Free Obituary Template

When someone you love has died, the last thing you need is a blank page staring back at you. Grief makes it difficult to organize your thoughts, and the pressure of writing something permanent can feel paralyzing. You know what you want to say, but finding the right place to begin is often the hardest part.

A template removes that obstacle. It gives you a framework so you can focus on what actually matters: the person, their life, and the details that made them who they were. You are not writing from scratch. You are filling in the story of someone you knew and loved, guided by a structure that has helped thousands of families before you.

The template below follows the standard obituary format used by funeral homes and newspapers across the country. You can use it exactly as written, adapt it to fit your needs, or simply reference it as a starting point. There is no wrong way to use it.

Before diving into the template itself, it helps to understand what each section of an obituary is meant to accomplish. Most obituaries follow the same general structure, regardless of length or tone.

Opening Statement

The opening identifies the person and announces their passing. It typically includes their full legal name, age, city and state of residence, the date and location of death, and their date and place of birth. Some families also include the circumstances in broad terms, such as "passed away peacefully" or "after a long illness." This section establishes the essential facts and sets the tone for everything that follows.

Family and Early Life

This section covers where the person grew up, who their parents were, and any formative details about their childhood or upbringing. It provides context for the life that followed. If the person had a particularly close bond with a sibling, grew up on a family farm, or moved frequently as a child, this is where those details belong.

Career and Accomplishments

Here you describe the person's professional life, education, military service, or volunteer work. Focus on what they found meaningful rather than simply listing titles. A teacher who spent thirty years shaping young minds tells a richer story than a list of schools and dates. Include degrees, certifications, or awards that mattered to them.

Personality, Hobbies, and Passions

This is where the obituary comes alive. What did they love to do? What made them laugh? What would their neighbors, coworkers, and friends remember most? A man who could fix anything with duct tape and determination, a woman who never missed a grandchild's baseball game, a person who collected vinyl records and could name every track on every album. These details transform an announcement into a portrait.

Survivors and Preceded in Death

List the immediate family members who survive the person, typically starting with a spouse or partner, then children, grandchildren, siblings, and sometimes close friends or caregivers. Follow this with family members who preceded them in death. Be consistent in how you list relationships and check all spellings with the family.

Service Details

Provide the date, time, and location for the visitation, funeral, or memorial service. Include the name of the funeral home and any relevant instructions, such as whether the service is public or private, and whether a livestream will be available.

Memorial Donations

If the family prefers charitable contributions in lieu of flowers, name the organization and provide instructions for how to donate. This is also an appropriate place to mention a memorial fund or a cause that was close to the person's heart.

Use the template below as your guide. Replace the bracketed fields with the details specific to your loved one. Skip any section that does not apply, and expand any section that deserves more space.

Opening

Early Life and Family

Career and Accomplishments

Personality and Passions

Survivors

Preceded in Death

Service Details

Memorial Donations

• Gather your information first. Before you begin filling in the template, collect the facts you will need: full names and spellings, dates, service details, and the names of survivors. Having everything in front of you makes the process much smoother and reduces the chance of errors that are difficult to correct after publication.
• Write more than you need, then edit. It is far easier to trim a draft that has too much detail than to expand one that feels thin. Fill in every section generously on your first pass, then read it aloud and cut anything that feels redundant or unnecessary. The final version will be stronger for it.
• Let someone else read it before publishing. A second pair of eyes will catch misspelled names, missing dates, and awkward phrasing that you might overlook in the fog of grief. Ask a trusted friend or family member to review the draft. They do not need to be a writer. They just need to know the person.
• Make it personal. The template provides structure, but the details you add are what make the obituary meaningful. A single specific memory or a phrase your loved one always said will do more to honor them than any number of generic tributes. Do not be afraid to let their personality show through in the writing.

You Do Not Have to Start from Scratch

A template is a useful tool, but it is still just a starting point. You are the one who has to find the words, fill in the blanks, and decide what to include and what to leave out. For many families, that process is manageable. For others, especially in the first days after a loss, even a guided template can feel like too much.

EverWord Memorials was built to eliminate the blank-page problem entirely. Instead of filling in a template on your own, you share the details and memories that matter most, and we craft a complete, polished obituary that sounds like it was written by someone who knew them. No staring at brackets. No wondering if you got the tone right. Just a thoughtful tribute, ready when you need it.

A template gives you structure. The right words give you peace of mind. We are here to help with both.