Free fill-in-the-blank obituary template
An obituary shares the news of a death, tells a little of the person's life and lets people know when and where to gather. This free fill-in-the-blank obituary template gives you the words in the usual order. Just replace each part in brackets. There is a short version for a newspaper or online notice and a full version for a funeral program or keepsake. Change anything you like so it sounds like the person you are remembering.
Short fill-in-the-blank obituary template
Use this when space is limited, such as a newspaper death announcement or an online notice.
[Full name], [age], of [city, state], passed away on [date] [at home, in the hospital, surrounded by family]. [He or she] is survived by [spouse], [children] and [grandchildren]. A [funeral or memorial] service will be held at [time] on [date] at [place].
Full fill-in-the-blank obituary template
Use this longer version for a funeral program, a memorial website or a family keepsake. Leave out any line that does not fit.
[Full name], [age], of [city, state], passed away on [date] [optional: cause or place of death].
[First name] was born on [date of birth] in [place of birth] to [parents' names]. [He or she] graduated from [school] and [optional: earned a degree in subject from college]. [He or she] married [spouse's name] in [year, optional].
[First name] worked as [job or career] for [number] years. [He or she] was a member of [church, clubs or organizations] and served in [military branch, optional]. [He or she] loved [hobbies, favorite places, things people will remember].
[First name] is survived by [spouse], [children and their spouses], [grandchildren] and [other close family and friends]. [He or she] was preceded in death by [names].
A [funeral, memorial or celebration of life] will be held at [time] on [date] at [place], with [officiant] officiating. Burial will follow at [cemetery]. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [charity].
A filled-in example
Here is the short template filled in, so you can see how it reads.
Dorothy Ann Miller, 84, of Hampton, Virginia, passed away on [date], surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Frank, her children, Carol and James, and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on [date] at First Baptist Church, Hampton.
For more complete examples, see our sample obituaries.
Tips for filling in the template
- Start with the facts. Name, age, hometown and date usually come first, often in the same paragraph.
- Add one or two personal details. A favorite pastime, a phrase they always said or the way they made people feel says more than a long list.
- List family clearly. Separate each name with a comma. For a child or young person, remember grandparents and great-grandparents.
- Always include service details. If there will be no service, or plans are not final, say so. It spares the family many phone calls at a hard time.
- Read it aloud before you send it. Check every name, date and spelling with another family member.
Our guide on how to write an obituary walks through each part in more detail, and funeral announcements covers how to share the news.
Using the obituary in a funeral program
Many families print the obituary inside a funeral program, alongside a cover photo, the order of service, poems or scripture and family photos. It becomes a keepsake people take home. See how an obituary program is laid out, or browse our obituary program templates when you are ready to design one.
Make a funeral program or keepsake
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Our templates open in Microsoft Word, and many designs also come in Apple Pages or Canva. Check each template's page for its formats. Every word can be changed, including the title, and you can download right after you order. Questions? Email us and we usually reply within one business day.
