Obituary templates
Pick the template by tone and length: traditional for most people, a short notice for the newspaper, celebration of life for a lighter tone, and veteran, faith or young person when that is the heart of the story.
Facts checked at the sources on October 23, 2026.
The six templates at a glance
| Template | Best for | Tone | Typical length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Most obituaries | Formal, third person | 250 to 450 words |
| Celebration of life | A lighter, personal goodbye | Warm, first names, stories | 250 to 500 words |
| Short notice | Newspaper print, quick announcements | Facts only | 50 to 150 words |
| Veteran | Someone whose service mattered to them | Respectful, detailed service record | 250 to 450 words |
| Faith | When faith shaped their life | Reverent, with scripture or prayer | 250 to 450 words |
| Young person | A child, teenager or young adult | Gentle, about personality | 150 to 350 words |
Each template has its own page with a complete sample and the sections it uses: traditional, celebration of life, short notice, veteran, faith and young person. Or see all templates side by side.
A fill-in traditional template
Copy this, replace the brackets, and delete any line that doesn't fit. Leave out anything you don't know rather than guessing.
[Full name], [age], of [town], died [date] at [place]. [He/She/They] was born in [birth year] in [town] to [parents' names] and grew up [a line about childhood].
After [school or service], [first name] worked as [job] at [employer] for [years]. [A sentence about what they were proud of in their work.]
[First name] married [spouse] in [year]. Together they [raised children / built a home / ran a business] in [town].
[Two or three specific details: a habit, a phrase, a story.]
[First name] is survived by [spouse]; [children, with spouses in parentheses]; [number] grandchildren; and [siblings]. [He/She/They] was preceded in death by [parents, siblings, others].
Visitation will be [day, date, time] at [place]. The funeral will be [day, date, time] at [place], with burial at [cemetery]. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to [charity].
A fill-in short notice
[Full name], [age], of [town], died [date]. [One line about who they were.] Survived by [closest family]. Service [day, date, time] at [place]. The full obituary is at [web address].
A short notice like this is what most newspapers charge least for. The last line sends readers to the full story online, which costs nothing to publish.
How to choose
- If you aren't sure, choose traditional. It fits nearly everyone and is what readers expect.
- If the person would have hated anything solemn, choose celebration of life.
- If military service is a big part of their story, choose veteran, even if they served only a few years.
- If their congregation was their second family, choose faith.
- For a child or young adult, choose young person. It puts personality first and handles family names with care.
You can switch templates later on ObituaryUS without losing your answers. The same answers simply produce a different draft. Start with the traditional template.
Write it with us, free
Answer a few questions and ObituaryUS sets your words in a clean, printed-page layout you can share, print and keep. No fees, no ads on the page.
Questions families ask
Are these templates free?
Yes. All six are free to copy, and free to use on ObituaryUS, where the obituary stays online at no cost.
Can I print an obituary template?
Yes. Copy the fill-in text above into any document. On ObituaryUS you can also print a funeral program and a QR memorial card from the finished obituary.
Which template should I use for a newspaper?
The short notice. Newspapers charge by the line, so print a short notice and put the full obituary online for free.
Can I mix two templates?
Yes. A template is only a starting order. Many families start with traditional and add a lighter paragraph from the celebration style.