One Title Typo to Fix First
The title of this template contains a misspelling: it appears as “Mothrer Obituary Card Template” on the website listing, and some copies of the name carry the same error. The card itself says Mrs. First Last Name, which is correct. If you copy any wording from the template page into a printed card or a notice, check that the word Mother is spelt properly. A spelling mistake on a memorial card is the kind of error families notice at once.
Reading the Design
The card is A6 portrait, 4.13 x 5.83 inches (105 x 148 mm). The background is charcoal with a sunburst of darker and lighter grey rays spreading from the middle, and tiny white specks scattered like stars. Diagonal stripes in gold and silver cut the top right and the bottom left corners, and three gold stars sit at the lower left. A thin white line frames the page.
In the upper half, a large star shaped window, outlined in gold, shows a photograph of an older woman with white hair and pearl earrings, laughing with a younger woman who rests a head against hers. Below, Mrs. First Last Name is written in a white script, with a line for dates (XX XX, 19XX to XX XX, 20XX) and a paragraph in white sans serif: She was born on XX XX, 19XX to Gemma and Laiton Lenworth Holgate in Lewisham, London, England, and so on. The fonts are Alex Brush and Arimo.
Why a Star?
The star shaped frame suggests a bright light, a mother who guided the family, or someone who is now watching over them. It gives the card a hopeful note, which many families like. If it feels too playful for your mother, choose a card with a round or oval frame. The star is part of the artwork and cannot be changed into another shape.
Placing the Photograph in a Star
A star crops a picture into points, so the face should be placed in the centre and not too large. Click the window and choose Replace Image. A picture of the mother with a relative, as in the sample, fits the shape well, because the two faces fill the wide middle of the star.
Writing the Biography
The sample paragraph gives a model of the facts a family may include: her date of birth, her parents, her birthplace, the places she called home and the roots she felt connected to. Replace each with your own. Here is a pattern you can follow.
| Part | Example |
|---|---|
| Birth and parents | She was born on 4 May 1948 to Anna and George Papas |
| Home | She made her home in Leeds and loved her garden |
| Family | She was a devoted mother to three children and nana to seven |
| What she loved | She loved baking, hymn singing and long phone calls |
Print on a Dark Card
The charcoal background and the gold stripes need a good print. Use matte card stock of 250 to 300 gsm, and test one copy. White text on dark is easy to read, but a very small font can look thin. If your paragraph is long, shorten it. Cut to A6 and, if you like, round the corners.
Keeping Respect for the Family
Write the card with the family. Some details, such as exact addresses or the names of living relatives, may be private. Ask each person you name for permission. A good card should comfort and not expose.
For a card for a father, see the father obituary card. For a card for a child, see the children obituary card. More are in condolence templates.
