The order every obituary follows
Newspapers, funeral homes and memorial sites all expect the same six parts, in this order:
- The announcement: full name, age, hometown, and the date they died.
- Their life: where and when they were born, family, school, work, service, marriage.
- Who they were: what they loved and what people will remember.
- Family: who survives them, and who died before them.
- Service details: the funeral or memorial, visitation, burial.
- Donations and thanks: where to give instead of flowers, and anyone the family wants to thank.
The templates below keep that order. Highlighted text is what you replace.
Traditional obituary template
The standard length for a funeral home website or a local paper, about 200 to 300 words once filled in.
[Full name], [age], of [city, state], passed away on [date], [at home / surrounded by family].
Born on [date of birth], in [birthplace], to [parents’ names], [first name] [grew up… / one detail about childhood]. [He / She] [graduated from…] and [worked as… for … years]. In [year], [he / she] married [spouse’s name].
[First name] loved [two or three passions]. [He / She] will be remembered for [his / her] [quality], [quality] and [quality].
[First name] is survived by [spouse]; [children (and their spouses)]; [number] grandchildren; and [siblings]. [He / She] was preceded in death by [names].
A funeral service will be held at [time] on [day, date], at [place, address]. Visitation will be from [times] at [funeral home]. Burial will follow at [cemetery].
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [charity].
Short obituary template for the newspaper
Most papers charge by the line or by the word, so the printed notice is often a short version that points readers to the full obituary online.
[Full name], [age], of [city], died [date]. [He / She] is survived by [closest family]. Services will be held at [time] [day, date] at [place]. The full obituary is at [funeral home website].
Celebration of life obituary template
A warmer opening for families who are holding a celebration of life instead of a traditional funeral.
With love and gratitude, we celebrate the life of [full name], [age], of [city], who passed away on [date].
[First name] lit up every room with [a quality]. [One or two sentences about what made them them].
[He / She] is survived by [family].
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of [his / her] life at [time] on [date] at [place]. [Dress code or request, e.g. “Please wear something bright.”]
Obituary template for a mother or father
When the obituary is for a parent, children often write in a slightly more personal voice. It is fine to say what they meant to the family.
[Full name], [age], our [mother / father], passed away peacefully on [date] in [city].
[Mom / Dad] was born in [birthplace] in [year] and [one sentence about early life]. [He / She] spent [number] years [work or calling], but [his / her] greatest work was [raising us / the family].
[He / She] taught us [a lesson in their spirit], and [he / she] never [a habit only family would know].
[He / She] is survived by [family]. Services: [details].
Five things to check before you publish
- Spell every name twice. Ask one relative to read only the names and dates.
- Leave out the exact birth date and the mother’s maiden name if the obituary will be online. They are the details identity thieves look for; the birth year and town are enough.
- Use the name people knew. Write the nickname in quotes after the first name: Margaret “Peggy” Collins.
- Agree on the survivor list with the family before it goes out. It is the part people notice.
- Ask the paper for its rate before you settle on a length. The full version can live free on the funeral home’s site.
Questions
- How long should an obituary be?
- Between 150 and 400 words covers most obituaries. Printed newspaper notices are often shorter because papers charge by the line; funeral home websites and memorial pages have no length limit.
- Do you have to include the cause of death?
- No. Many families leave it out, and that is completely normal. Some mention it when they want to direct donations to a related charity.
- Can I use these templates for free?
- Yes. Copy, change and publish them however you like. No credit is needed.