with ease.
5. Use Social Media and Online Marketplaces
Let friends and family know what you’re offering. Post before-and-after examples (with permission), and consider creating a simple website or using Etsy or Facebook Marketplace to expand your reach.
What Makes This Business So Special?
💛 It’s Purpose-Driven – You’re doing more than making money. You’re helping people honor life and legacy in meaningful ways.
🕰️ It’s Flexible – Work on your own schedule. This can fit into evenings, weekends, or lunch breaks — whatever time you have to give.
💼 It’s Scalable – Whether you want to earn a little extra or grow it into your full-time business, it’s up to you. Start small, then expand.
🙌 It’s Needed – The demand for affordable, beautiful memorial options is growing. Families want heartfelt, customized keepsakes — and they need people like you to provide them.
You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out
If you’ve ever felt called to do something more — something meaningful, flexible, and deeply human — this could be the path you’ve been waiting for.
Obituaries Made Simple was created to make it easy for people like you to step into this work with confidence. We’ve done the design work, so you can focus on service, connection, and building your business.
You already have the compassion.
Now you have the tools.
All that’s left is to take the first step.
Explore our templates today and start your memorial keepsake business — your heart, your laptop, and your willingness to help are all you need.