How to Write an Obituary: A Step-by-step Guide with Examples and Templates

Writing an obituary is hard. You're grieving, pressed for time, and doing something unfamiliar. You need to get it right without agonizing over every word.

This guide gives you what you need: what to include, what to skip, copy-ready templates for different lengths, real examples, and straight answers about costs and legal considerations. Follow the steps, use a template, and you'll have a respectful announcement that honors your loved one.

Obituary vs. Death Notice: Pick the Right One

Obituary: A tribute that summarizes someone's life. Includes biographical details, achievements, family members, and service information. Typically 200–800 words.

Death notice: A brief announcement stating name, age, dates, and service details. Usually 25–100 words. Many newspapers print short notices free or at lower cost.

Choose a death notice when you need speed, face tight word limits, or want to minimize costs. Choose an obituary when you want to celebrate a full life story. Once you decide, gather your facts.

Step 1: Collect Information First

Get these details before you write:

Essential Basics

• Full legal name (include nickname or suffix if commonly used)
• Age at death
• Birth date and place
• Date and place of death
• Current residence

Life Highlights

• Education and career (include military service if applicable)
• Achievements, community roles, hobbies
• One specific memory or trait that captures their personality

Family Information

• Surviving relatives (spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings)
• Predeceased relatives
• Verify spellings with family

Service Details

• Date, time, location of visitation, funeral, or memorial
• Public or private
• Livestream link if available

Special Requests

• Preferred charities for donations
• Flower preferences
• Where to send condolences

Assign one person to verify all facts. This prevents errors and family disputes.

Step 2: Choose Length and Where to Publish

Typical Lengths

• Short: 25–100 words (tight budgets or newspaper limits)
• Medium: 200–400 words (standard for local papers)
• Long: 400–800+ words (online memorials with unlimited space)

The average obituary runs about 175 words, based on analysis of 38 million notices. Even a short piece can be meaningful.

Publication Options

• Local newspaper: $100–$400 typically; major papers like the New York Times start around $263 and can exceed $1,900 for longer pieces
• Funeral home website: Usually free; hosts permanently
• Online platforms: $50–$500+ for permanent memorial pages with photos and videos
• Social media: Free and fast but temporary

Photos add $15–$250 to newspaper costs.

Ask publishers about word limits, deadlines, and correction policies before paying.

Step 3: Use the Standard Structure

Opening Death Announcement

State the facts: name, age, residence, death date.

"Margaret Louise 'Maggie' Chen, 78, of Springfield, Illinois, died peacefully at home on April 15, 2025."

Avoid clichés unless they reflect family wishes. Keep it simple.

Life Summary (1–3 paragraphs)

Cover key life phases with specific details.

Show, don't tell: Instead of "she loved teaching," write "She spent 30 years teaching second grade at Jefferson Elementary, where colleagues remember her handmade science fair ribbons."

Include:

• Birthplace, upbringing, education
• Career and volunteer work
• Hobbies and defining traits

Family List

List survivors first, then predeceased relatives. Standard order: spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, siblings.

"Maggie is survived by her husband of 55 years, Robert Chen of Springfield; daughters Anna (David) Park of Chicago and Lisa Chen of Denver; four grandchildren; and brother Thomas Wu of Seattle. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wei and Lin Wu."

Service Details

Be clear and complete.

"A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at Williams Funeral Home, 123 Main Street, Springfield. Visitation begins at 1 p.m."

For private services: "Services will be private. The family thanks friends for their support."

Donations and Closing

Provide exact organization names and instructions.

"In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Springfield Public Library Reading Program, 456 Oak Avenue, Springfield, IL 62701. Please include 'Chen Memorial' in the memo line. Online condolences may be shared at www.williamsfh.com."

Writing Tips: What Works and What Doesn't

Tone: Warm and direct. Write like you're talking to a friend, not drafting a biography.

Replace jargon with plain language:

• "Preceded in death" → "died before" or list naturally
• "Transitioned" → "died" or "passed away"

Stick to facts:

• Verify every date, name, and title
• Avoid exaggerations
• Get family approval for sensitive details

Protect privacy: Never include Social Security numbers, full addresses, or details that enable identity theft.

Privacy, Medical, and Legal Basics

Cause of Death and Medical Privacy

Medical information is sensitive. Get family consent before mentioning cause of death.

Federal HIPAA rules protect health information for 50 years after death. While this mainly applies to healthcare providers, it shows how seriously medical privacy is treated. Don't share details you're not authorized to disclose.

