How To Write an Obituary: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (With Template)
Writing an obituary usually falls to one person, often the night after a death, when nobody is thinking clearly. The good news: an obituary has a simple, predictable structure. You don't need to be a writer. You need the facts and two or three true details.
The basic order
Most obituaries follow the same order, and readers expect it:
- The announcement. Full name (and nickname), age, city, and date of death. You can add "peacefully," "after a long illness," or "surrounded by family," or leave the circumstances out entirely.
- A short life story. Where they were born and grew up, education, military service, work.
- What made them them. Two or three specific details: the garden, the terrible puns, the Sunday phone calls. This is the part people remember.
- Family. Survivors first (spouse or partner, children, grandchildren, siblings), then those who "preceded them in death."
- Service details. Type of service, date, time, place, livestream link.
- Donations. "In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to..."
How long should it be?
There is no rule. A newspaper notice of 60 to 150 words is common, partly because many papers charge by length. Many funeral homes host a free online obituary on their website, which can hold a longer version with photos. A good approach is to write the long version first and cut it down for print.
Fill-in template
[Full name], [age], of [city], died [peacefully] on [date]. Born in [place], [first name] [grew up / served / worked as ___]. [He/She/They] loved [2–3 specific things], and will be remembered for [a habit, saying or kindness]. [First name] is survived by [names]. A [service] will be held at [time] on [date] at [place]. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to [organization].
What to leave out
Scammers and burglars read obituaries. Leave out the full date of birth, the home address, and the mother's maiden name: together they are a recipe for identity theft. Age and city are enough. Some families also ask a neighbor to stay at the house during the service. More on this in what not to put in an obituary.
Practical tips
- Get two people to check spellings of every name and place. Mistakes in print are painful.
- Read it aloud once. If a sentence makes you stumble, shorten it.
- Ask the funeral home about newspaper deadlines and prices; they place obituaries daily.
- Save the final version with the program and eulogy. Families treasure them later.
If you'd like more examples, see three example obituaries, or use the six editable obituary templates in the Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack.
Funeral Planning & Obituary Pack — $12
17-page workbook with your FTC Funeral Rule rights, funeral home comparison, budget planner, 6 obituary templates, eulogy outline and program template. Instant download: PDF + DOCX + XLSX.
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