A Guide to Blank Obituary Templates

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Writing an obituary is one of the toughest things you’ll ever have to do, and it always seems to come at the worst possible time. When you’re reeling from a loss, the thought of putting a life into words can feel completely overwhelming. That’s where a blank obituary template can be a real lifeline. It gives you a simple, structured starting point, guiding you through the essential pieces so you can focus on creating a heartfelt tribute, not wrestling with a blank page.

Your Guide to Crafting a Meaningful Obituary

An obituary is so much more than a simple announcement of a death. It’s the first telling of a life story for the community, a final act of love that honors a person’s unique journey and the impact they had on the world around them. But under the weight of grief, finding the right words can feel impossible. This is exactly why a structured guide or template can be so helpful.

Using a template isn't about being impersonal or generic. Think of it more like a compassionate framework—a steady hand to guide you through the process. It makes sure you don’t miss any crucial details and frees up your emotional energy to focus on what really matters: capturing the true spirit of the person you’re remembering.

Easing the Burden During a Difficult Time

The biggest advantage of a template is that it helps combat decision fatigue. When you're grieving, even the smallest choices can feel monumental. A template provides a clear path, breaking down the task into smaller, more manageable pieces. In fact, studies have shown that families using a fill-in-the-blank format can cut down the time they spend worrying about content by 45-50% compared to those starting from scratch.

A well-crafted obituary does two critical jobs: it informs the community of a passing and it starts the collective process of remembering and healing. The goal is to create a tribute that is both respectful and deeply personal.

Before you start writing, it’s helpful to know what information you’ll need to gather. The table below breaks down the core sections of any standard obituary, so you can have everything ready to go.

Core Elements of an Obituary Template

Section	What to Include	Purpose
The Announcement	Full name, age, city of residence, and date of death.	To formally and clearly announce the passing to the community.
Biographical Sketch	A short summary of their life: birth date/place, key life events, career, hobbies, and personal achievements.	To share a glimpse of their life story and personality.
Family Information	A list of key surviving family members (spouse, children, parents) and often those who predeceased them.	To acknowledge the family and their connection to the deceased.
Service Details	Date, time, and location for any funeral, memorial service, or viewing.	To provide clear, actionable information for those wishing to pay their respects.
Special Messages	A closing note, such as a thank you to caregivers or instructions for memorial donations.	To express gratitude and guide those who want to offer support.

Having these core elements organized will help you complete the template with confidence and ensure no important details are overlooked.

Navigating the emotional side of loss is a huge part of this process. If you’re supporting younger family members, you might find helpful resources for understanding grief to guide them through this difficult time.

Picking the Right Blank Obituary Template

Choosing a starting point for an obituary is a deeply personal first step. Not every life story fits the same structure, and how you share the news often depends on where it will be seen. The real goal is to find a template that feels right—one that helps you tell their story, whether it's a short notice for the local paper or a more detailed tribute online.

Before you start writing, think about what this obituary needs to accomplish. Is it a quick, formal announcement for a newspaper with a strict word count? Or is it a chance to share a fuller life story on a digital memorial platform like Raava, where you have room for anecdotes and photos? Knowing this will point you toward the best format.

To make things easier, we've created three different templates, each designed for a specific purpose.

The Short Obituary Template

The Short Template is all about being clear and concise. This is your go-to for traditional newspaper announcements, where every word counts (and costs). It sticks to the absolute essentials: the announcement of their passing, their closest surviving family members, and the service details.

This format also works perfectly for social media. It’s short enough for people to read and share quickly, making sure the news gets out to a wide circle of friends and family without any fuss. It's the practical choice when you need to be brief and direct.

The Standard Obituary Template

Our Standard Template is the most popular for a reason—it strikes a great balance. It gives you a classic structure that lets you share important biographical details without getting too long. You'll have space to mention where they were from, what they did for a living, and what they loved to do, painting a warm, familiar picture of their life.

