Obituary Templates
Standard Obituary Template
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Simple Obituary Template
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Sample Obituary Template
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Printable Obituary Template
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Obituary Card Template
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Funeral Obituary Template
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Editable Obituary Template
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Black Obituary Template
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Blue Obituary Template
Use templateEditable obituary templates for honoring a loved one
An obituary announces the passing of a loved one and tells the story of their life. A well-structured obituary template gives families, funeral homes, and memorial coordinators a ready-made format to create an obituary that covers every important detail - from the person's full name and date of birth to surviving family members and memorial service information. PDF Guru offers a library of editable obituary templates for newspaper announcements, funeral programs, celebration of life events, and online tributes.
What Is an Obituary?
An obituary is a written notice that marks the passing of a person and summarizes their life, family, and legacy. Most obituaries follow a standard format: they open with the person's full name and dates of birth and passing, continue with a life narrative covering career, family, and accomplishments, include the names of surviving family members (and those preceded in death), and close with service details. An obituary may also include in lieu of flowers donation requests and information about any reception or gathering. Writing an obituary that feels personal and complete is made much easier with a structured obituary template as a starting point.
What to Include in an Obituary
A complete obituary covers both the essential facts and the personal story of the deceased. Here are the key components:
- Full name and dates - The person's full name, dates of birth and passing, and hometown
- Life narrative - A summary of their life and accomplishments: education, career, community involvement, and defining personal traits
- Surviving family members - Names of spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, and other close relatives, along with those preceded in death
- Cause of death - Optional, but commonly included in newspaper obituaries when the family chooses to share this information
- Funeral or memorial service details - Date, time, location, and the name of the organizing funeral home
- Celebration of life information - Details about any reception or gathering following the service
- In lieu of flowers - Any preferred charitable donation, including the organization name and contact
- Tribute message - A closing sentence or quote honoring the person being remembered
How to Create an Obituary with PDF Guru
Writing an obituary from scratch during a time of grief is difficult. PDF Guru's obituary templates make the process faster and more manageable:
- Choose an obituary template - Browse the library and select the obituary example format that fits your needs - short newspaper notice, funeral program, memorial tribute, or digital memorial page. Each template is designed for a specific use case.
- Fill in the details - Open the obituary template in the browser editor and add the person's name, dates, life story, surviving family members, and service details. Every field is editable - no design experience needed.
- Personalize the design - Customize fonts, colors, and layout to reflect the tone of the obituary. Add a photograph, adjust spacing, or change the overall style to create a more personal memorial notice.
- Add or rearrange sections - Move, remove, or add sections as needed. Include a cause of death field, expand the family section, or add a special message for the memorial service program.
- Download in your preferred format - Save the finished obituary as PDF for print submission to a newspaper or funeral home, as DOC for further editing, or as PNG or JPG for online sharing and digital memorial pages.
Types of Obituary Templates
- Newspaper obituary template - A concise, structured obituary template for print publication covering all essential details within a short word count
- Funeral program obituary template - A printable obituary template formatted as part of a funeral service program, with space for a photograph and service order
- Memorial tribute obituary template - A longer, more personal obituary template for a memorial event, with space for memories, milestones, and a personal message from the family
- Short obituary template - A simplified one-paragraph obituary template for families who need a brief, dignified announcement with essential information only
- Online obituary template - An obituary template formatted for memorial websites and social sharing, with space for extended biography and donation details
- Obituary template with photo - A designed obituary layout with a prominent photo section and elegant typography for printed memorial materials
Frequently asked questions
What is the proper format for an obituary?
A standard obituary format opens with the person's full name and life dates, followed by a biographical narrative covering hometown, career, and family. The body section lists surviving family members and those preceded in death. The closing section includes service and memorial details, in lieu of flowers instructions, and the funeral home name. An obituary template from PDF Guru follows this structure so you can write a properly formatted obituary without worrying about layout or organization.
How do I write an obituary?
To write an obituary, start by gathering the key facts: full name, date of birth, date of passing, birthplace, career, and names of surviving family members. Then write a short life narrative in chronological order - who they were, what they did, and what they meant to those around them. Close with service details and note any donation preferences. Using an obituary template helps structure the writing process and ensures you don't miss any essential information. PDF Guru's editable obituary templates include pre-built sections for every element of a complete obituary.
Where can I find obituary templates?
PDF Guru offers a library of customizable obituary templates for newspaper announcements, funeral programs, celebration of life events, and online memorials. Browse obituary example layouts, choose the template that fits your needs, personalize the content and design in the browser editor, and download the finished obituary as PDF, DOC, or another format. The library also includes funeral program templates and memorial card designs to support families through every step of the memorial planning process.