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Quick answer
Quick answer: An obituary template is a fill-in-the-blank format with every sentence already structured, you only supply names, dates, and details. It removes the hardest part of the task: deciding what goes where. Below are three free templates, traditional, short, and detailed, you can copy and complete.
A template does for an obituary what a recipe does for a meal. You are not inventing anything; you are following a proven format and supplying the ingredients. When you are grieving and on a deadline, that structure is exactly what you need.
This guide gives you three free, fill-in-the-blank obituary templates, one traditional, one short, and one detailed, along with a plain-English explanation of what every blank is asking for. Copy the one that fits your situation, fill it in, and you have a complete obituary. If even that feels like too much, a free tool can complete a template from your facts in seconds.
How to use an obituary template
Each template below uses [brackets] to mark a blank. Copy the template into a document, then work through it top to bottom, replacing every bracketed prompt with your information. Delete any line that does not apply, not every obituary needs every part.
The underlying structure is the same eight-part format explained in our guide to writing an obituary. The template just turns that structure into something you can fill in.
💡 Tip
Gather all your facts on one sheet of paper before you start filling in the template. Names, dates, places, the order of the family list. Hunting for a date mid-template is what makes this slow.
Template 1: the traditional obituary
This is the standard full-length format, roughly 200 to 350 words once completed. Suitable for a newspaper or funeral home website.
[Full name], [age], of [city, state], passed away [peacefully / unexpectedly / after a long illness] on [date of death][, surrounded by family].
>
[He / She] was born on [date of birth] in [birthplace], the [son / daughter] of [parents' full names].
>
[Optional: one or two sentences on early life, education, or military service.]
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[Full name] [married [spouse's name] in [year] / is remembered for ...]. [He / She] worked as a [occupation] for [number] years. [He / She] loved [one or two interests], and friends will remember [him / her] for [a defining quality].
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[He / She] is survived by [spouse]; [children and their spouses]; [number] grandchildren; and [siblings].
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[He / She] was preceded in death by [parents / spouse / others].
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A [funeral service / memorial / celebration of life] will be held at [time] on [date] at [location and address]. [Visitation details, if any.]
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In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to [charity name].
Template 2: the short and simple obituary
When budget or preference calls for brevity, this format produces a dignified notice of 50 to 120 words. Newspapers charge by the line, so this is also the budget-friendly choice. We have more in our short obituary examples guide.
[Full name], [age], of [city], [died / passed away] on [date].
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[One sentence capturing the person: a role, a passion, or a quality. For example: "A devoted grandmother and lifelong gardener."]
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[He / She] is survived by [the closest family members only].
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[A service will be held at [place and time] / Services will be private]. [Memorial gifts may be sent to [charity], if applicable.]
Template 3: the detailed tribute
When the family wants a fuller account and there is no length limit, such as on a funeral home website, this format gives room for the life story. It runs 350 to 500 words completed.
[Full name], [age], of [city, state], passed away [peacefully] on [date], [surrounded by family].
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Born [date of birth] in [birthplace], [first name] was the [son / daughter] of [parents]. [Two or three sentences on childhood, family background, and what shaped them.]
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[Paragraph on adult life: education, military service, how they met their spouse, marriage, raising a family, career. Use specific facts, the night shift worked, the business run, the years coached.]
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[Paragraph on character and passions: hobbies, faith, volunteer work, the things friends and family will remember. Specific details bring this paragraph to life.]
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[First name] is survived by [full family list in standard order: spouse, children and spouses, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings].
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[He / She] was preceded in death by [those who came before].
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A [service type] will be held at [time] on [date] at [location]. [Visitation and burial details.]
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[Closing line: a favorite saying, a request, or a final tribute.]
Have your facts ready? Let AI fill in the template for you
Our Letter Writer drafts professional letters with the right regulatory language, free, in seconds.
Try Letter Writer →What each blank is really asking for
A few of the prompts trip people up. Here is what they mean in plain terms.
| Blank | What to put there |
|---|---|
| "Surrounded by family" | Optional. Only include if it is true and the family wants it stated. |
| Parents' names | The person's mother and father. Use the mother's maiden name if known: "Walter and Grace (Doyle) Bennett." |
| Survived by | Living relatives, in order: spouse, children, grandchildren, then siblings. See our family-list guide. |
| Preceded in death by | Close relatives who died before this person, usually parents, a spouse, or a child. |
| In lieu of flowers | A charity the family suggests instead of flowers. Optional, leave it out if the family welcomes flowers. |
For the exact order and wording of the family section, see our guide to listing family in an obituary.
Common template mistakes
⚠ Important
The most common error is leaving an unfilled bracket in the final version. A published placeholder where a date or name should be is painful and public. Before you submit, read the obituary through once and confirm every bracketed prompt has been replaced with real information.
Two more: do not feel obligated to fill every optional line, a clean short obituary beats a padded long one. And always have a second family member proofread the names and dates, the template cannot catch a wrong spelling.
How AI can complete a template for you
If filling in even a template is more than you can manage this week, you can hand the job off. You provide the raw facts, the names, dates, places, and a few sentences about the person, and our Letter Writer places them into the correct structure and returns a finished obituary. You review it, adjust anything that does not sound right, and download it.
The tool is doing what a template does, just faster and without the risk of a leftover bracket. It is free during our feedback period.
Frequently asked questions
The bottom line
An obituary template turns a blank page into a fill-in-the-blanks task. Choose the format that matches your situation, traditional, short, or detailed, gather your facts onto one sheet, and work through every bracket. Then proofread for leftover brackets and misspelled names before you submit.
To skip the filling-in entirely, our free Letter Writer completes a template from your facts in seconds. For finished examples and situation-specific guidance, see our obituary writing guide.
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