Short Obituary Template: A Fill-In Format That Sounds Human

If you are trying to write an obituary while you are grieving, it can feel like you are being asked to do something impossible: capture a whole person in a few paragraphs, on a deadline, with a brain that is already overloaded. A short obituary template is not meant to reduce someone’s life. It is meant to give you a steady starting point so you do not have to invent structure from scratch.

This guide gives you a fill in the blank obituary format that covers the essentials—who, when, where, and the people they loved—while leaving room for one or two true, human details. You can use it as a newspaper notice, an online memorial, or an obituary for funeral program printing. You can also hand it to a funeral home and say, “This is the voice we want,” which is often the fastest way to get help without losing the tone that feels right.

What a “short” obituary is really for

A short obituary is usually a clear public notice with enough warmth to feel like a person, not paperwork. It tells readers that someone has died, gives the most important identifying information, and shares what the family wants others to know next—service details, where to send flowers or donations, and how to share condolences. That is why a simple obituary format works so well: it lowers the risk of forgetting key facts, and it keeps you from spiraling into “How do I say this perfectly?” when perfection is not the point.

In practice, short obituaries also show up in multiple places at once. A newspaper may impose strict word limits and charge by the line. A funeral home website may allow more space. A memorial website may be shared widely and read for years. Using one flexible template lets you write one core version and then shorten or expand it depending on where you publish.

Before you write, gather a few details so you are not rewriting later

It helps to collect a handful of facts first, even if you only have ten minutes. You are not doing this to make it “formal.” You are doing it so you do not have to stop halfway through and chase down spellings, dates, or relationships.

• Full name (and the name they actually used day to day, if different)
• Date and place of death (city and state is usually enough)
• Date and place of birth (optional in a very short notice, helpful in most others)
• Immediate family names (spouse/partner, children, parents, siblings—whatever applies)
• Service details (date, time, location, and whether it is public or private)
• Flowers or donations (where to send, and whether the family prefers one over the other)
• One true detail (a small personality line: what they were known for, what they loved, or how they showed up for people)

If you want a longer, step-by-step walkthrough with additional examples and variations, Funeral.com’s guide on how to write an obituary can help, but you do not need to read anything else to use the template below.

The fill-in-the-blank obituary template

Below are two versions. Version A is the shortest “death notice” style. Version B is still short, but it is designed to sound like a human being—warm, specific, and not robotic. Both are meant to be copied into a document, adjusted, and used as an obituary template printable if you need something you can hand to a church, a printer, or a relative who is helping.

Version A: Ultra-short death notice

[Full Name], [age], of [City, State], died on [Day, Month Date, Year]. A [funeral/memorial/celebration of life] will be held [Day, Date] at [time] at [location]. [Optional: visitation details]. In lieu of flowers, [donation instructions]. Condolences may be shared at [funeral home or memorial page link, if available].

Version B: Short obituary that still feels human

[Full Name] ([nickname]), [age], of [City, State], died on [Day, Month Date, Year]. Born on [Month Date, Year] in [City, State], [First Name] was known for [one true detail: “a quick laugh,” “showing up early,” “quiet generosity,” “a stubborn love of the outdoors,” etc.]. They loved [one or two specifics: “Sunday pancakes,” “gardening,” “reading to grandchildren,” “coaching,” “music,” “their dogs,” etc.], and they made people feel [safe/seen/welcome/at home].

[First Name] is survived by [spouse/partner name]; [children and their partners, if desired]; [grandchildren]; and [other close family or “many nieces and nephews”]. They were preceded in death by [names, if you want to include them].

A [funeral/memorial/celebration of life] will be held [Day, Date] at [time] at [location]. [Optional: dress preference or tone: “Wear something comfortable,” “Please wear [team color],” etc.]. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests [donation instructions]. [Optional closing line: “We will miss them deeply,” “Thank you for holding our family close,” or a short quote that truly fits].

A short example that does not sound robotic

If you need an obituary example short to help your ear hear what “human” sounds like, here is a sample you can adapt. Replace the details, and keep the rhythm.

Maria “Mimi” Alvarez, 79, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died on January 8, 2026. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Mimi had a talent for turning ordinary days into something warm—coffee on the stove, music in the kitchen, and a phone call that always ended with “Eat something.” She loved crossword puzzles, her rose bushes, and any excuse to cook for someone who looked tired.

Mimi is survived by her husband, Luis Alvarez; her children, Elena (Mark) and Daniel; and four grandchildren who knew they could always count on her to show up. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to the local food bank. The family is grateful for your prayers, stories, and quiet kindness.

Small wording choices that make it sound like them

Most obituaries sound “robotic” for one simple reason: they lean on phrases that could apply to anyone. You do not need a long story to fix that. You usually only need one concrete detail and one sentence that uses natural language, the way someone would actually speak.

