How to Write an Obituary

There’s nothing more difficult emotionally than losing a loved one. As you attempt to tackle the different duties and various tasks, you may be faced with the common question: how to write an obituary? An obituary is a death announcement that tells the story of a person’s life through biographical facts and other details.

Writing an obituary for your loved one may seem like a daunting endeavor, but with a few simple steps it can become a rewarding and meaningful experience. The end product can be an enduring and incredibly special written tribute to the person who’s passed on.

Obituaries are traditionally published in the newspaper but can also be sent out to friends and family, printed on cards to be distributed at a service, printed and framed, or read aloud.

Whether you’re looking to write a short, simple obituary or a longer, more detailed version, this article will offer examples of both, as well as provide a template that allows you to fill in your own information.

How to Write an Obituary: A Simple, Traditional Version

The first element of how to write an obituary is gathering information about your loved one. The more detail about their life you’re able to obtain, the more interesting the obituary will be!

If you’re tackling an obituary for the first time, you might want to opt for a simpler, more traditional version that covers the basic facts. These obituaries are typically just a few paragraphs in length.

The facts that are important in obituaries include: name of the person who passed, date of birth, date of death, names of surviving family members and those who were predeceased, memorial/funeral details and flower or donation information.

If you choose to write a simple obituary, here is a list of questions to have answered before you begin:

When was the person born, and when did they pass away?

Where were they born (hometown), and where did they spend their life?

Who is this person survived by? Who predeceased them?

What are the funeral/memorial details?

Does the family want flowers (if so, which address?) or donations (if so, to where?)?

Once you have the questions answered, you’ll want to organize your information into an obituary format.

How to Write an Obituary: A Traditional Example

Here is an example of a traditional, factual obituary that covers the key biographical information about someone’s life.

Beloved wife, mother and friend Patricia Eleanor Ladridge passed away on December 12, 2021, at the age of 35.

Born on April 5, 1986, in Lexington, KY, Patricia attended Bright Stars Elementary School followed by Lexington High School where she was crowned homecoming queen.

She went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky with a degree in political science followed by a successful career in political lobbying. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, watching baking competition tv shows and doing Zumba.

Pat leaves behind her wife of 11 years, Janet, her daughter Moon, and her parents, Stu and Jennifer Ladridge.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2022, at 2 p.m. at Stater Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lexington Animal Rescue Organization.

How to Write an Obituary: Template

If you do decide to keep your obituary simple, you can use the below template and fill in your own details. If anything is not applicable to the person you’re writing about, simply leave it out.

(Name) passed away on (date). He/she/they were (age).

(Name) attended (elementary school name), followed by (high school name) and (college name, if relevant), studying (area of study). They went on to work in (career details) for (number of years).

(Name) married his/hers/their partner (name) on (date). The two were together for (number of years). They had (number) children: (children’s names).

In his/her/their free time, (name) enjoyed (list of hobbies).

He/she/they were predeceased by (names of predeceased family members).

He/she/they are survived by (names of surviving family members).

A memorial service for (name) will take place at (location/address) on (date) at (time). Flowers may be sent to (address). OR In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to (charity name).

How to Write an Obituary: A Modern, Detailed Version

If you decide you want to write a longer, more evocative obituary, you’ll want to include details such as what the deceased’s personality was like, what their hobbies were, how they met their partner, and interesting anecdotes that reflect their uniqueness.

Writing a more elaborate obituary can help to tell a more in-depth story of the person who’s passed, giving even strangers a glimpse into their life.

Here’s a list of additional questions to answer if you want to write a more detailed obituary:

What was this person like? How would other people describe them?

What did this person love to do? What were their hobbies?

What do you remember most about this person?

Can you recall any interesting stories or anecdotes about this person?

When it comes to answering the key questions, you might be the one providing the answers — or you might need to share the questions with the person’s partner, children, friends or siblings.

Often siblings or parents are able to provide more information about a person’s childhood, which can add a lot of detail to the obituary.

How to Write an Obituary: Longer Example

If you’re looking for how to write an obituary example, below is a longer, more modern, detailed version than the one outlined above.

A lover of all things blues music, devoted father and dedicated postal service employee, John Crawley left this world behind on January 8, 2021.

Born on April 17, 1943, in a charming yet quiet town outside of Laramie, WY, John was a rambunctious lad from his earliest years. His mother recalled his propensity for climbing anything and everything — from playground gym equipment to household furniture.

Only once (to anyone’s recollection) did he fall, scraping his knee and cutting a gash in his forehead. He remained cool, calm and collected as he underwent stitches — character traits that stuck with him into adulthood.

John’s passions were many, and included frisbee golf; making homemade cards for his beloved wife, Alice; and selling model airplanes on eBay. His talent in the kitchen was legendary, and party guests raved about the time he built a chocolate tower from scratch, complete with fountain!

Opting not to have children, John and his wife instead were committed pet parents. From Shiloh the dog who John picked up on the side of the road to Jasper the cat who showed up at their side door, many furry family members made their way into the household over the years. All were doted upon.

John is survived by his soulmate of 64 years, Alice; his sister Janice and his brother Bill. He was predeceased by his parents Ellen and Stu Crawley.

A lively memorial celebration will be held on October 22, 2021, at Landmark Memorial Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Seasons Hospice.

John will be deeply and thoroughly missed by all those who were lucky enough to know him. May his legacy of dedication, level-headedness and love live on for all time.

Hiring an Obituary Writer

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed about the idea of writing an obituary, there’s one more option: hire a professional obituary writer.

This option can ease your mind and help you produce a polished, newspaper-worthy obituary that will do justice to the memory of your loved one. The benefits of hiring a writer are that they’ll take over the task for you and you’re guaranteed a professional, well-written end result.

When choosing an obituary writer, look at their experience, writing style and price point. Check out previous examples of their work and what other clients have said.

As far as pricing, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500 for the finished obituary. The cost to place the obituary in the newspaper is a separate charge, billed by the newspaper itself.

The process to have a writer handle the obituary typically involves an interview of you or other family members, and/or a questionnaire that gathers the information they need. Turnaround time runs between two days to one week, with some writers offering expedited services, sometimes for an additional fee.

For one professional option, check out MemorialWriter.com.

Closing Thoughts:

Whether you choose to write a shorter, more factual option, a longer, more detailed version — or hire a writer to help, producing an obituary is a sacred duty. In doing so you’re memorializing the person who’s passed away, so taking the time to get it right is well worth the effort.

About the author: Hannah Sentenac is a professional obituary writer who’s deeply passionate about telling people’s stories in a unique, memorable and creative way. You can see examples of her work and contact her at MemorialWriter.com.