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Death notice templates & examples

A death notice is the short announcement placed in the newspaper. Copy a template below, and let our free obituary writer write the full obituary, with a free memorial page you can link to from the notice.

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What to include in a death notice

Every template below is built from these details. Check your newspaper’s rules too: some require the funeral home’s name, and most set a deadline for the next day’s paper.

  • 1

    Full name

    Many newspapers print the last name first, in capitals.

  • 2

    Age and hometown

    The city and state are enough.

  • 3

    Date of death

    The cause of death is always optional.

  • 4

    Close family

    A spouse and children, or simply “survived by family.”

  • 5

    Service details

    Date, time, and place, or a note that the service is private.

  • 6

    Funeral home

    Many newspapers ask which funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Death notice templates and examples

Six formats, from a standard newspaper notice to a funeral notice and an anniversary memorial notice. Copy the template, or start from the example.

Standard newspaper death notice

Newspaper-readyAbout 60 words

The classic format: name, age, date of death, family, service, and funeral home.

Best for: most local newspapers and funeral home websites.

HARRINGTON, Margaret Ann, 84, of Springfield, Illinois, passed away October 3, 2026. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Donald; her children, Susan and Paul; and five grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Friday, October 9, at 10:00 a.m. at First Methodist Church. Arrangements by Oakwood Funeral Home.

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Short death notice

Under 35 wordsLowest cost

Only the essential facts, for newspapers that charge by the line or by the word.

Best for: keeping the newspaper cost down while the full obituary goes online.

Full name, age, of city, state, died date. Services day, date, time, at place. Funeral home, phone.

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Death notice with visitation and burial

Full service detailsMemorial gifts

Lists the visitation, the funeral, and the burial, plus where to send memorial gifts.

Best for: a traditional funeral with a visitation the evening before.

Full name, age, of city, state, passed away peacefully on date at place.

Visitation will be held day, date, from time to time at funeral home. The funeral service will begin at time day, date at place, with burial at cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to organization.

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Death notice for a private or later service

No public servicePoints online

Shares the news and points readers to the full obituary online.

Best for: a family-only service, or a memorial that has not been planned yet.

Full name, age, of city, state, died date. A private service will be held for the family, and a memorial gathering will be announced later.

The full obituary and updates can be found at memorial page link.

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Funeral notice (Irish and UK style)

Ireland, UK, AustraliaTraditional wording

The traditional funeral notice, starting with the surname and “peacefully.”

Best for: newspapers and notice websites in Ireland, the UK, and Australia.

SURNAME, First names (nickname). Peacefully, at place, on date, aged age, of town. Beloved wife/husband of spouse, loving mother/father of children, and grandmother/grandfather of grandchildren.

Funeral service at place on day, date at time. Family flowers only; donations, if desired, to charity.

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Memorial notice (in memoriam)

AnniversaryRemembrance

Placed on an anniversary or birthday to remember someone who has died.

Best for: the first or a later anniversary of the death.

LAST NAME, First name. In loving memory of first name or nickname, who passed away on date. Number years have passed, but your love is with us every day.

Forever missed by family names.

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Death notice vs. obituary

Death noticeObituary
LengthA few lines, usually under 100 wordsSeveral paragraphs
What it coversThe facts: name, death, family, serviceTheir life story, family, and service
Where it appearsThe newspaper’s paid notices sectionOnline, and in the newspaper if the family chooses
CostNewspapers usually charge by the line or wordFree online; newspapers charge for print

Keep the notice short, and put the full obituary online

Because newspapers charge by the line, many families print a short death notice and end it with a link to the full obituary online. The free obituary writer asks a few simple questions, writes the obituary with the service details, and publishes a free memorial page you can link to from the notice and share by text, email, or Facebook. You can update it anytime.

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Death notice FAQ

What is a death notice?

A death notice is a short paid announcement in the newspaper that someone has died. It gives the essential facts: the name, age, date of death, close family, and the time and place of the service.

What is the difference between a death notice and an obituary?

A death notice is short and factual, and the family pays the newspaper to print it. An obituary tells the story of the person’s life and is often published online for free. Many families place a short death notice in the paper and link to the full obituary online.

Who places the death notice?

Either the family or the funeral home. Funeral homes often submit the notice on the family’s behalf, but you can also submit it directly through the newspaper’s website.

How long should a death notice be?

Most are between 30 and 100 words. Because newspapers usually charge by the line or by the word, a short notice with a link to the full obituary online keeps the cost down.

Is it free?

The templates on this page, the obituary writer, and the online memorial page are free. Newspapers set their own prices for printing a death notice.