Obituary Templates

How to Write an Obituary?

When you are forced to write an obituary for a person dear to you that has recently passed away, this is both a great honor as well as a great responsibility. It's important to understand the life of the person recently deceased, including their philosophy, goals, interesting experiences, or major accomplishments. You may describe the student’s physical traits but avoid generalities and clichés.

The appointed person, how hard it might be, also might go through a difficult time, depending how close he or she was with the deceased person. The obituary you create must show the respect that he or she deserved, and it will be read and heard by many, many people.

Often obituaries are published in the newspapers and on the internet far into the future. It will be read by family members, loved ones, friends, acquaintances, and many others who are simply interested in reading about neighbors who have passed away.

For most writers, the obituary will be the most important piece people will keep and will remember the person by. It might be the hardest thing they will ever will do.

Despite the above factors, most people who are called upon to compose an obituary are utterly unprepared to do so. And while there is a growing list of resources to support the novice obituary author, there is still a profound lack of practical, helpful, easy-to-use assistance. This obituary template is prepared to help people who are called upon to create an obituary.

Characteristics of an Obituary

Obituaries generally include the following information in this approximate order:

Full name, age (address, consider privacy issues)
Unique, outstanding, or major attribute
Time and place of death
Cause or circumstance of death
Major accomplishments
Chronology of early life (birth, moves, education)
Place and date of marriage
Occupation and employment history
Honors, awards, and offices held
Additional interests and accomplishments
Memberships in churches, clubs, and other civic groups
Military service
Surviving relatives (spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.)
Religious services (location, officiating clergy, pallbearers)
Other burial and funeral arrangements

Checklist for Reporting and Writing Obituaries

Gather basic information: name, age, occupation, residence, activities, honors, awards, survivors, and funeral arrangements.
Identify a unique trait or ability that makes the person stand out.
Describe the person’s character and personality, perhaps including physical characteristics.
Gather quotes from family and friends, and include memorable sayings of the deceased.
Consider both the positive and the quirks of the person’s life.
Add historical context for a better understanding of the person's life.
Focus on the life lived, not just the death.

Further Obituary Writing Considerations...

Beyond Routine: Make obituaries interesting by including additional details and their significance. For instance, instead of just stating a woman owned a flower shop, describe what inspired her to open it and how it differed from others. Describe the person’s character and physical appearance. For young individuals, mention their goals or hobbies.
Anecdotes and Quotations: Including anecdotes and quotes from family and friends adds personality to the obituary.
Language Usage: Avoid euphemisms for "died" such as "departed," "expired," or "succumbed." Stick to clear and direct language, avoiding sentimental terms used by funeral directors.
Challenges in Obituary Writing: Double-check ages by subtracting the date of birth from the date of death. Avoid identifying hospitals to prevent potential harm to their reputation.
Survived By: A woman is survived by her husband, not her widower. Similarly, a man is survived by his wife, not his widow.
Religious Terms: For a Catholic funeral, the term "Mass" is always capitalized and should be noted as celebrated, said, or sung.
Privacy Concerns: Make sure to avoid printing survivors' addresses to prevent potential burglaries during funerals.
Terms of Death: Most deaths are sudden; a more accurate term may be "unexpected."
Autopsies: Report simply that “an autopsy will be conducted” without stating the obvious.
Relationships: Avoid suggesting one relationship is inferior to another unless requested by the family.

Using an Obituary Template in Google Docs

If you make an obituary in Google Docs, you can use our easy-to-customize obituary outline template. This obituary template free is useful for any kind of personal matter. Easily editable and compatible with Google Docs and Google Sheets (Google Workspace), this free obituary template allows you to create a meaningful obituary quickly.

Features:

The Obituary Templates you find on our page are compatible with Google Docs, Google Sheets, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
Available in A4 size (210×297mm)
Fully editable
100% print-ready

See below free obituary templates, which will save you time, cost, and effort.

Download those free obituary template for a father or any loved one now, and hopefully, we have made the process of honoring your loved one's memory a little easier and more meaningful for you!