How to Write an Obituary: What to Include, With Examples
An obituary announces a death and tells the story of a life. Most follow the same order: the announcement (full name, age, hometown and date of death), a short life story (upbringing, education, work, marriage and the things they loved), the family who survive them and those who died before them, details of the funeral or memorial service, and where to send donations in their memory. Give the person's age rather than their full date of birth, and leave out their home address — criminals use obituaries to steal the identities of people who have died.
Obituary or death notice?
A death notice is a short paid announcement: name, age, date of death and service details. An obituary also tells the story of the person's life. In most newspapers both are paid notices written by the family. Separately, papers publish news obituaries written by their own reporters, usually about well-known people.
What to include, in order
- The announcement. Full name (and the nickname everyone used), age, the city or town where they lived, and the date they died. You can add where they died ("at home, surrounded by family") and, if the family wishes, the cause.
- Their life story. Where they grew up, schooling, military service, work, marriage or partnership, faith and community, and what they loved. One or two specific details — the garden, the Sunday phone calls, the terrible puns — say more than a list of adjectives.
- Family. Who survives them (spouse or partner, children and their partners, grandchildren, siblings) and who died before them ("preceded in death by"). If relationships are complicated, naming groups such as "her children and their families" avoids leaving anyone out.
- Services. Date, time and place of the visitation, funeral or memorial service, whether the burial is private, and any livestream link. If nothing is planned yet, say that details will follow.
- Memorial gifts. "In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to…" with the charity's full name.
- Thanks, if the family wishes — to caregivers, hospice staff or a hospital unit.
A fill-in template
[Full name], [age], of [town], died [date] [at home / at the hospital or hospice]. [Name] grew up in [place] and [schooling or early life]. [Work, service, marriage — two or three sentences.] [What they loved, with one specific detail.]
[Name] is survived by [spouse or partner]; [children and their partners]; [grandchildren]; and [siblings]. [Name] was preceded in death by [names].
A [funeral / memorial service / celebration of life] will be held at [time] on [day and date] at [place]. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [charity].
Three short examples
These are fictional, written to show the structure. They are not real people.
A grandmother
Margaret "Peggy" Ellis, 88, of Dayton, Ohio, died peacefully on March 3 at home, with her family beside her. Peggy grew up on a farm outside town, the oldest of five, and taught second grade for 31 years. Generations of former students remember her reading voice and the jar of butterscotch on her desk. She married Robert Ellis in 1959; they went dancing every Saturday night until his death in 2015.
She is survived by her children, Ann (Mark) Porter and David Ellis; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, Louise. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9, at St. Mary's Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the public library.
A father who served
James Okafor, 74, of San Antonio, died October 2 after a long illness. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and then spent 28 years with the city's public works department, where he could fix anything with a wrench and a roll of tape. He coached Little League for two decades and never missed a Spurs game on the radio.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Grace; his sons, Michael and Daniel (Teresa); and four grandchildren, who knew him as Pop. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow on Friday at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to his local VFW post.
A young adult
Sofia Ramirez, 24, of Tucson, died unexpectedly on June 14. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Sofia worked as a veterinary technician and was the person every stray in the neighborhood eventually found. She ran half-marathons, painted murals with her cousins and filled every room with laughter.
She is survived by her parents, Luis and Carmen; her brother, Mateo; her grandmother, Rosa; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Reid Park; the family invites guests to wear bright colors. Donations in Sofia's memory may be made to a local animal shelter.
If the person served in the military, our guide to VA burial benefits explains national cemetery burial and military honors.
What to leave out
- Details identity thieves use. Criminals collect birth dates, maiden names, addresses and family names from obituaries to open accounts and file tax returns in the dead person's name. The FBI suggests giving the age but leaving out the date of birth, middle name, home address, birthplace and mother's maiden name. Many families keep a hometown or a maiden name so old friends recognize the person; if you do, still leave out the full date of birth and the address.
- An empty house. A published service time tells burglars when the home will be empty, so ask a neighbor or friend to stay at the house during the service.
- Anything the family has not agreed on. The cause of death is the family's to share or not. Some families name an illness to raise awareness, or name a suicide or an overdose to push back against stigma; others prefer not to. Either is right. If your family is grieving a suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is there for anyone in distress.
After publishing, protect the person's identity by notifying Social Security, the IRS, banks and the three credit bureaus — our checklist for what to do when someone dies walks through the order.
Length, tone and checking
- Length. There is no rule. Newspapers charge by the line, so print obituaries are often short; online, length does not change the price. Many families print a brief notice that points to a fuller obituary online.
- Tone. Write in the voice that fits the person — formal, warm or funny. "Died" and "passed away" are both fine; use the words your family uses.
- Accuracy. Check the spelling of every name, every date and every place, and ask a second family member to read it before it is published. Agree on who is listed and how.
Where to publish it, and what it costs
- The funeral home's website. Many funeral homes post obituaries online with a guest book where people can leave memories; ask whether this is part of their services.
- Newspapers. Papers price paid obituaries by the line or column inch, often with an extra charge for a photo, and prices differ widely between a small local paper and a big-city daily. Ask for a quote and the deadline before you settle the length.
- Through the funeral home. If the funeral home places the newspaper notice for you, the fee is a cash advance item under the FTC Funeral Rule: if the funeral home adds its own charge, your itemized statement must say so.
- Memorial sites and social media. An online memorial lets friends add photos and stories over time — see our guide to online memorial sites.
Start from a draft
Our free Obituary Writer asks nine simple questions and drafts two or three versions using only what you tell it, so you can edit instead of facing a blank page. If you are also preparing remarks for the service, see our guide to writing a eulogy.
Sources
People Also Ask
What should be included in an obituary?
Full name, age, hometown and date of death; a short life story; the family who survive them and those who died before them; details of the funeral or memorial service; and where to send memorial donations. A photo is optional.
What should you not put in an obituary?
Leave out the full date of birth and the home address, which identity thieves use. The FBI also suggests leaving out the middle name, birthplace and mother's maiden name. If you publish the service time, ask someone to stay at the house during the service.
How long should an obituary be?
There is no rule. Newspaper obituaries are often kept short because papers charge by the line, while online obituaries can be any length. Many families print a brief notice that points to a fuller obituary online.
Who writes the obituary?
Usually a family member or close friend, often with help from the funeral director, who can also submit it to newspapers. Our free Obituary Writer can produce a first draft from your answers to a few questions.