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Obituary Template: A Calm Fill-In Guide for Families
Not yet expert-reviewed · Last updated October 30, 2026
Obituary Template: A Warm Fill-In Guide You Can Finish
Key takeaways
- An obituary is a written notice (newspaper, funeral home site, or online memorial). A eulogy is usually a spoken tribute. You can draft both.[1]
- You do not need perfect prose. Start with facts you can check, then add one or two true stories.
- Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you can ask funeral homes for prices by phone and get a written General Price List—useful when the notice includes service details.[2]
- Keep Social Security, tax, and survivor steps on a separate checklist so the writing stays calm.[3][4]
- Sharing memories with others can help people who are grieving.[1]
- Related: How to write a eulogy
- Related: What to do when someone dies
- Related: Grief support
- Related: Funeral costs planning
Preserve family stories for the next generation:
.
Obituary vs. eulogy (quick table)
| Obituary | Eulogy | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Written notice | Spoken tribute |
| Purpose | Announce the death, service plans, survivors | Share who they were |
| Length | A few paragraphs to about one page | Often a few minutes spoken |
| Where it appears | Newspaper, funeral home, memorial site | Service, memorial, or recording |
Original teaching aid for this page. Customs vary by faith and family.
Printable fill-in template
Copy into a document or print this page. Leave any line blank if it does not fit.
1. Opening / announcement
[Full name] (also known as [nickname]), age [age], of [city, state], died on [date] in [place] [after a period of illness / peacefully / surrounded by family — use only what the family wants public].
Optional second line: Born [date] in [place] to [parents' names].
2. Who they were (short portrait)
[Name] was [trait], [trait], and [trait]. Family and friends will remember [one plain truth—kindness, humor, stubborn garden, Tuesday pie].
3. Life sketch (pick what matters)
- Education / early life: […]
- Work or service: […]
- Military service (if any): [branch, years]
- Community, faith, hobbies: […]
- One or two short stories with a detail people can picture: […]
4. Survivors and those who died before
Survived by: [spouse/partner], children [names], grandchildren […], siblings […], and many dear friends.
Preceded in death by: [names and relationships].
List only people the family wants named. Ask before including addresses or phone numbers.
5. Service and memorial details
A [funeral / memorial / celebration of life / graveside] will be held on [day, date] at [time] at [place, address].
Visitation: [day, time, place] — or “Visitation will be private.”
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests [charity / hospice / garden fund] — or “Flowers welcome.”
Online guestbook / livestream: [URL if any].
6. Closing line (optional)
“The family thanks the caregivers and friends who walked with us.”
Or a short blessing, poem line, or favorite saying—only with permission if it is copyrighted.
Length guide (editorial)
| Where it will run | Aim for |
|---|---|
| Paid newspaper notice | Often short; ask the paper’s word/line limit and price |
| Funeral home / online memorial | A few paragraphs to about one page is common |
| Social media post | A shorter version of sections 1–2 and 5 |
Limits and prices vary. Confirm with the publisher or funeral home.
Accuracy and kindness checklist
- Full legal name spelling matches a government ID or death certificate draft when possible
- Dates and ages checked with another family member
- Survivors list reviewed by the person coordinating the family
- Service time and address confirmed with the venue or funeral home
- No private medical details the person would not have wanted public
- No unsettled family disputes in the text
- Someone else proofreads once out loud
NIA notes that people who are grieving often have trouble concentrating and making decisions.[1] A second pair of eyes helps.
Funeral shopping note (when the notice includes costs or packages)
Grief makes it easy to overspend. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you generally have the right to:[2]
- Get price information by telephone without giving your name first
- Receive a written General Price List to keep when you visit
- Buy separate goods and services—not only a package
- Use an alternative container for cremation
- Arrange many funerals without embalming (state timing rules can differ—ask locally)
Keep price shopping on the practical checklist: What to do when someone dies.
Sample filled paragraph (fictional)
Margaret “Meg” Elena Ruiz, 78, of Austin, Texas, died October 12, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born in El Paso, Meg taught third grade for 32 years and never met a library book she would not recommend. She is survived by her husband, Luis; children Ana and David; and four grandchildren. A memorial will be held Saturday, October 18, at 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests the local literacy fund.
Replace every detail. Do not copy someone else’s real notice.
If writing feels impossible today
- Dictate bullet points into your phone; tidy them later
- Ask the funeral home for their blank form, then fill it with family over coffee
- Draft the eulogy first if stories come easier—then trim facts into the obituary
- Use
for a starting draft you edit
FAQ
What should an obituary include?
Usually who died, when and where (as much as the family wants public), a short life sketch, survivors, and service details.
How long should an obituary be?
Long enough for the facts and one true memory. Ask the newspaper or site about limits and cost.
Is an obituary the same as a death notice?
Often “death notice” means a shorter paid announcement; “obituary” may be longer. Local papers define the terms differently—ask them.
Who writes the obituary?
Family, a friend, or funeral home staff from your notes. You stay in charge of what is true and kind.
Do I have to list every relative?
No. List who the coordinating family member wants named.
Sources
- National Institute on Aging. Coping With Grief and Loss. NIH/NIA. Content reviewed July 15, 2024. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/grief-and-mourning/coping-grief-and-loss. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission. Shopping for Funeral Services (consumer brochure on the FTC Funeral Rule). FTC / GovInfo. n.d. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-FT-PURL-gpo52591/pdf/GOVPUB-FT-PURL-gpo52591.pdf. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Social Security Administration. What to do when someone dies. SSA. n.d. https://www.ssa.gov/personal-record/when-someone-dies. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service. File the final income tax returns of a deceased person. IRS. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/file-the-final-income-tax-returns-of-a-deceased-person. Accessed October 30, 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is for general education only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. Talk to your doctor, a licensed attorney, or a SHIP counselor (Medicare) about your situation. In an emergency, call 911. Funeral, probate, and publication rules vary—confirm locally.
Attribution
Portions of this page are adapted from "HowToLiveBetter" (高性价比人生指南) by eternity4719, https://github.com/eternity4719/HowToLiveBetter, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Changes: topic idea (remembering someone after a death) adapted from Chapter 25; rewritten for the U.S. context (not a direct translation), with an original fill-in template and re-sourced to U.S. official guidance.
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