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Writing an Obituary

What's involved in writing a good obituary? That's probably the first thing you'll wonder when sitting down to write one for a spouse, other family members, or a close friend. Exactly what factual information should it include, and how can you find a balance between dry facts and engaging storytelling? We have the answers to those questions and hope you will find this information about how to write an obituary helpful.

Including the Basics

While a death notice is merely a compilation of relevant facts, the obituary is a detailed look at the life of your loved one. Obituaries do however include basic details.

The first of these details included in either a death notice or an obituary would be a full name and any commonly-known nicknames. If your loved one was a married woman, you'll want to include her maiden name as well.

Other essential details to include when writing either a death notice or an obituary are:

  • Birthdate and death date
  • Age upon death
  • Birthplace
  • Where the person lived
  • The location (city/state) where they died
  • A list of the surviving relatives
  • Details about the funeral service: date, time, place
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Well-Written Obituaries

In writing an obituary for your loved one, you have the opportunity to serve your immediate family, society as a whole, and future generations. In effect, you are recording history on an individual scale. It's a humbling yet inspiring thought.

How you document your loved one's life story is up to you. With that said, we recommend that in addition to the basic facts of a death notice, the obituary could also include these details:

  • Parents' names
  • Information about the spouse and children
  • Church affiliations
  • Job or career information
  • Personal and professional accomplishments
  • Personal character and interests
  • Influence on his or her community

It's now time to sit back and think about the memories you could share to shed some light on your loved one's character and personal interests. Bring factual details into play whenever you can but help the reader clearly see who your loved one was, how they lived, and what they loved. The more rich in detail, the more memorable the obituary becomes.