Legal Points People Often Confuse

Obituaries are voluntary. No law requires you to publish one. They aren't legal proof of death—death certificates serve that purpose.

Probate "legal notices" are separate. Some states require creditor notices in newspapers during estate administration. These have specific legal language and timelines that differ from obituaries. Check with a probate attorney if handling an estate.

Defamation risks: Publishing false statements about living people can lead to legal claims. Stick to verifiable facts. When sharing sensitive information, note "Information provided by family."

State variations: Obituary content follows publisher policies, not state laws. Probate notice requirements vary by state.

Templates You Can Copy

Template 1: Short Notice (50–75 words)

, , of , died .  worked as a  and enjoyed . 

 is survived by . 

Services: . 

In lieu of flowers, donations to  are appreciated.

Template 2: Medium Obituary (300–400 words)

, , of , died  at .

Born  in ,  graduated from  and worked as a  at  for  years.  served in the  and volunteered with .  loved  and was known for .

 is survived by .  was preceded in death by .

A  will be held at  on  at . Visitation begins . 

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to .

Template 3: Online Obituary (500–700 words)

, , , of , passed away  surrounded by .

 was born  in  to .  graduated from  in  and earned a degree in . A dedicated ,  spent  years at , where .

Beyond work,  was passionate about .   served on the board of  and was a longtime member of .

's greatest joy was .  is survived by .  was preceded in death by .

A celebration of life will be held at  on  at . The service will be livestreamed at .

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to  at . Share memories at .

Real Examples

Robert "Doc" Whitney (Medium Length)

"Robert 'Doc' Whitney, 71, of Washington, Illinois, died April 18, 2025, surrounded by family. Doc grew up in Peoria and spent 40 years as a pharmacist at Main Street Drug, where he knew customers by name. He was a lifelong fisherman whose happiest moments were on the Illinois River with his two sons and grandson. Doc is survived by his wife, Carol; sons David (Amy) and Steven; grandson Tyler; and sister Mary Louise. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Betty. A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on May 3 at Living Hope Community Church in Bartonville. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Illinois River Cleanup Fund are appreciated."

Why it works: Specific hobby, concrete memory, clear service information.

Maria Gonzalez (Ultra-Short)

"Maria Gonzalez, 82, of Austin, passed away April 20. Born in San Antonio, she worked as a seamstress for 30 years and enjoyed gardening. She is survived by daughters Rosa (Mike) and Carmen, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Private graveside service. A public memorial will be announced later. Donations to Hospice Austin may be sent in her memory."

Why it works: Hits key facts within tight word count.

James Patterson (Longer with Story)

"James Patterson, 65, died April 10, 2025, after a brief illness. Jim was born in Detroit in 1959 and earned his engineering degree from Michigan State. He spent his career designing safer car seats, holding seven patents. His colleagues remember his dry humor and how he always brought donuts on Fridays.

Jim met his wife, Lisa, at a campus coffee shop in 1982; she says he spilled tea on her textbook on purpose. They raised three daughters and fostered six rescue dogs. Jim volunteered with FIRST Robotics for 15 years, mentoring hundreds of students.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa; daughters Sarah, Emily, and Rebecca; and siblings Tom and Susan. He was preceded by his parents, Bill and Helen.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on April 28 at Bloomfield Community Center, 456 Maple Road, with reception to follow. Livestream available at www.bloomfieldcc.org/live.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to FIRST Robotics Michigan or adopt a senior dog in Jim's name."

Why it works: Personal story, specific accomplishments, multiple donation options.

Cost Breakdown (2025)

Newspapers:

• Local: $100–$400
• Major metro: $1,000–$2,000+
• Industry average: ~$390
• Photo addition: $15–$250

Online platforms: $50–$500+ for permanent memorials

Funeral homes: Often handle submissions as part of service fees

Cost drivers: word count, print days, photos, circulation size.

Before You Submit

Check this list:

• Names and spellings verified
• Dates and places confirmed
• Survivors and predeceased list approved by family
• Service details double-checked
• Donation information accurate
• Family approved sensitive topics
• Word count fits limits
• Photo meets specifications
• Second person proofread for errors

Final Thought

An obituary's job is to inform and honor, not to be perfect. Accuracy matters more than eloquence. Use a template. Ask someone to proofread. Consult professionals for legal or privacy questions when needed. The people who knew your loved one will fill in the emotional gaps with their own memories. Your clear, honest words are enough.