The internet has changed the way we do everything. But obituary templates haven’t changed at all. Name, dates and places of birth and death, schools attended, degrees earned, job titles, children’s names…are you nodding off yet?

We personalize everything else — from credit cards to cutting boards. We should personalize our obituaries, too. How was your father, say, different from every other beloved father who just died? Most men in their 70s or 80s are military veterans. Each had a long career doing whatever, produced two or three kids, and joined a Moose Lodge at some point. What set your father apart from all the men of his generation who led parallel lives?

Obituaries should tell stories—even the funny ones and the not-so-flattering ones. They should come alive with photos, videos, and music. And since each person’s life plays out in a way that no one else’s ever has or ever will, each obituary should be unique.