Obituary template
Fill in a free obituary template with the name, photo and service details, then print it at home.
A free obituary template you fill in and print
The studio above turns what you type into a printable obituary on US Letter pages, ready to display at the service, mail or frame.
The printed obituary has the name and dates at the top, the photo, the life story and the service details. A long obituary continues onto a second page. You can add a QR code that opens the person's online memorial, or any link you paste, such as the funeral home's obituary page.
It is free with a Lovekept account, created at the end of a few short questions, in a Classic or Modern design. The same details also fill the rest of the matching funeral templates: a program, prayer cards, service cards, thank you cards and an invitation.
If you have the facts but not the words, start with the samples below, or let our free obituary writer draft it from a few answers and paste the result here.
Fill in the blank obituary templates
Four free sample obituary templates. Copy one, replace every [bracket] with your own words, and delete any line that does not apply.
Standard obituary template
About 300 words
[Full name, with nickname in quotes], [age], of [City, State], passed away peacefully on [Day, Month Date, Year], at [home / hospital / place], surrounded by [family].
[First name] was born on [Month Date, Year], in [City, State], to [father's name] and [mother's name, including maiden name]. [He/She] graduated from [school] in [year].
[He/She] worked as a [job title] at [employer] for [number] years. [Military service, if any: branch, years, rank.]
In [year], [he/she] married [spouse's full name]. Together they [raised a family in / built a home in / ran a business in] [place].
[First name] loved [two or three interests] and was a member of [church or club]. [One detail everyone will recognize.]
[He/She] is survived by [spouse]; [children, with their spouses]; [number] grandchildren; and [siblings].
[He/She] was preceded in death by [parents, spouse, siblings or children who died before].
A [funeral service / memorial service / celebration of life] will be held at [time] on [Day, Month Date], at [place, street address, city]. Visitation will be from [time] to [time] at [place].
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [organization].
Short newspaper obituary template
About 100 words, for a newspaper
[Full name], [age], of [City], died [Month Date, Year].
Born [Month Date, Year], in [City, State], [he/she] worked as a [job] for [number] years and loved [one interest].
Survived by [spouse]; [children]; [number] grandchildren; and [siblings]. Preceded in death by [name].
Service: [time], [Day, Month Date], [place, city].
Memorial donations may be made to [organization].
Obituary template for a mother
About 250 words
[Mother's full name] ([maiden name]), [age], of [City, State], passed away on [Month Date, Year].
She was born on [Month Date, Year], in [City, State], to [her parents' names].
She married [husband's name] in [year], and together they raised [number] children. [Her work, inside or outside the home.]
Mom was happiest [in her garden / at the kitchen table / at church / with her grandchildren]. [A detail only her family would know.]
She is survived by her children, [Name (spouse's name) Surname], [Name (spouse's name) Surname] and [Name Surname]; her grandchildren, [names]; her great-grandchildren, [names]; and her [sister / brother], [name].
She was preceded in death by her husband of [number] years, [name], and her parents.
Services will be held at [time] on [Day, Month Date], at [place].
Obituary template for a father
About 250 words
[Father's full name], [age], of [City, State], passed away on [Month Date, Year], [after a brief illness / at home / surrounded by family].
He was born on [Month Date, Year], in [City, State], to [his parents' names].
[He served in the U.S. (branch) from (year) to (year).] He worked for [number] years as a [job title] at [employer], and retired in [year].
He married [wife's full name] on [Month Date, Year]. Dad could always be found [fishing on the lake / in the garage / coaching Little League]. [A saying or habit everyone will remember.]
He is survived by his wife of [number] years, [name]; his children, [names and spouses]; his grandchildren, [names]; and his [brother / sister], [name].
He was preceded in death by his parents and [name].
A funeral service will be held at [time] on [Day, Month Date], at [place]. [Military honors will follow at (cemetery).]
What to include in each part of an obituary
Most obituaries follow the same order. Use it as a checklist, and leave out any part that does not fit the person.
| Part | What to include | Example line |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement | Full name, nickname or maiden name, age, hometown, date of death. The cause of death is optional. | Margaret "Peggy" Ellis, 84, of Dayton, Ohio, died peacefully at home on March 3. |
| Early life | Date and place of birth, parents, where the person grew up, school. | She was born in Toledo to Walter and Ruth (Brandt) Hayes. |
| Work and service | Career, military service, volunteer work. | He taught fourth grade at Lincoln Elementary for 31 years. |
| Life story | Marriage, faith, interests, and one or two details that sound like the person. | Nobody left her kitchen hungry, and nobody beat her at euchre. |
| Family | Survivors first, closest relationship first, then those who died before. | She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Frank; her daughters, Susan and Carol; and five grandchildren. |
| Service | Type of service, day, date, time, place with address, visitation, burial. | A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Church. |
| In lieu of flowers | A charity, church or fund, and where to give. | In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton. |
Some families end with a line of thanks to caregivers or a hospice team. Leave out the home address.
Obituary template for a mother, father or grandparent
The parts stay the same whoever the obituary is for. What changes is the role the person played and how the family is listed. An obituary for a mother often gives her maiden name in the first line and centers on the home she made, her work and her faith. An obituary for a father often includes military service and a career, and may mention military honors at the graveside.
For a parent, the survivors list starts with the surviving spouse, then the children in order of birth. In many obituaries, especially in the Midwest, a married child's spouse goes in parentheses, as in "Susan (Mark) Ellis". Grandchildren can be named or simply counted; counting keeps a newspaper notice shorter and cheaper.
