El Greko, what you describe is a separate thing from the obit, and is not free. An obituary is free (in the areas in which I have lived), and the newspaper has a form one can follow, at least loosely. Except in case of error or omission I haven't seen an obituary run more than one day.

The advertisment type of memorial is usually published some time later and is, as you say, signed by the grieving family. An obit is not signed.

The ones I am familiar with usually detail spouse, children, surriving parents and siblings with mates like "Terry (Amy), Seattle, Kris (John), Chicago...". Nieces, nephews, grandchildren and ggrandchildren are usually either "numerous" or numbered as "26 grandchildren and 4 greatgrandchildren."

This is in the US, of course.