Death is messy. It’s loud, then it’s suddenly very, very quiet. When you’re sitting at a kitchen table with a cold cup of coffee at 3:00 AM, trying to figure out how to summarize a human being’s entire existence into 300 words for the local paper, the blank page feels like an insult. You want to be poetic. You want to be profound. Honestly, though? You’re probably just exhausted. This is exactly why people search for a write an obituary template, not because they lack creativity, but because their brains are currently fried by cortisol and sleep deprivation.
It’s a weird task.
Writing an obituary is part journalism, part tribute, and part public notice. If you mess up the date of the service, people show up to an empty funeral home. If you forget to mention a specific sibling, you might trigger a family feud that lasts a decade. It’s high stakes for something written in a blur of tears.
The Basic Skeleton: How a Write an Obituary Template Actually Functions
Most people think a template is a "fill-in-the-blanks" Mad Libs situation. It shouldn't be. A good write an obituary template acts more like a structural scaffold. It keeps the roof from caving in while you decide what color to paint the walls. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), clarity is the most important factor for public notices. You need the facts first.
Start with the announcement.
[Name], [Age], of [City], passed away on [Date] at [Location/Home/Hospital].
Short. Direct. No fluff yet.
Then comes the life story. This is where the template usually breaks down because lives aren't linear. You might mention where they were born, where they went to school, or that they spent forty years working at the local post office. But the "human-quality" stuff? That’s in the quirks. Did they make a legendary sourdough? Did they yell at the TV during every single Mets game? That’s what people actually remember.
Why Chronology is Sometimes a Trap
We’re taught to tell stories from beginning to end. Born, raised, married, worked, died. Boring. If someone was a world-class skydiver in their 70s, why start with their 1952 elementary school graduation?
Professional writers often use a "lead-in" that captures the essence of the person first. If you’re using a write an obituary template, try flipping the script. Start with their greatest passion. "John Doe never met a dog he didn't like or a car engine he couldn't fix." Suddenly, the reader is interested. They see a person, not a statistic.
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Handling the "Hard" Parts Without the Cringey Phrasing
We’ve all seen the euphemisms. "Passed away," "went to be with the Lord," "slipped away peacefully." There is nothing wrong with these if they fit the family's faith or style. However, sometimes being plain-spoken is more powerful.
When you get to the "survived by" section, the logistics get tricky.
Modern families are complicated. Steps, halves, exes, and "chosen" family members all deserve a place if they were important.
- List the spouse or partner first.
- Move to children (and their spouses).
- List grandchildren.
- List parents and siblings.
Don't feel obligated to list every single cousin if the newspaper charges by the line. Some papers in major cities like New York or Chicago can charge hundreds of dollars for a few extra inches of text. It's okay to say "and a large extended family of nieces and nephews."
The Financial Reality of the Newspaper Grid
Let’s talk money. It’s tacky, but necessary.
Most people don't realize that an obituary is technically an advertisement. You are buying space. If you use a write an obituary template that is 1,000 words long, you might be looking at a $1,200 bill from the local gazette.
Always check the word count requirements before you get attached to a draft. Online platforms like Legacy.com or even a funeral home’s website often allow for much longer tributes for a flat fee or even for free. Use the short version for the print paper and the long, soulful version for the digital memorial.
Putting the Soul in the Template
To make an obituary feel human, you need "the thing."
What was their thing?
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Maybe it was the way they salted their watermelon. Maybe it was the fact that they refused to use a GPS and got lost every time they left the county. My grandfather’s obituary mentioned his absolute refusal to acknowledge that the 1980s had ended. Everyone who read it laughed because it was true.
If you're stuck, ask yourself these three questions:
- What was the loudest thing about them? (Their laugh, their fashion, their opinions?)
- What would the house feel like without them in it?
- If they were standing here right now, what would they be complaining about or celebrating?
Common Mistakes That Ruin a Good Tribute
People get nervous and start using "thesaurus words."
They use "utilized" instead of "used." They call a "job" a "distinguished career in the field of."
Stop.
Just talk like a person.
Another big mistake is forgetting the call to action. No, not a sales pitch. A literal call to action for the mourners. Where should they go? What should they bring? If the family wants donations to a specific charity instead of flowers, make that crystal clear. "In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the ASPCA in Mary’s name."
A Quick Checklist for the Final Edit
Before you hit "send" to the funeral director or the newspaper editor, check these specifics.
- Is the middle name spelled right?
- Is the time of the memorial service AM or PM?
- Did you include the maiden name? (This is huge for genealogy researchers later on.)
- Is the name of the funeral home included so people know where to send arrangements?
The "Write an Obituary Template" You Can Actually Use
Since you’re looking for a structure, here is a flexible one. It isn't a rigid form, but a guide to make sure you don't miss anything vital while your brain is in "grief mode."
The Announcement [Full Name], [Age], of [City, State], died on [Date] after [Brief mention of cause, optional, e.g., a long battle with cancer / a brief illness / a life well-lived].
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The Essence [Name] was known for [Personality trait] and [Passion/Hobby]. Whether he was [Action] or [Action], he brought [Feeling] to everyone around him.
The Timeline Born in [Year] to [Parents], [Name] attended [School] and eventually spent [Number] years working as a [Profession]. He/She was a proud member of [Club/Organization/Church].
The Family [Name] is survived by [Spouse], [Children], and [Siblings]. He/She was predeceased by [Parents/Late Spouse].
The Service A celebration of life will be held at [Location] on [Date] at [Time].
Actionable Steps for the Next Hour
If you are tasked with this right now, take a breath. You don't have to be Shakespeare. You just have to be honest.
- Gather the Hard Data: Get the full name, dates, and names of survivors written down on a physical piece of paper first. This prevents "brain fog" errors.
- Call the Newspaper: Find out their deadline and their price per line. This dictates how much "story" you can afford to tell in print.
- Draft the Digital Version First: Write the long, beautiful version for social media or the funeral home site. Then, cut it down for the paid print version.
- Phone a Friend: Send the draft to one person who isn't in the immediate circle of grief. They will catch the typos you are too tired to see.
Writing an obituary is the last gift you give someone. It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be theirs. Keep it simple, keep it accurate, and don't be afraid to let a little bit of their personality leak through the formal structure.
Check the spelling of every name one last time. You'll be glad you did.