Obituary template
An obituary follows a familiar order: the announcement, a short life story, the family, and the service details. Fill in the template below with what you know and leave out anything you don't. If you'd rather not write it alone, you can share the same details with us and read the opening of a finished obituary before deciding anything.
By the Lovingly Written team · Updated
[Full name], [age], of [city, state], [passed away / died] on [date of death][, surrounded by family / at home / peacefully].
[First name] was born on [date of birth] in [place of birth] to [parents' names]. [Education, in one sentence.] [Work, in one sentence.] [One sentence about what they were like, or something they used to say.]
[First name] married [spouse's name] in [year]. [One or two sentences about the life they built, the things they loved, the people and places they cared about.]
[First name] is survived by [his/her/their] [spouse], [name]; [children, with spouses in parentheses]; [number] grandchildren; and [siblings]. [He/She/They] [was/were] preceded in death by [names].
[Visitation details: time, day, date, place.] [Service details: time, day, date, place.] [Burial, if any.] In lieu of flowers, [donation wording].
| Field | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Margaret Ann (Kelly) Brennan | Include a maiden name or nickname if people knew them by it |
| Age | 78 | |
| City and state | Columbus, Ohio | Where they lived at the end of their life |
| Date of death | October 14, 2026 | |
| Wording for death | passed away / died / went home to be with the Lord | Choose what fits your family; "died" is always fine |
| Date and place of birth | February 2, 1948, in Dayton | |
| Parents | Patrick and Rose Kelly | |
| Education | nursing degree, Dayton | Optional |
| Work | labor and delivery nurse, 31 years | Optional |
| Marriage | married John Brennan in 1970 | Optional |
| What they loved | garden, Ohio State, crosswords in pen | Two or three things are enough |
| Survived by | husband John; children Kevin (Anne)... | Spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings |
| Preceded in death by | parents; brothers Michael and Thomas | |
| Visitation | 4–7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, Maplewood Funeral Home | Time, day, date, place |
| Service | 10 a.m. Friday, St. Andrew Catholic Church | |
| Burial | Optional | |
| In lieu of flowers | a local food pantry | Optional |
Tips
- Newspaper or online? Newspapers often charge by line, so keep a short version (about 100–150 words). Funeral home websites have room for a longer one.
- Check with the funeral home before you publish service times.
- Have one other family member read it for names and dates.