Home › Obituary templates › A spouse or partner
Obituary template for a spouse or partner
When you are writing about someone you shared a life with, the facts can feel too small. This template gives you a simple frame, with space for how you met, how long you were together and what everyday life looked like. Use as much or as little of it as feels right.
Take your time. What you type and the photos you add stay on your device. We never receive them. You can close the page whenever you need to.
Write yours
Your text
Highlighted [brackets] mark a needed detail that is still blank. Paste the text into any document to change the wording.
The plain template
The same template with every blank showing. Copy it into any document and replace each [bracketed] part.
[full name], [age], of [hometown or where they lived], passed away on [date of death], [how or where they passed].
They were born on [date of birth], in [place of birth].
They were the beloved [their role] of [spouse or partner's name], whom they married in [year you married] and with whom they shared [years together] years.
[first name or the name family used] worked as [work or career]. They were known for [what they were known for]. They loved [what they loved].
They are survived by [survived by]. They were preceded in death by [preceded in death by].
A service will be held at [service place] on [service date and time].
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to [donations or flowers].
[a closing line in your own words]
An example made-up people and details
Daniel Robert Whitaker, 79, of Lakeside, passed away on January 19, 2026, at home.
He was born on November 2, 1946, in Erie, Pennsylvania.
He was the beloved husband of Ruth, whom he married in 1970 and with whom he shared fifty-five years.
Daniel worked as a high school woodworking teacher. He was known for his patience and his terrible puns. He loved fishing at dawn, rebuilding old boats and his wife's cooking.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; his son, Michael; his daughter, Claire; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, June.
A service will be held at Lakeside Chapel on Saturday, January 31, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Lakeside Boat Club youth program.
A few gentle notes
- A sentence about how you met, or something small you did together every day, often says more than a list of achievements.
- You do not have to name every family member. A line such as "and many friends who became family" is fine.
- If the relationship or the family situation is complicated, keep to the facts you are comfortable sharing publicly.
- Write the version you are comfortable with now. You can always write a longer remembrance for the service.
- Before sharing online, consider leaving out home addresses, full birth dates, a mother’s maiden name, and when the home will be empty.
How to write an obituary, step by step · Make a funeral program · All obituary templates