It's flexible enough for almost any situation. It fits well in print but also has enough substance for a funeral home’s website or an online tribute page. Think of the Standard Template as a trusted framework for creating a respectful, traditional tribute.

This chart can help you quickly see which template might be the best fit for your needs.

As you can see, the path from your main goal—a brief notice, a standard tribute, or a full story—leads you right to the best template to start with.

The Extended Obituary Template

When you have a richer story to tell, the Extended Template gives you the space you need. This format is perfect for going beyond the basic facts to share the memories, anecdotes, and unique qualities that made them who they were. It’s designed for places where word count isn’t an issue, like a personal blog, a memorial website, or a comprehensive platform like Raava.

The Extended Template is less about listing accomplishments and more about capturing their spirit. It's an invitation to share the funny stories, the small quirks, and the heartfelt moments that truly defined them.

This is the template for creating a lasting digital legacy. It allows you to build a beautiful, detailed tribute that family and friends can come back to for years, keeping their memory alive in a meaningful way.

Filling Out Your Obituary Template: A Guided Approach

Once you've chosen a blank obituary template, the real work of honoring your loved one begins. This is the moment you transform a simple outline into a meaningful tribute. Think of each section as a different chapter in their story, from the formal announcement of their passing to the unique details that made them who they were. Let's walk through it together, section by section, focusing on how to write with care and authenticity.

The Gentle Announcement of Passing

The first few lines are often the hardest to write. This is the official announcement of death, and the goal is to be both clear and gentle. You'll need the person's full name, age, hometown, and the date they passed away. The way you phrase this opening can set the entire tone of the obituary.

Here are a few ways to approach it, each with a slightly different feel:

Formal: "John Michael Smith, 78, of Springfield, passed away on October 26, 2023."

Gentle: "Jane Elizabeth Doe, a lifelong resident of Maplewood, peacefully passed away at her home on October 26, 2023, at the age of 82."

Personal: "Our beloved mother and grandmother, Maria Garcia, left us on October 26, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 65."

There's no right or wrong answer here. Simply choose the words that feel most true to your loved one and your family.

Weaving Their Life Story

This is the heart of the obituary—your chance to paint a picture of the person they were. It’s less about listing facts and more about capturing their spirit.

Think of it as a mini-biography. You don’t need to include every single detail, but focus on the moments and traits that truly defined them. It helps to start by gathering some key information:

Date and place of birth

Parents' names

Significant places they lived

Education and career highlights

Marriage and family life

Their hobbies, passions, and quirks

With these details, you can begin to tell a story. Instead of just stating a job title, you could write, "After graduating from State University, he dedicated 30 years to teaching history at Central High, where students remember his incredible storytelling." That one sentence adds so much more color and personality.

Listing Family with Care and Respect

Navigating family relationships in writing requires a delicate touch. This section is a public acknowledgment of the people who were most important in their life.

Typically, you'll start with the closest surviving relatives and work your way outward: spouse, then children (with their spouses), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, siblings, and so on.

A few tips from experience:

Stay Consistent: Decide on a format and stick with it. For example, will you list a child’s spouse in parentheses, like "her son, David (Maria) Smith"?

Double-Check All Names: This is crucial. Misspelling a family member's name can cause unintentional hurt during an already difficult time.

Acknowledge Those Who Passed Before: It’s a common and respectful custom to mention close family who died before them, such as a spouse or parent. You can phrase it simply: "She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Robert."

This list is more than just names; it’s a reflection of a life shaped by family connections. Taking the time to get it right is a profound sign of respect.

Making Service Information Clear

When it comes to the funeral or memorial service, clarity is everything. You want to avoid any confusion for those who wish to attend and pay their respects.

Your template will have specific fields for this information. Be sure to fill out every detail for each event (like a viewing, funeral, or reception):

Event Type: State exactly what it is (e.g., "A viewing will be held...").

