An obituary tells people that someone has died, who they were, and where to come and say goodbye. It does not need to be long or polished. Most are 150 to 400 words, and the best ones sound like the person. This page gives you a free writer that turns your answers into a first draft, a fill-in template, three examples, and a short list of what to leave out.
Putting their life story in a program too? Pick a design
Edit in Canva (a free account works) or Microsoft Word, print at home or at a print shop. Instant download.
If you are writing the eulogy as well, our eulogy guide has a free outline. If you get stuck, email hello@memorialpaper.com and we will help.
Write a first draft in a few minutes
Fill in what you know. Empty boxes are skipped, and any missing service details show in [square brackets] so you can add them later.
Free obituary writer
Answer what you can and leave the rest blank. It writes a first draft you can change and copy. Everything happens on this page: nothing you type is sent to us or saved, so copy your draft before you close the page.
What goes in an obituary
Most obituaries follow the same order, so readers can find what they need quickly.
- The news. Their full name, the name people called them, their age, where they lived and the date they died. You can say "died peacefully" or simply "died". You do not have to give the cause.
- Their life. Where and when they were born, the work they did, the people they made a home with, and what they loved. A few true details say more than a list of virtues.
- Their family. The people who survive them, then the people who died before them. Spouse or partner first, then children and their partners, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, and anyone else the family wants named.
- The service. The kind of service, the place and address, the day, date and time, and any visitation or reception. If the service is private, say so.
- Donations and thanks. A charity for donations in their memory, if the family wants one, and a thank-you to the people who cared for them.
A free obituary template
Copy this, replace everything in square brackets, and delete the lines you do not need.
[Full name], [age], of [town], died [peacefully] on [date]. [First name] was born in [year] in [place], to [parents].
[First name] worked as [their work]. [First name] married [name] in [year]. [First name] loved [two or three things], and will be remembered for [a quality or habit people will miss].
[First name] is survived by [spouse or partner]; [children and their partners]; [grandchildren]; and [brothers and sisters]. [First name] was predeceased by [names].
A [funeral service / memorial service / celebration of life] will be held at [place and address] on [day, date] at [time]. [Visitation or reception details.] In lieu of flowers, donations in [first name]'s memory may be made to [charity]. The family thanks [carers] for their kindness.
Three examples
Each one is for a fictional person. Read them for the shape, then write your own.
A traditional obituary, for a newspaper or a funeral home website
Eleanor Rose Whitfield, 85, of [town], died peacefully at home on September 30, 2026. Eleanor was born in 1941 in [town], the second of four children of Margaret and John Hale.
She trained as a nurse at nineteen and worked as a nurse for 34 years at [hospital]. She married Thomas Whitfield in 1963, and together they raised three children in a house where the kettle was always on. Eleanor loved her garden, the morning crossword and Sunday dinners with the family, and she will be remembered for her practical kindness and her quick laugh.
Eleanor is survived by her children, Sarah (Michael Brooks), Daniel and Anne; her grandchildren, Emma, Lucas, Olivia and Noah; and her sister, Ruth. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas, in 2015.
A funeral service will be held at [place and address] on [day, date] at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to [charity]. The family thanks the nurses on the fourth floor of [hospital] for their care.
A warm, personal obituary, for a celebration of life
Walter James Whitfield, 79, of [town], passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on October 3, 2026. Walt was born in 1947 in [town] and never lived more than an hour from a lake.
He worked as a forester for 38 years, and he could name every tree on the trail and most of the birds. He married Joan Pearce in 1970. He loved early mornings in the canoe, breakfast cooked over a fire, and teaching his grandchildren to cast a line, and he will be remembered for his patience and his terrible jokes. Walt will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Walt is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan; his sons, Peter (Lisa) and Andrew; his grandchildren, Ben, Maya and Sam; and his brother, Frank.
A celebration of life will be held at [lodge or hall, and address] on [day, date] at 2 p.m. Come in whatever you would wear to the lake. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to [conservation charity].
A short notice, for social media or a message to friends
With heavy hearts, we share that Dorothy Mae Whitfield, 88, died peacefully on October 8, 2026, surrounded by family. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne's Church, [address], on [day, date] at 10 a.m., with visitation the evening before at [funeral home] from 6 to 8 p.m. Please share this with anyone who knew Dorothy.
What to leave out
- Details that help identity thieves. Leave out the exact date of birth together with the mother's maiden name, and never give a home address. The year of birth, or the month and year, is enough.
- An empty house. A published service time tells strangers when a home will be empty. Ask a neighbour or a friend to stay at the house during the service.
- The cause of death, unless the family wants to share it. "Died peacefully" or "after a long illness" says enough.
- Anything the family has not agreed on. Whether to name a former spouse, an estranged relative or a stepfamily is a family decision. When in doubt, ask, and leave it out until everyone agrees.
- Unchecked names and dates. Read every name and date aloud to a second person before it goes anywhere. A newspaper prints exactly what you send.
Where to publish it
- The funeral home's website. Most funeral homes post obituaries online, often as part of their services, and the family can share the link.
- A local newspaper. Papers usually charge by length, and prices vary, so ask for a quote and the deadline before you write a long one. Many families print a short notice in the paper and a longer version online.
- Social media and messages. A short notice like the third example, with the service details, reaches people fastest.
- The funeral program. The life story page of a program is the obituary's natural home. Our guide to making a program shows how to fit it.
How long should it be?
- A newspaper notice: 100 to 300 words, because papers charge by length.
- A funeral home website, or the life story in a program: 200 to 500 words.
- A social media post or a message: 50 to 100 words.
Questions?
Email hello@memorialpaper.com. Send us your draft if you like; we will read it and help with any part that is not right yet.