Obituary examples and templates

If you are staring at a blank page, a template helps more than a rulebook. Here is a simple, fill-in-the-blank shape you can adapt, followed by a short example so you can see how it reads once the blanks are filled.

A simple template

[Full name], [age], of [city, state], died on [date][, at home / after a long illness / peacefully — optional].

Born on [date] in [place] to [parents], [he/she/they] [a line about their early life or work].

[He/She/They] is remembered for [one or two true things — a passion, a way of being, a role they filled for everyone].

[He/She/They] is survived by [close family], and was preceded in death by [those who went before].

A [service / celebration of life] will be held on [date, time] at [place]. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [cause].

A short example

Margaret “Meg” Sullivan, 74, of Austin, Texas, died on March 3rd, at home, with her children beside her.

Born in 1951 in El Paso, Meg taught third grade for thirty-one years and could still name every student who ever tried her patience. She loved loud card games, quiet mornings, and any excuse to feed a crowd.

She is survived by her two children, four grandchildren, and the many former students who still called her Mrs. Sullivan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, March 15th, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the local literacy fund.

Notice how few words it takes. The facts do their job; one or two real details do the rest.

When you are ready, you can start their memorial here and draft the obituary with help — keeping the template as a guide and every edit as you go.