Date: Use the full day and date (e.g., "Friday, November 3, 2023").

Time: Give the precise start time.

Location: Include the full name and address of the venue (e.g., "St. Mary's Catholic Church, 123 Main Street, Anytown").

If the service is private, it's perfectly fine to say so. A simple line like, "A private family service will be held," communicates this clearly and gracefully.

Adding Special Messages and Final Wishes

The final section is for any special requests or acknowledgments. This is where you can express gratitude on behalf of the family or guide people on how to show their support.

If you’re requesting donations, be specific. Instead of just "donations to charity," provide the organization’s full name and a website if possible. For example: "In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association in John's memory."

This is also a wonderful place to thank caregivers or medical staff. A heartfelt sentence like, "The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Sunnydale Hospice for their compassionate care," is a beautiful and meaningful touch.

The move to digital has made this process more accessible, with platforms like Canva offering over 1,157 customizable templates and services like Ever Loved providing free online options. This shift has resulted in a nearly 90% cost reduction for many families compared to traditional newspaper ads. You can learn more about the evolution of free obituary templates and their benefits to see how things have changed.

Remembering Their Story: How to Write an Obituary with Personality

A blank obituary template is a fantastic starting point. It gives you the structure you need when your mind is understandably elsewhere. But the real magic happens when you move beyond the fill-in-the-blank facts and start weaving in the little details that made your loved one who they were.

The dates, names, and places are the skeleton of the story. The personality—the quirks, the passions, the inside jokes—is the heart. This is how you transform a simple death announcement into a heartfelt tribute that feels real, bringing comfort and a knowing smile to everyone who reads it.

Finding Their Voice and Setting the Right Tone

Think about the person you’re writing about. Was he a reserved, dignified university professor? Or was he a boisterous fisherman who told the same story a thousand times, and it got funnier with each telling? An obituary's tone should be a reflection of the life lived.

Getting this right is crucial; a mismatched tone can feel jarring and inauthentic. Getting a handle on understanding the right tone will help you craft a message that truly honors their spirit.

There are a few common approaches you can consider:

Formal & Dignified: This is often best for someone known for their professionalism, quiet strength, or traditional values. The language is classic and respectful.

Warm & Personal: If they were the heart of the family, known for their kindness and big hugs, a more conversational and intimate style feels right.

Humorous & Lighthearted: This one is tricky and should only be used if they were genuinely known for their wit and would have wanted people to laugh through their tears. It's a delicate balance.

Faith-Based: For someone whose faith was a cornerstone of their life, incorporating religious language and concepts is not only appropriate but also deeply comforting to their community.

To capture their voice, reflect on the words they used, the stories they loved to tell, and the impression they left on others. That will be your guide.

Obituary Tone and Wording Comparison

To give you a better idea of how tone changes the wording, here are a few examples. Notice how the same piece of information can be phrased differently to reflect a formal, informal, or faith-based perspective.

Section	Formal Tone Example	Informal Tone Example	Faith-Based Example
Opening	It is with great sadness that the family of John Allen Smith announces his passing...	Our family is heartbroken to share that John Allen Smith has passed away...	John Allen Smith was called home to be with the Lord on...
Life Summary	He was a distinguished alumnus of the University of Michigan and had a lauded 40-year career in civil engineering.	John, a lifelong Wolverines fan, spent 40 years doing what he loved: building bridges.	He lived a life of service, using his God-given talents in a 40-year career as a civil engineer.
Personality	John will be remembered for his integrity, his strong work ethic, and his devotion to his family.	We’ll never forget his booming laugh, his terrible dad jokes, or how he could fix anything with duct tape.	John walked in faith and will be remembered for his gentle spirit and unwavering belief in the good of others.
Closing	He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.	We’ll miss him more than words can say.	We take comfort in knowing he is at peace in God’s eternal kingdom.

As you can see, small shifts in language can make a big difference in how the tribute feels to the reader.

