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If you have the time and just a few computer skills you can easily make you own funeral slideshow for free.
While there is an endless array of 'slideshow makers' out there, many not-free, chances are you already have on your computer (Apple or PC) everything that you will need.
And if you can't find the editing program that came with your computer then there are more than a few reputable photo sharing web sites that will let you upload, arrange then convert to a slideshow for free.
So, let's get started!

Photographs
A funeral slideshow or video memorial typically consists of 40 to 80 photographs. If each image shows for around 6 or 7 seconds then the show will last from 5 to 10 minutes.
Aim to gather photos from across the person's life. Often-times this involves getting in touch with friends or other members of the family to ask what they have.
Resist the temptation to pack in hundreds of photos at rapid speed (like the end-of-year high school sports slideshows). Less is usually more so choose the best. Try to allow enough time for each image to be comprehended and thought about.
Image preparation
You will probably need to digitize some images - that means you need to get them into your computer using a flatbed scanner (or by carefully taking digital photographs of them.) You should, if possible, clean the images up with a simple (free) photo editing program like Microsoft Photo Editor (older PCs), Microsoft Photo Gallery (newer PCs), or Apple iPhoto.
When scanning, use a reasonably high scan resolution (around 300 dpi - more for very small images). >> Our Photo Scanning Tips
Added Elements
On occasions, the funeral slideshow will feature video taken of the deceased, and in rare, lucky instances there may be old film footage of the person taken in their youth.
Sometimes, other items like hand-drawn cards from the grandchildren are included, or letters written by the person sometimes showing their usually graceful handwriting - or maps or postcards showing the geography of the life - even favorite poems or sayings can be incorporated in the memorial video.
See: >> Our Advice on What to Include
in a Memorial

As the old song has it: 'Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?' So it often seems to be with the lives of our loved ones. We just kind of act like they are going to live forever. And they do. Until they don't. It's a sad time, sometimes a tragic time; and just the time when we are feeling most distressed, it often falls to us to get busy and make preparations for the funeral. So we try to push away the grief and get on with the necessary arrangements.
On the passing of a loved one, thoughts turn to remembering and honoring the life with a funeral slideshow or memorial video. While there are professionals like us ready to help, you can easily create your own video memorial or funeral slideshow DVD with any one of these 5 programs available free from large, reputable software providers.