Death Notice and Obituary Templates

Writing about someone’s death can feel difficult, especially when there are many details to organize. These fill-in-the-blank templates can help you begin with the information that feels right to share.

Replace the text in [brackets] with the details for the person being remembered. You can use a brief death notice for an announcement or choose a longer obituary template to include more of their life story.

Choose a template that fits what you need to share

A short notice is useful when you need to communicate the death and memorial donation details simply. The longer templates provide room for family information, a life summary, service arrangements, and ways to give in the person’s memory.

Template 1: Short death notice

Include: name, age, date of death, relationship to loved ones, and memorial donation information.

[Last name, First name], [age]. Our beloved [relationship or description] passed away on [date]. Memorial donations may be made in [first name’s] memory to [organization or charity].

Template 2: Death notice with service details

Include: name, age, date and location of death, surviving and predeceased family members, and funeral or memorial service details.

[Last name, First name], [age], peacefully passed away on [day and date] at [location] in [city, state]. [He/She/They] is survived by [names or relationships of surviving family members] and was predeceased by [names or relationships]. Funeral services will be held at [location] on [day and date] at [time].

Template 3: Full obituary

Include: name, age, cause of death if you wish to share it, death and birth details, parents, marriage and family information, work or achievements, surviving family, service details, and donation information.

[Full name], [age], died after [cause of death or brief wording, if desired] on [day and date] in [city, state]. [He/She/They] was born on [date] in [place] to [parents’ names].

In [year], [first name] married [spouse’s name], and together they [family detail]. [First name] worked as a [profession] for [number] years and was known for [work, interests, or achievements]. [He/She/They] is survived by [names or relationships].

[Service details, or “Funeral services will be privately held.”] Memorial donations may be made in [first name’s] memory to [organization and donation details].

Template 4: Detailed life tribute

Include: death and birth details, education, marriage and family, career, interests, achievements, survivors, service details, and donation information.

[Full name], of [city, state], died on [day and date] at [location]. [He/She/They] was [age]. [First name] was born on [date] in [place] and attended [schools or education details].

In [year], [first name] married [spouse’s name], and together they [family detail]. [He/She/They] worked as a [profession] at [organization, if desired] and was dedicated to [work, interests, or achievements]. [First name] was known for being [personal qualities] and enjoyed [interests].

[First name] is survived by [names or relationships] and was predeceased by [names or relationships, if desired]. A memorial service organized by [funeral home or organizer] will be held at [location] on [date]. Memorial donations may be made in [first name’s] memory to [organization and donation details].

Turn an obituary into a memorial program

Obituary templates are often also referred to as funeral program templates, memorial programs, funeral brochures, funeral folders, or funeral bulletins. If you are looking for a formatted piece to share at a service, visit our obituary templates page to learn about the available options.

You can also explore funeral cards and funeral programs or member resources.

Frequently asked questions