Obituary template: free printable, examples and how to write one

The short answer: this free obituary template is a 3-page printable PDF that walks you through the five parts of an obituary in order.

• Five parts: announcement, life story, family, service details and memorial wishes
• Page 1: a worksheet for gathering facts
• Pages 2 and 3: a fill-in-the-blanks draft and a checklist before you publish
• What to leave out, like the full date of birth and home address
• Next step: Get the free obituary template (we email it to you); want more? The If Something Happens to Me Binder is $11.99.

An obituary template takes the guesswork out of writing an obituary at a hard time. It walks you through the five parts in order: the announcement, the life story, the family, the service details, and memorial wishes. Our free obituary template is a 3-page printable PDF with a worksheet for gathering facts, a fill-in-the-blanks draft and a checklist before you publish. Below you will also find obituary examples, what to leave out, and help with the practical steps that come with a death, including the FTC's guide to shopping for funeral services.

If you are planning ahead for yourself or a parent, writing down the facts now saves your family from searching later. Our If Something Happens to Me Binder ($11.99) has sections for a letter to loved ones, personal information, key contacts, accounts, insurance, bills, property, digital accounts, where to find documents and your wishes.

What is in the free obituary template

How to write an obituary in 6 steps

1. Gather the facts. Use page 1 to write the full legal name, nickname, age, city, date of death, date and place of birth and parents' names. Check spellings with family.
2. Write the announcement. One sentence: who died, their age, where they lived and when. You can add "peacefully" or "surrounded by family" if that fits.
3. Tell the life story. Choose three or four things: where they grew up, their work, service, faith, their marriage and what they loved. Specific details, like a garden, a recipe or a favorite team, say more than a list of jobs.
4. List the family. Name who survives them and who died before them, closest family first.
5. Add service details. The type of service, place, date, time and visitation hours. If services are private or will be held later, say so.
6. Close with memorial wishes and thanks. Where to send donations instead of flowers, and thanks to caregivers or a hospice team.

Obituary examples

These obituary examples use made-up names. Borrow the structure and change the details.

A short obituary (about 120 words)

Margaret "Peggy" Allen, 86, of Dayton, Ohio, died peacefully on February 12 at home. Born in Lima to Frank and Ruth Hollis, Peggy taught second grade for 31 years and never stopped correcting grammar at the dinner table. She loved her rose garden, her church choir and her Friday card club. Peggy is survived by her children, Susan (Mark) Reed and David (Lisa) Allen, and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Walter. A memorial service will be held at First Methodist Church on February 20 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Dayton Public Library.

A longer obituary with more life story

James Ortiz, 72, of San Antonio, passed away on June 4 surrounded by his family. James was born in El Paso, the oldest of six children, and served in the U.S. Army before starting a 40-year career as an electrician. He built half the porches on his street and fixed the rest. James married his high school sweetheart, Rosa, in 1975, and together they raised three children and hosted every holiday for four decades. He coached Little League for 20 years, made the best brisket in the family and could talk to anyone. He is survived by Rosa; his children, Daniel, Maria and Luis; eight grandchildren; and his siblings. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's on June 10 at 10 a.m., with visitation the evening before.

A death notice (facts only)

Robert Kim, 64, of Portland, died on September 9. Survived by his wife, Ann, and children, Grace and Paul. A private family service will be held. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association.

Obituary wording ideas

Finding the right words is often the hardest part. These phrases fit most obituaries:

Keep the tone true to the person. A funny, warm obituary is fine for someone who loved to laugh, and a simple, formal one suits someone who was private. If two relatives disagree about wording, read the draft aloud together; it usually becomes clear what sounds right.

What to leave out of an obituary

Obituaries are public, and some details can be misused. Leave these out:

• The full date of birth. Use the birth year or just the age.
• The home address. Name the city, not the street. Homes can be targeted during the funeral, so consider asking a neighbor to stay at the house.
• The mother's maiden name if it is used as a security answer, or list it in a way that does not tie it to account details.
• Private family matters and anything you would not want a grandchild to read later.
• The cause of death, unless the family wants to share it.

Where to publish an obituary and what it costs

Use page 3 of the template to note each publication's deadline, word limit and price. If cost is a concern, publish a short death notice in print and a longer obituary online. If you buy obituary placement through a funeral home, the FTC's Funeral Rule guide explains that funeral providers must give you an itemized price list, and you can choose only the goods and services you want.

Practical steps after a death

Writing the obituary is one task among many. A few that families often ask about:

1. Social Security. The SSA's survivor benefits page says a funeral home will usually report the death, so you may not need to. It also explains monthly survivor benefits for eligible spouses, children and dependent parents.
2. Funeral costs. Compare prices from at least two funeral homes if you can. The FTC guide notes that you can supply your own casket or urn, and the funeral home cannot refuse it or charge a handling fee.
3. Death certificates. Order several certified copies. Banks, insurers and agencies each may ask for one.
4. Accounts and bills. Make a list of accounts, bills and subscriptions to close or transfer.
5. Important papers. Look for a will, insurance policies, deeds and titles.

This is where a planning binder helps. When a parent has written down their accounts, contacts, insurance and wishes, these steps take days instead of weeks. Our guide to Swedish death cleaning is a gentle way to start that conversation, and the emergency binder guide covers the documents every family should keep together.

Writing an obituary for yourself or a parent in advance

Some people write their own obituary, or at least their life story, so their family has the facts right. It does not need to be polished. Write the dates, places, names and the stories you want told, and keep it with your important papers. Use the obituary template's page 1 as a worksheet.

Planning ahead often starts with a will. Our guide on how to make a will explains what it should include and how to sign it properly.

Two products help keep that information in one place:

• If Something Happens to Me Binder ($11.99): a letter to loved ones, personal information, key contacts, accounts, insurance, bills, property, digital accounts, where to find documents and a My Wishes section for service preferences.
• Family Peace of Mind Bundle ($17.99): the If Something Happens to Me Binder with a Caregiver Organizer, Pet Health Records and a Password & Accounts Log.

The binder is an organizer, not a will, so pair it with legal advice for estate planning. The free obituary template is below. Take your time, ask family to check the facts, and remember that the best obituaries sound like the person they are about.