Here are the most helpful free templates for writing an obituary, developed by the obituary experts at Legacy.com. You are welcome to copy these templates and personalize them for your own use.
There are four fundamental obit templates you can customize by including whatever details are most important to you:
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
The Short Obituary Template
If you are faced with an urgent time deadline, or if you need to fit an obituary into a publication that’s tight on space, such as a newspaper’s print edition or a printed funeral program, you may need to write an announcement that is short, quick, and to the point.
Here is a template for writing a short obituary announcement that focuses on communicating the most basic facts. Just copy and paste into your own Word or Google document, and fill in the blanks:
Full Name (Year Born-Year Died)
[Deceased’s Full Name], [age], of [city, state], died [where/of what] on [date].
[He/She/They] [was/were] born in [city] in [year of birth] to [parents’ names], and [insert a childhood detail here]. [First Name] attended [school(s)] before [“studying (major) at (university name),” “going to work at (workplace name),” “joining (military branch),” etc.].
[First Name] was preceded in death by [name(s)/family members], and is survived by [name(s)/family members].
[1st service name/type] is [date of service #1] at [location of service #1], and the [2nd service name/type] is [date of service #2] at [location of service #2]. Donations to [charity name] would be greatly appreciated.
Full Name (Year Born-Year Died)
[Deceased’s Full Name], [age], of [city, state], died [where/of what] on [date].
[He/She/They] [was/were] born in [city] in [year of birth] to [parents’ names], and [insert a childhood detail here]. [First Name] attended [school(s)] before [“studying (major) at (university name),” “going to work at (workplace name),” “joining (military branch),” etc.].
[First Name] was preceded in death by [name(s)/family members], and is survived by [name(s)/family members].
[1st service name/type] is [date of service #1] at [location of service #1], and the [2nd service name/type] is [date of service #2] at [location of service #2]. Donations to [charity name] would be greatly appreciated.
Full Name (Year Born-Year Died)
[Deceased’s Full Name], [age], of [city, state], died [where/of what] on [date].
[He/She/They] [was/were] born in [city] in [year of birth] to [parents’ names], and [insert a childhood detail here]. [First Name] attended [school(s)] before [“studying (major) at (university name),” “going to work at (workplace name),” “joining (military branch),” etc.].
[First Name] was preceded in death by [name(s)/family members], and is survived by [name(s)/family members].
[1st service name/type] is [date of service #1] at [location of service #1], and the [2nd service name/type] is [date of service #2] at [location of service #2]. Donations to [charity name] would be greatly appreciated.
The Best “Life Story” Obituary Template
When you are writing an obituary to publish online — at a funeral home website, on Legacy.com, or if your newspaper offers a digital-specific format — there is no restriction on how long it can be.
In this case, you can use our full-length obituary template to write a richer and more memorable life story. Feel free to include or omit any of the following specific details, depending on what makes sense for the specific person’s story you’re trying to tell:
When you are writing an obituary to publish online — at a funeral home website, on Legacy.com, or if your newspaper offers a digital-specific format — there is no restriction on how long it can be.
In this case, you can use our full-length obituary template to write a richer and more memorable life story. Feel free to include or omit any of the following specific details, depending on what makes sense for the specific person’s story you’re trying to tell:
Full Name (Year Born–Year Died)
[A sentence or two that briefly relates a memorable or colorful event in your loved one’s life, or that sums up what they were most known for.] [Deceased’s Full Name], [age], of [city, state], died [where/of what] on [date].
[He/She/They] [was/were] born in [city] in [year of birth] to [parents’ names], who [insert what your loved one remembered most about their parents and/or interactions with them]. [Insert a few childhood memories here; they could be about school, childhood friends, vacations, hardships, etc.]. [Pronoun/Name] attended [middle/high school] before [“studying (major) at (university name),” “going to work at (workplace name),” “joining (military branch),” etc.]. [Elaborate on why this was important to them, or how it impacted their life]
ADD A PARAGRAPH FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DETAILS YOU MAY WISH TO HIGHLIGHT:
SPOUSE – [First name] met the love of their life, [spouse’s name] in [year] [at/while] [location/event]. [Insert a funny or heart-warming story of their early relationship.] Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married [date/location].
CHILDREN – [First name] and [partner’s first name] couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and their children meant the world to them. [Insert children’s names and/or happy family memories]
GRANDCHILDREN – Though [he/she/they] loved [activity], [activity], and [activity], [First Name]’s favorite role was that as a grandparent. [He/she/they] treasured their time with their grandkids and loved being their [grandparent nickname], never failing to [tradition/habit] or [tradition/habit]. [Insert a favorite story here.]
PETS – [First name] had a soft spot for their furry friends, treating each and every one like the valuable family member they were. [Insert story about a beloved pet here.]
FRIENDS – [First name] and [her/his/their] friends were practically inseparable throughout their lives. From [activity/memory] to [activity/memory], they were together through it all. [Include another favorite story or two here.]