Personal anecdotes are your most powerful tool. A single, telling story can reveal more about a person's character than an entire list of accomplishments.

An anecdote is a window into their soul. It’s that specific, memorable moment that perfectly illustrates a broader truth about who they were. One great story can make the entire obituary unforgettable.

For instance, instead of saying, "She was an avid baker," you could write, "Her kitchen was the heart of the neighborhood, famous for the chocolate chip cookies she baked for every new family, graduation, and scraped knee on the block." See the difference? That one sentence paints a vivid picture of her kindness and role in the community.

Navigating Sensitive Family Dynamics

Let's be honest: families can be complicated. Writing an obituary sometimes means navigating tricky relationships or painful estrangements with grace. Your goal should always be honesty tempered with kindness.

Here are a few tips for handling these delicate situations:

When in doubt, include. It's often better to include a name than to omit one. An omission can easily be seen as a deliberate and final slight.

Keep the language simple and neutral. Avoid loaded words or phrasing that could imply judgment. Stick to facts and use respectful language.

Get a second opinion. Before you publish anything, share the draft with one or two trusted family members. This helps ensure you haven't unintentionally caused hurt and that the tribute feels like a collective sentiment.

Remember, an obituary is a public document, but its most important audience is those who are grieving. The priority is to honor the deceased without creating more pain for the living.

It's clear that families are embracing more personal ways to memorialize their loved ones. The obituary template industry has grown significantly, with 65-70% of families now turning to online resources for help. More importantly, 80% of users prefer templates that allow for deep personalization—a sign that a one-size-fits-all approach no longer resonates.

Ultimately, writing an obituary with personality is about celebrating a life as it was truly lived. By choosing the right tone, sharing meaningful stories, and handling family details with care, you create more than just a notice of death. You create a lasting gift for everyone who loved them.

After you’ve poured so much care into crafting a tribute using a blank obituary template, the last step is sharing it with everyone. This part is just as crucial as the writing itself. It’s all about making sure the announcement reaches the right people at the right time, presented in a way that feels clear, dignified, and polished.

This isn't just a matter of copy-pasting text. It's about thoughtfully presenting a life story with the respect it deserves. A careful approach here ensures the community can gather, whether in person or in spirit, guided by a tribute that is beautiful and free of errors.

Preparing the Obituary for Publication

Where you plan to publish the obituary will shape how you format it. A traditional newspaper plays by a completely different set of rules than an online memorial site.

Print newspapers, for instance, are all about space. They typically charge by the line or even by the character, so you have to be concise. This often means condensing your text and using standard abbreviations (like "St." for Street or two-letter state codes) to meet their guidelines. It's always a good idea to call the newspaper's classifieds or obituaries desk to get their specific formatting rules and deadlines.

Digital platforms give you much more room to breathe. Websites run by funeral homes, social media pages, or dedicated memorial platforms like Raava can accommodate longer tributes, multiple photos, and even links to videos. For these, your focus should be on readability.

Use Short Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs to just 1-3 sentences. This makes the story much easier to follow on a screen.

Embrace White Space: Simply adding a blank line between paragraphs gives the reader’s eyes a place to rest.

Add Simple Headings: For longer stories, headings like "A Life of Service" or "Family and Friends" can help guide people through the narrative.

This kind of formatting transforms a dense block of text into an inviting story that people will actually want to read and connect with.

The best place to publish the obituary really depends on the community you're trying to reach. Every channel has a different purpose, and using a mix of them is often the most effective way to spread the word.

Local Newspapers: Still the gold standard for reaching an older generation or a tight-knit local community. A newspaper notice also serves as an official public record of the death.

Funeral Home Websites: Most funeral homes offer an online obituary as part of their service package. This becomes a central hub for service details, directions, and a place for friends to leave condolences.

Social Media: Platforms like Facebook are incredibly powerful for getting the word out quickly to a broad network. A single post can be shared widely, ensuring friends and distant relatives are notified promptly.

