How to Write an Obituary

Contacting the funeral home, shopping for cremation urns, organizing family gatherings – there’s a lot to do when a loved one dies. For most folks, it may be the first time they’re handling all these important decisions!

Having some guidance can make a big difference and help relieve stress during the process. This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to write an obituary so you have one less thing to worry about.

Eulogy and Obituary – Not the Same Thing

Before you get ahead of yourself, it’s important to recognize that an obituary is not the same thing as a eulogy. While a eulogy is typically a short speech presented in person at a funeral service or memorial gathering, an obituary is a written piece that may appear online or in a newspaper.

Because eulogies are presented in person, they are often very emotional speeches that capture the spirit of the deceased by recapping funny or motivational stories and private memories that illustrate their personality. Eulogies tend to focus on the individual relationship and bond that was formed between the deceased and the speaker, and they tend to have a much less formal tone than obituaries, as they highlight very personal memories.

Focus on the Purpose of an Obituary

The main purpose of an obituary is to let people know that the individual has died and inform readers of any funeral arrangements that may take place. An obituary is intended to share information with people who may not be aware that the individual was ill or may not have been in contact with the family recently – like old friends, coworkers, or neighbors. For this reason, it’s important to share a variety of informative details from the deceased person’s life so that people who may have known the individual years ago will recall them and become aware of the recent news. 

5 Things to Include with Step-by-Step Instructions

Writing an obituary can be tricky because it needs to be specific in certain details – but not too specific in other details of the person’s life. Here’s a blueprint for writing a classic obituary.

Step 1 – Death Announcement. Include the person’s full name, place/date of birth, place/date of death, and age at the time of death. No need to include the cause of death unless you’d like to.

Step 2 – Service Info. Include the type of service that will be held (church service, visitation, celebration of life), time and place, funeral parlor, and whether it is open to the public to attend. This helps people know what to wear and the type of behavior expected. For example, a casual celebration of life held at a public park is likely to be a very different than a funeral held in a traditional place of worship.

Step 3 – Brief Biography. List a few of the person’s greatest achievements or unique experiences in their life. This may include special hobbies, contributions to the community, or educational/career milestones they were proud of.

Step 4 – Family & Close Friends. An obituary usually lists the immediate family members and very close friends that are still living, as well as close family members who have passed.

Step 5 – Personal Touch. Some families choose to close an obituary with a popular saying, short poem, or qualifying detail that represents the deceased’s personality. Another option is to request donations to go towards a particular cause that the deceased was fond of, in lieu of flowers.

Additional Details for an Obituary

Every obituary is slightly different, and you’ll likely have some wiggle room to make it unique. Some platforms may allow you to include a photograph of the deceased to be pictured alongside the obituary. But keep in mind that printed papers often charge by the word or have a word limit, so brevity is key.

Once you have the obituary written, you can then focus on the other details that are important – like arranging the service, finding the right cremation urn, and gathering  friends and family.

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