JOB – [First name] was passionate about [her/his/their role] as [job title] at [company name]. Working for the company for [# of years], [insert memory here].
CHURCH/COMMUNITY GROUP – [First name] was an active member of [church/group name], devoting their time and energy to [organization goal].
HOBBIES – Everyone who knew [first name] knew how much [she/he/they] loved [hobby]. [Insert favorite story about hobby here.]
[First name] will always be remembered for [her/his/their] [specific quality] and the way that they [always did something specific]. We’ll always imagine hearing them say “[catchphrase they’re most known for]” one more time. We couldn’t have asked for a better [parent/grandparent/sibling/etc.], and will miss [first name] every day. [Her/his/their] memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved [her/him/them].
[First Name] was preceded in death by [name(s)/family members], and is survived by [name(s)/family members].
[1st service name/type] is [date of service #1] at [location of service #1], and the [2nd service name/type] is [date of service #2] at [location of service #2]. Donations to [charity name] would be greatly appreciated.
The “Write My Own” Obituary Template
If you are planning in advance for your own obituary, the possibilities are much broader. Perhaps you want to be earnest and serious; perhaps you want to be playful and humorous. In any case, here’s a template to get you thinking about what points may be important to include.
Full Name (Year Born–Year Died)
I could have let my family write my obituary after I was gone, but there were some things I wanted to be sure and say in my own words. So here goes.
[A few sentences or more about your origins – hometown, parents, childhood]
[A few sentences or more about the good times you’ve had with the people you care about most]
[A few sentences or more about the things in life you are passionate about, whether that’s sports or food or art or travel or your pets or social causes or anything else]
When you remember me, I hope what you’ll think of is [how you want to be remembered, and/or a quote from a favorite song/movie/bible verse/etc. that means something important to you, and/or a charity you’d like people to support].
"ObitWriter": The All-Purpose Interactive Obituary Template
If you want an even simpler way to create an obituary, it’s fast, easy, and free to use Legacy’s ObitWriter® tool. All you have to do is answer some basic questions about your loved one’s life, and in just a few minutes, ObitWriter will take your responses and turn them into a well-written draft of a thoughtful, respectful obituary.
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
Our ObitWriter® Template can help you create an obituary in minutes.
Recent Obituary Template Examples
Here at Legacy, we encounter some of the world’s most touching, colorful, and heartfelt obituaries. You may find inspiration in reading some of these life stories that have been published in recent times:
Great Obituary Examples for Mothers, Grandmothers and Aunts
Ann Lee Davis of Oklahoma: “Ann’s personal slogan was ‘I’d rather wear out than rust out!’ and that’s pretty much what happened. Other Ann-isms included ‘I wouldn’t hurt you for a hundred dollars, as bad as I need the money’ and ‘You can’t hurt me! I carried my babies till their feet dragged the floor.'”
Valerie Drummond Howell Bard of Pennsylvania: “She was more than just an aunt; she was the life of the party, the spark that ignited joy in every gathering. Val’s presence was like a burst of fireworks on a dark night, and her sharp wit kept everyone on their toes. With her infectious smile and laughter, she turned ordinary moments into extraordinary ones…”
Hellen Lucylle Vantreese Meyer: “Hellen had a keen intuition about people. She had a gift for nurturing people with a disability. She always seemed to know when those around her needed a kind touch. She was the first to give someone a lift by pointing out that person’s best attributes.”
Great Obituary Example for Husbands, Fathers and Uncles
James Gazzale of California: “Together, James and Susan navigated the anxiety-ridden obligation of being frequently uprooted and moved from one tour of duty to another… Perhaps the biggest challenge to their union was the separation brought by the Vietnam War, where James served on two tours of duty from 1965-66 and 1969-70. These were difficult times. There was no texting. Fortunately, James was more expressive writing down his feelings than speaking them. He sent many deeply felt and beautifully written love letters to Susan and his sons during these years.”
Donald Daniel Barton II of Pennsylvania: “Don was affectionately known as Donny, Daddy, Big ‘D’, Superman, and Uncle Donny. His grandfather, Joe Gimbrone, began Don’s boxing training at the age of 3, and affectionately gave Don the nickname Rocky. This was well before the movie by the same name ever existed, but the training Donny received was just a rigorous as the movie portrayed.”
Related: If you are looking for even more obituary examples, we have many inspiring samples of different life stories to help inspire you in the link above.
Here at Legacy, we encounter some of the world’s most touching, colorful, and heartfelt obituaries. You may find inspiration in reading some of these life stories that have been published in recent times:
Great Obituary Examples for Mothers, Grandmothers and Aunts
Ann Lee Davis of Oklahoma: “Ann’s personal slogan was ‘I’d rather wear out than rust out!’ and that’s pretty much what happened. Other Ann-isms included ‘I wouldn’t hurt you for a hundred dollars, as bad as I need the money’ and ‘You can’t hurt me! I carried my babies till their feet dragged the floor.'”