Digital Memorial Platforms: Services like Raava create a permanent, interactive space for a detailed life story. These sites become a living archive where family can continue to add photos, memories, and tributes for years to come.

The Critical Final Proofread

Before you send the obituary anywhere, one final, meticulous proofread is absolutely essential. A simple typo in a name, date, or address can cause real confusion and unintentional pain during an already difficult time.

Don't trust yourself to proofread it right after you finish writing. You’re just too close to the words and will almost certainly miss something.

Instead, follow this process for the best results:

Step Away From It. Give yourself at least an hour, or even better, a whole day, before you look at the draft again with fresh eyes.

Read It Out Loud. This simple trick forces you to slow down. You'll hear awkward phrases and catch typos that your brain might otherwise skip right over.

Get a Second (and Third) Opinion. Ask at least two other people to read it. There is no better defense against errors than a fresh pair of eyes. Ask them to pay special attention to all the names, dates, and locations.

Triple-Check All the Numbers. Manually verify every single date, time, and address against your original notes. A typo in the service time can cause genuine distress for people trying to attend.

This final check is your last act of care in honoring your loved one, ensuring their tribute is presented perfectly.

Common Questions About Obituary Writing

When you sit down to write, even with a good template in front of you, questions are bound to pop up. Writing about a life is a deeply personal act, and every family's situation brings its own unique set of challenges. I’ve been through this process with many families, and a few common concerns almost always surface. Let's walk through them.

What If I Have Limited Information?

This is a really common and understandable worry. Maybe you’re writing for a relative you didn’t know well, or perhaps the details of their early life are just lost to time. When this happens, don't panic. The key is to shift your focus from a biographical timeline to a tribute about their character and impact.

Instead of getting stuck on exact dates or a complete career history, lean on the memories of the people who knew them best. A few phone calls to friends, former coworkers, or other relatives can make all the difference. Ask simple, open-ended questions:

"What's your favorite memory of them?"

"If you had to describe them in one word, what would it be?"

"How did they make you feel when you were around them?"

You can then weave these quotes and feelings into the obituary. A tribute filled with heartfelt reflections is often more powerful than one that just lists facts and figures.

Handling Complex Family Dynamics

Let's be honest: families can be complicated. Writing an obituary can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield of estranged relatives, blended families, and old disagreements. When you find yourself in this situation, your guiding principle should always be inclusion and neutrality.

When you get to the list of survivors, it’s usually best to be as comprehensive as possible. Deliberately omitting a close family member, even if there was a painful estrangement, can cause even more hurt. The obituary is a public record, and in the long run, it's often kinder to include a name than to make a painful statement by leaving it out.

Stick to simple, factual language. For instance, if there are children from different relationships, you can just list them all together: "She is survived by her children..." There’s no need to detail the different family branches. The idea is to be respectful to everyone while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the person you're honoring.

Understanding Publication Costs

This is a practical question that often catches families by surprise. The cost of publishing an obituary can vary wildly, and it’s smart to know what you’re getting into before you make a decision.

Newspapers: This is the classic route, but it's also typically the most expensive. Most print publications charge by the line, and the bill can easily run from 1,000, especially for papers in major cities. Adding a photo will usually cost extra.

Funeral Home Websites: Many funeral homes will post an online obituary on their website as part of their standard service package. This is often the most budget-friendly way to get a central, shareable announcement out to the community.

Digital Memorial Sites: Platforms like Raava offer a permanent, expansive home for memories. While some have costs, they provide far more space for photos, stories, and ongoing tributes than any other option, creating a lasting digital legacy for your loved one.

Crafting this tribute is a profound act of love, and a digital memorial can give those precious memories a permanent home. At Raava, we believe in creating living archives that keep the stories and voices of your loved ones alive for generations to come.

Explore how you can build a lasting, interactive memorial.