Obituary templates

Newspaper print billed by the line.

[FULL NAME], [AGE], of [CITY, STATE], died [DAY OF WEEK], [MONTH DAY, YEAR], at [PLACE].

He/She is survived by [SPOUSE NAME]; children [CHILD 1] and [CHILD 2]; and [NUMBER] grandchildren.

A [funeral/memorial] service will be held [DAY], [MONTH DAY] at [TIME] at [VENUE], [ADDRESS].

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to [CHARITY].

The default. Enough room to tell a story.

[FULL NAME] ("[NICKNAME]"), [AGE], of [CITY, STATE], passed away [MONTH DAY, YEAR] at [PLACE].

[FIRST NAME] was born [MONTH DAY, YEAR] in [BIRTH CITY] to [FATHER'S NAME] and [MOTHER'S NAME] ([MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME]). He/She graduated from [SCHOOL] in [YEAR] and went on to [DEGREE/TRAINING] at [INSTITUTION].

[FIRST NAME] worked as a [JOB TITLE] at [EMPLOYER] for [NUMBER] years, where [ONE SENTENCE ABOUT WHAT THE WORK MEANT — who they trained, what they built, who still remembers them].

He/She married [SPOUSE NAME] on [DATE] in [PLACE]. Together they [ONE SENTENCE ABOUT THEIR LIFE TOGETHER].

[FIRST NAME] found joy in [INTEREST 1], [INTEREST 2] and [INTEREST 3]. [ONE SPECIFIC, TRUE HABIT — the route walked each morning, the recipe never written down, the song always requested].

He/She is survived by [SPOUSE]; children [CHILD 1] of [CITY] and [CHILD 2] of [CITY]; [NUMBER] grandchildren; and [NUMBER] great-grandchildren. He/She was preceded in death by [NAME] and [NAME].

[Visitation/Wake] will be held [DAY], [MONTH DAY] from [TIME] to [TIME] at [VENUE]. A funeral service will follow [DAY], [MONTH DAY] at [TIME] at [VENUE], [FULL ADDRESS]. Interment will be at [CEMETERY].

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to [CHARITY NAME], [WEBSITE].

Online, funeral programmes, family archives.

[FULL NAME] of [CITY] died peacefully on [DATE], aged [AGE], surrounded by family.

EARLY LIFE
Born [DATE] in [PLACE], [FIRST NAME] was the [first/second/youngest] of [NUMBER] children born to [PARENTS]. [ONE MEMORY OF CHILDHOOD — a house, a farm, a neighbourhood, a hardship].

EDUCATION AND SERVICE
[SCHOOLS, DEGREES, YEARS]. [MILITARY BRANCH, RANK, YEARS AND WHERE THEY SERVED].

WORK
[CAREER HISTORY WITH EMPLOYERS AND YEARS]. [WHAT THE WORK MEANT TO THEM AND TO OTHERS].

FAMILY
[FIRST NAME] married [SPOUSE] in [YEAR]; they were married [NUMBER] years. [DETAIL ABOUT THE MARRIAGE OR PARTNERSHIP]. They raised [NUMBER] children in [PLACE].

WHO THEY WERE
[TWO OR THREE PARAGRAPHS OF SPECIFIC DETAIL — the habits, the sayings, the arguments, the generosity, the humour. This is the part people will read twice.]

SURVIVED BY
[FULL SURVIVOR LIST IN ORDER: spouse, children with cities, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings].

PRECEDED IN DEATH BY
[NAMES AND RELATIONSHIPS].

SERVICES
[EACH EVENT: TYPE, DAY, DATE, TIME, VENUE, FULL ADDRESS].

DONATIONS
[CHARITY NAME AND WEBSITE].

When faith was central to their life.

[FULL NAME], [AGE], of [CITY], was called home to the Lord on [DATE].

Born [DATE] in [PLACE] to [PARENTS], [FIRST NAME] was baptised at [CHURCH] and remained a faithful member for [NUMBER] years, serving as [ROLE — deacon, choir member, Sunday school teacher, usher].

[FIRST NAME] married [SPOUSE] on [DATE] and together they built a home founded on faith and service. He/She worked as [OCCUPATION] for [NUMBER] years.

[FIRST NAME]'s faith showed itself in [SPECIFIC ACTS — meals delivered, rides given, prayers offered, quiet generosity].

He/She is survived by [SURVIVOR LIST]. He/She was preceded in death by [NAMES].

A funeral Mass/service will be celebrated [DAY], [DATE] at [TIME] at [CHURCH], [ADDRESS], with [CLERGY NAME] officiating. Interment will follow at [CEMETERY].

[OPTIONAL SCRIPTURE — for example: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7]

May his/her memory be a blessing, and may he/she rest in eternal peace.

Someone who would have hated a solemn notice.

[FULL NAME] — [NICKNAME] to nearly everyone — completed a remarkable [AGE] years on [DATE], and left [CITY] a livelier place than he/she found it.

Born [DATE] in [PLACE], [FIRST NAME] never did anything by halves. [ONE FUNNY OR CHARACTERISTIC STORY — told properly, with names].

He/She spent [NUMBER] years as a [JOB], where [WHAT THEY WERE KNOWN FOR]. He/She was also, variously, a [HOBBY], a [HOBBY] and an unrepentant [HABIT].

[FIRST NAME] is survived by [SURVIVOR LIST], all of whom have a favourite story and none of which are printable here.

Rather than a funeral, the family invites everyone who knew [FIRST NAME] to a celebration of life on [DAY], [DATE] at [TIME] at [VENUE], [ADDRESS]. [DRESS CODE — for instance: "Wear something bright. He/She would have insisted."]

In lieu of flowers, do something he/she would have approved of: [SUGGESTION — plant something, buy a round, call your mother] or donate to [CHARITY].