Valerie Drummond Howell Bard of Pennsylvania: “She was more than just an aunt; she was the life of the party, the spark that ignited joy in every gathering. Val’s presence was like a burst of fireworks on a dark night, and her sharp wit kept everyone on their toes. With her infectious smile and laughter, she turned ordinary moments into extraordinary ones…”
Hellen Lucylle Vantreese Meyer: “Hellen had a keen intuition about people. She had a gift for nurturing people with a disability. She always seemed to know when those around her needed a kind touch. She was the first to give someone a lift by pointing out that person’s best attributes.”
Great Obituary Example for Husbands, Fathers and Uncles
James Gazzale of California: “Together, James and Susan navigated the anxiety-ridden obligation of being frequently uprooted and moved from one tour of duty to another… Perhaps the biggest challenge to their union was the separation brought by the Vietnam War, where James served on two tours of duty from 1965-66 and 1969-70. These were difficult times. There was no texting. Fortunately, James was more expressive writing down his feelings than speaking them. He sent many deeply felt and beautifully written love letters to Susan and his sons during these years.”
Donald Daniel Barton II of Pennsylvania: “Don was affectionately known as Donny, Daddy, Big ‘D’, Superman, and Uncle Donny. His grandfather, Joe Gimbrone, began Don’s boxing training at the age of 3, and affectionately gave Don the nickname Rocky. This was well before the movie by the same name ever existed, but the training Donny received was just a rigorous as the movie portrayed.”
Related: If you are looking for even more obituary examples, we have many inspiring samples of different life stories to help inspire you in the link above.
Common Obituary Writing Questions
Is there a proper way to write an obituary?
There is no one right way when it comes to an obituary. Typically there is a common structure that most people follow when it comes to writing a memorial in honor of their loved one. Here are a few key components of a proper obituary:
1. Essential Information: Things like their name, age, city, dates and surviving family members.
2. Optional Information: Funeral or Memorial service information or different Charities they would like people to donate to.
3. Personal Unique Memories: A collection of photos and stories that really let people know how that person wanted to be remembered.
For a much more detailed guide see our full article on obituary writing.
What is an example of a short obituary?
This example of a grandmothers obituary, is a great sample to show how you can pack alot in just one paragraph.
They use a common short obituary template of:
1. Including the name, age and location.
2. Hit on the basic aspects of their school and work history.
3. Adding cherished memories that paint a vivid picture of her life, like how Nancy's adoration of spiders.
You can read her full obituary below if you want to see an example of a great short obituary.
What is a free app to make an obituary?
Legacy has created an easy-to-use and free obituary template generator called ObitWriter®. All you need are a few simple pieces of information to start and you can get a great obituary written in minutes. You can then customize it further to reflect your loved one's life and accomplishments.
Is there a proper way to write an obituary?
There is no one right way when it comes to an obituary. Typically there is a common structure that most people follow when it comes to writing a memorial in honor of their loved one. Here are a few key components of a proper obituary:
1. Essential Information: Things like their name, age, city, dates and surviving family members.
2. Optional Information: Funeral or Memorial service information or different Charities they would like people to donate to.
3. Personal Unique Memories: A collection of photos and stories that really let people know how that person wanted to be remembered.
For a much more detailed guide see our full article on obituary writing.
What is an example of a short obituary?
This example of a grandmothers obituary, is a great sample to show how you can pack alot in just one paragraph.
They use a common short obituary template of:
1. Including the name, age and location.
2. Hit on the basic aspects of their school and work history.
3. Adding cherished memories that paint a vivid picture of her life, like how Nancy's adoration of spiders.
You can read her full obituary below if you want to see an example of a great short obituary.
What is a free app to make an obituary?
Legacy has created an easy-to-use and free obituary template generator called ObitWriter®. All you need are a few simple pieces of information to start and you can get a great obituary written in minutes. You can then customize it further to reflect your loved one's life and accomplishments.
Is there a proper way to write an obituary?
There is no one right way when it comes to an obituary. Typically there is a common structure that most people follow when it comes to writing a memorial in honor of their loved one. Here are a few key components of a proper obituary:
1. Essential Information: Things like their name, age, city, dates and surviving family members.
2. Optional Information: Funeral or Memorial service information or different Charities they would like people to donate to.
3. Personal Unique Memories: A collection of photos and stories that really let people know how that person wanted to be remembered.
For a much more detailed guide see our full article on obituary writing.
What is an example of a short obituary?
This example of a grandmothers obituary, is a great sample to show how you can pack alot in just one paragraph.
They use a common short obituary template of:
1. Including the name, age and location.
2. Hit on the basic aspects of their school and work history.
3. Adding cherished memories that paint a vivid picture of her life, like how Nancy's adoration of spiders.
You can read her full obituary below if you want to see an example of a great short obituary.
What is a free app to make an obituary?
Legacy has created an easy-to-use and free obituary template generator called ObitWriter®. All you need are a few simple pieces of information to start and you can get a great obituary written in minutes. You can then customize it further to reflect your loved one's life and accomplishments.