An obituary template for a grandmother or grandfather reads the same way, with more weight on the grandchildren; some families let a grandchild add one line. For a brother or sister, list parents if living, then the spouse and children, then the other siblings.
Newspaper obituary or online obituary
A newspaper obituary is a paid notice. Papers charge by length, and often extra for a photo, so the cost varies widely by paper and length. The funeral home usually places the notice and can quote the price and deadline.
That is why the newspaper version is often the short template above, while the full life story goes online. Most funeral homes post the obituary on their website, and a free memorial page can hold the whole story, photos and memories from friends. The shortest paid notice, with just the name, date and service details, is often called a death notice or death announcement.
Printing an obituary: how long, what paper, how many
Most obituaries run 200 to 600 words. With the name, photo and service details at the top, a short one fits on one Letter page and a longer one continues onto a second. For a single page to frame, trim the story or make the text a little smaller.
Plain copy paper works. For copies people will keep or frame, 24 to 32 lb bright white premium paper shows the photo better. An 8.5 x 11 in frame fits the page, or use an 11 x 14 in frame with a mat.
Print a framed copy for an easel by the guest book, a few for the table, and one for each relative who is not online. The life story also prints as page 3 of the free funeral program template, so guests take it home either way.
How to print an obituary at home
Any home inkjet or laser printer can do this in a few minutes.
Fill in the details
Add the name, dates, photo, life story and service details. Paste the obituary if it is already written.
Check with a second person
Read every name, date, time and address aloud with someone else. A misspelled name is easy to miss after ten readings.
Print at actual size
In the print dialog, choose US Letter and actual size or 100 percent, not "fit to page". Print one test copy first.
Print the copies
Print the framed copies on premium paper and the rest on copy paper. To mail one, fold it in thirds for a standard business envelope.
Put the obituary on a free memorial page
When you create your account at the end of the questions, you can choose to publish the obituary on a free Lovekept memorial page. This needs the name, a photo and a life story of at least 250 characters; if something is missing, the studio asks for it afterwards. Once the page is live, the QR code on the printed obituary opens it.
Anyone holding a printed copy can scan it to see more photos and leave a memory. The same code can go on the program and on the funeral prayer cards people take home.
More free funeral templates
- All funeral templatesWhat to print for a funeral, how many, and by when.
- Funeral programFolded 4-page program with the order of service and life story.
- Celebration of life programA relaxed order of events for a personal gathering.
- Prayer cardsWallet-size cards with a photo and a prayer, 6 to a sheet.
- Thank you cardsFolded cards with your message printed inside, 2 to a sheet.
- Invitation5 x 7 invitations for a funeral, memorial or celebration of life.
Questions families ask
Is there a free obituary template?
Yes. This obituary template is free with a Lovekept account: fill in the name, dates, photo, life story and service details, then print it at home on Letter paper. The fill-in-the-blank samples on this page are also free to copy into any document.
What is the best format for an obituary?
Most obituaries follow the same order: the announcement (name, age, hometown, date of death), the life story, the family, the service details, and a closing line such as an in lieu of flowers request. It is the order newspapers and funeral homes expect.
What is the simplest format for an obituary?
The simplest obituary is five lines: name, age, city and date of death; birthplace and work; survivors; the service time and place; and where to send donations. The short newspaper template above follows that format.
Is there an obituary template for Word or Google Docs?
There is no Word file, because this obituary template works in your browser. It prints straight to your printer, and on a computer it saves as a PDF that any print shop accepts. To edit in Word or Google Docs anyway, copy one of the samples above into a new document.
How can I create and print an obituary for free?
Fill in the obituary template on this page, create a free Lovekept account at the end, and print from your browser on US Letter paper. On a computer you can also save a PDF to email or take to a print shop.
What should an obituary template for a mother include?
An obituary for a mother usually includes her maiden name, where she was born and to whom, her marriage, her work and faith, and what her children remember most. The survivors list starts with her husband if he is living, then her children, grandchildren and siblings. If the memories are there but the words will not come, a free obituary writer can draft it from a few answers.
What should you not put in an obituary?
Leave out the home address, and consider leaving out the exact date of birth and the mother's maiden name, which identity thieves look for. Avoid listing only some grandchildren by name if you cannot list them all. Check every name and date twice, because a printed mistake is hard to take back.
How long should an obituary be?
Most obituaries are 200 to 600 words. A newspaper notice is often shorter because papers charge by length, while an obituary online or printed for the service can be as long as the family likes. A longer one simply continues onto a second printed page.
How much does it cost to put an obituary in the newspaper?
It varies widely by paper and length, and a photo usually costs extra. A short notice in a small local paper costs far less than a long one with a photo in a big city paper, which can run to several hundred dollars. The funeral home can usually quote the price and place the notice for you.
What is the difference between an obituary and a death announcement?
A death announcement, or death notice, is a short notice with the name, date of death and service details. An obituary also tells the story of the person's life. Many families run the short notice in the newspaper and share the full obituary online and at the service.
What is an obituary card?
An obituary card is a small printed card with the person's photo, name, dates and a short verse or obituary, handed out at the service. The closest items here are the prayer card and the service card, which use the same details as the printed obituary. For a memorial service held later, you can also print a matching invitation.
Make the printable obituary now
Type the name, dates and life story once. The obituary prints on Letter pages, and the same details fill a matching program and cards.