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It explains how an obituary can serve two audiences—those who knew the person and those who did not—and that no single format is mandatory. The template includes guidance and example drafts in three tones (formal, warm, and personal), plus a Quick Draft option for faster writing, typically within 30 minutes. 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Use only the sections that fit and skip others.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"What information should be included in an obituary?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"A full legal name (including a maiden name if applicable), dates of birth and death, places of birth and death, surviving and predeceased family members, education and career highlights, hobbies and passions, organizations, service details (date, time, location), and a photo for online publication.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How do publishing costs typically work?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"Online listings are often free for basic postings, while newspaper costs usually depend on line, column inch, or word count. Ask about pricing in advance and confirm whether the photo is included; online obituaries generally reach more people at a lower cost.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},191662,1790095730,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":35,"category_name":36,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":15,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":79},13056703019404,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","| Memorial Merits\u003Cbr>Before You Begin\u003Cbr>An obituary has two audiences: the people who knew the deceased and the people who did not. For the people who knew them, it is a tribute. For the people who did not, it is an introduction. The best obituaries serve both.\u003Cbr>There is no required format. A newspaper obituary follows a traditional structure (which this template covers), but an online obituary, a memorial service program, or a social media tribute can be written in any style. Use the sections that feel right and skip the ones that do not.\u003Cbr>This template provides the standard order of an obituary with guidance and examples for each section. The examples show three different tones: formal (traditional newspaper style), warm (personal but structured), and personal (conversational, first-person family voice). You do not have to choose one tone for the whole piece. Many obituaries blend formal structure with personal warmth.\u003Cbr>If you are under time pressure (the newspaper needs it by tomorrow), skip to the Quick Draft section on the last content page. It gives you a condensed framework you can fill in within 30 minutes. |\n| --- |\n| \u003Cbr>What You Will Need\u003Cbr>Full legal name (including maiden name if applicable), date ofbirth, date of death, place of birth, place of death, names of surviving family members, names of predeceased family members, education and career highlights, hobbies and passions, organizations and memberships, service details (date, time, location), and a photo (for online publications) . |\n| \u003Cbr>What It Costs to Publish\u003Cbr>Online obituary sites ([Legacy.com](Legacy.com), local funeral home websites, Ever Loved) are often free for a basic listing. Newspaper placement is where costs add up. Most newspapers charge by the line, column inch, or word count. A 200-word obituary in a mid-size newspaper typically costs $200 to $400. A longer obituary with a photo can cost $500 to $800 or more. Some newspapers offer a flat-rate package. Always ask for pricing before submitting, and ask whether the price includes a photo. You are not required to publish in a newspaper. An online obituary reaches more people at a fraction of the cost. |\n| This document is part of [The Funeral Planning Handbook toolkit. Visit](The Funeral Planning Handbook toolkit. Visit memorialmerits.com/tools/resources for additional)[ ](The Funeral Planning Handbook toolkit. Visit memorialmerits.com/tools/resources for additional)[memorialmerits.com/tools/resources](The Funeral Planning Handbook toolkit. Visit memorialmerits.com/tools/resources for additional)[ for additional](The Funeral Planning Handbook toolkit. Visit memorialmerits.com/tools/resources for additional)[ ](The Funeral Planning Handbook toolkit. Visit memorialmerits.com/tools/resources for additional)[planning tools](planning tools).\u003Cbr>Obituary Template | Memorial Merits Page 2 of 12 [memorialmerits.com](memorialmerits.com) |\n\n\n| Memorial Merits\u003Cbr>Section 1: Opening (Announcement of Death)\u003Cbr>The opening line announces the death and establishes the essentialfacts: full name, age, city of residence, and date of death. Somefamilies include the cause of death, others do not. Neither choice is wrong. If the death was by suicide, thefamily may choose to say 'died unexpectedly'or may choose to name it directly to help reduce stigma. There is no obligation either way. The opening sets the tonefor the entire obituary. |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| \u003Cbr>Examples\u003Cbr>Formal:\u003Cbr>Margaret Anne Caldwell, 74, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, surrounded by herfamily.\u003Cbr>Warm:\u003Cbr>Maggie Caldwell, beloved mother, grandmother, and lifelong gardener, passed away on March 12, 2026, at the age of 74.\u003Cbr>Personal:\u003Cbr>Our mother, Maggie Caldwell, left us on March 12th. She was 74 years old and still telling us all what to do until the very end. |  |  |\n| Your draft: |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n|  |  |  |\n| Obituary Template | Memorial Merits Page 3 of","cbCaieJqJjQzlaMA","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaieJqJjQzlaMA","pdf",552805,"English","# Before You Begin\n## What You Will Need\n## What It Costs to Publish\n# Section 1: Opening (Announcement of Death)\n## Examples\n# Section 2: Biographical Information\n# Section 3: Family (Survivors and Predeceased)","[{\"question\":\"Do obituaries have a required format?\",\"answer\":\"No. A newspaper obituary may follow a traditional structure, but online obituaries, memorial programs, or social tributes can use any style. Use only the sections that fit and skip others.\"},{\"question\":\"What information should be included in an obituary?\",\"answer\":\"A full legal name (including a maiden name if applicable), dates of birth and death, places of birth and death, surviving and predeceased family members, education and career highlights, hobbies and passions, organizations, service details (date, time, location), and a photo for online publication.\"},{\"question\":\"How do publishing costs typically work?\",\"answer\":\"Online listings are often free for basic postings, while newspaper costs usually depend on line, column inch, or word count. Ask about pricing in advance and confirm whether the photo is included; online obituaries generally reach more people at a lower cost.\"}]","Obituary Template - Memorial Merits | PDF",1788409936]