Instead of “They enjoyed spending time with family,” consider one line that paints a picture: “Sunday dinners were their favorite tradition,” or “They never missed a birthday call.” Instead of “They will be deeply missed,” consider a true description: “Their kitchen was a gathering place,” or “They had a way of making shy people feel welcome.” The goal is not to be clever. The goal is to be specific enough that someone who knew them says, quietly, “Yes. That’s them.”

If you are unsure what to include, think in threes: one role (parent, sibling, teacher, friend), one love (music, fishing, books, service, faith), and one impact (how they made people feel). That combination is often enough to turn a short obituary template into something that holds real meaning.

Survivors, relationships, and privacy

Listing survivors can be one of the most stressful parts, not because it is hard, but because it is emotionally loaded. People worry about leaving someone out, using the wrong name, or exposing private family dynamics in a public place. If it helps, remember that you are allowed to keep it simple.

Many families list immediate survivors only and then use a respectful umbrella phrase such as “and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.” If there are sensitive situations—estrangement, complicated partnerships, minors whose names you do not want online—you can choose privacy. There is no rule that says you must include every relationship detail in a public obituary.

One practical note: avoid listing home addresses, personal phone numbers, or information that could create safety concerns. If you want people to reach out, it is usually better to direct them to a funeral home memorial page, a donation link, or an email address created for the family.

Service information and where to publish

Service details are often the most functional part of a short obituary. If the service is public, people need date, time, location, and any key instructions (parking, accessibility, livestream link, or dress preference). If the service is private, it is perfectly acceptable to say so plainly: “A private service will be held for immediate family.” You can also add, “A public celebration of life will be announced later,” if you are not ready to commit to a date.

Families typically publish in a few common places: a funeral home website, a newspaper notice, a memorial website, and social media announcements shared by relatives. When you submit obituary online, pay attention to word limits and deadlines, especially for newspapers. If you are preparing printed materials, Funeral.com’s guide to funeral programs can help you decide what to include, how the obituary fits, and what is helpful for guests to have in their hands.

If you want a bigger-picture checklist for the week you are in—paperwork, decisions, timelines—Funeral.com’s resource on funeral planning can help you put the obituary in context so it does not feel like the only task you are carrying.

If cremation is part of the plan, your obituary can keep it simple

Many families writing obituaries today are also navigating cremation decisions, and that can affect how you write service information. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the projected U.S. cremation rate for 2025 is 63.4% (with a projected burial rate of 31.6%). The Cremation Association of North America reports a 61.8% U.S. cremation rate in 2024. In other words, your situation is not unusual: many families choose cremation and then schedule a memorial when travel, emotions, and logistics are more manageable.

If that is your plan, you do not have to over-explain. A short obituary can simply say, “A private cremation has taken place,” followed by, “A memorial service will be held on [date],” or “A celebration of life will be announced.” If you are still deciding, it is also fine to say, “Services will be announced,” and update later.

Costs are often part of the stress, too, and families sometimes feel guilty even asking. The same NFDA statistics page reports median 2023 costs of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial and $6,280 for a funeral with cremation. If you are trying to get your arms around how much does cremation cost in real life—what is included, what is not, and what questions to ask—Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost? can help you compare options without feeling pressured.

After the immediate week passes, many families discover a second wave of decisions: what to do with ashes. Some families begin by keeping ashes at home while they decide on a long-term plan, and if you are in that “not ready yet” space, you are not doing anything wrong. Funeral.com’s guide to keeping ashes at home walks through safe, respectful, practical considerations in plain language.

When you are ready, choices often become more concrete: a primary urn for home, a cemetery placement, scattering, or a ceremony such as a water burial. If you are choosing cremation urns, start with broad browsing in cremation urns for ashes, then narrow based on what your plan requires. Families who are sharing ashes or creating smaller “home base” memorials often find they prefer small cremation urns or keepsake urns so each person’s remembrance fits their life. If you want a calm guide before you buy, Funeral.com’s article on how to choose a cremation urn can help you match the urn to the plan, not just to a photo.

For families who want a more personal, wearable remembrance, cremation jewelry—including cremation necklaces—can be part of a sharing plan alongside a primary urn. If you are curious how it works and who it tends to help, Funeral.com’s guide Cremation Jewelry 101 is a gentle place to start.

If your long-term plan includes a sea ceremony, it is worth understanding the basic rule before the day arrives. The U.S. EPA states that cremated remains may be buried in or on ocean waters provided the burial takes place at least three nautical miles from land. Funeral.com’s guide to water burial explains what that distance means in real planning terms.

A gentle note if you are writing for a pet, too

Some families reading this are not only writing for a person. They are also carrying grief for an animal companion, and they want a few lines that feel true without becoming “cute” or minimizing. The same template works: name, dates, one detail that captures their personality, and what they meant to the household. If you are also navigating pet cremation decisions, Funeral.com’s collections for pet cremation urns, pet figurine cremation urns, and pet urns for ashes include both full-size and sharing options when families want multiple keepsakes.

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