Writing an obituary can be a daunting and emotional activity. We created this guide to help make the process more manageable and straightforward.
This guide to writing an obituary includes:
- What to include
- Who should write the obituary
- Obituary length
- Selecting photos
- Template
- Where to publish the obituary
- Obituary examples
What to Include
Below are some ideas for what details from your person’s life to include in their obituary.
1. Birth, Family, and Education
- Full name, age, date of death, and city of residence at the time of death
- How the person died
- Date and place of birth
- Maiden name/names before marriage
- Names of parents
- Details about childhood and the schools attended
- Higher education, certifications, or military service
Tip: If your person had a nickname, include both their full name and nickname early in the obituary. Using the nickname throughout helps ensure people can find the obituary when searching for them by that name.
2. Relationships, Careers, and Hobbies
- Information about spouse or partner, including date of marriage or significant milestones
- Names of children and close family members
- Overview of career or professional life
- Hobbies, interests, or volunteer service
- Key personality traits or values they were known for
3. Legacy, Family, and Donations
- Major accomplishments or community involvement
- Names of surviving family members (parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandchildren, etc.)
- Celebration of life, funeral, or memorial service details
- In lieu of flowers, suggestions for donations, or ways to offer tributes or honor their memory
Tip: Include clear instructions for the suggested organizations to donate to, along with the URL
4. Additional Options
- Favorite quote or saying
- Anecdotes or favorite memories
- Photos
Suggested Length
The length may depend on where you are planning to publish the obituary. Below are some recommendations of what you might include for three different lengths/styles.
Note: If you plan to publish your person’s obituary with Recompose, we do not have a maximum word count and encourage you to write as much as you want.
Short Obituary
- Word count: 100-200 words
- Best for: Community or local newspapers with space or cost limitations
- Focus: Basic facts like name, age, date of death, immediate family, brief career and service info, and funeral or memorial details
Standard Obituary
- Word count: 200-400 words
- Best for: Online memorials or newspapers
- Focus: Includes personal details like hobbies, career, education, and character traits, along with service and donation info
Extended Obituary
- Word Count: 400-800 words
- Best for: Online tributes or family-published obituaries
- Focus: More in-depth that includes your loved one’s full life story, anecdotes, quotes, detailed family tree, and legacy
Tip: Check with the newspaper or website you plan to publish the obituary with. Newspapers often charge by word or line, while most online memorial sites allow longer entries at no extra cost.
Who Should Write the Obituary?
Writing an obituary can be a collaborative effort that involves multiple family members and close friends. It can help to have one person responsible for writing or editing the obituary to keep it consistent and organized, even if multiple people contribute information.
If you need assistance with writing your person’s obituary, the Recompose Services Team is available to guide as needed.
- Tip: Collect input from multiple people, but choose one or two individuals to write and finalize the obituary. This helps avoid confusion and ensures everything is completed on time for any scheduled services or publications.
Obituary Template
Below is a simple obituary template if it would be easier for you to start with something instead of a blank canvas.
It covers the essential elements and can be customized with personal details, stories, and meaningful additions. Use this as a guide to help you organize the information and create a tribute that reflects your person’s life and legacy.
[Full Name] (also known as [Nickname]), age [Age], of [City, State], [passed away, died, left this world, etc – use your preferred term here] on [Date of Death].
[First Name/Nickname] was born on [Date of Birth] in [Place] to [Parent Names]. [He/She/They] grew up in [Hometown], where [he/she/they] attended [Schools Attended] and enjoyed [Childhood Interests or Hobbies].
[He/She/They] went on to pursue [Higher Education or Military Service], earning [Degrees, Certifications, or Military Rank] from [Institution or Branch of Service].
In [Year], [First Name/Nickname] married [Spouse/Partner’s Name], and they shared [# of Years] together. [He/She/They] is survived by [Children’s Names, Grandchildren, etc.], and was known for [his/her/their] devotion to family.
[First Name] spent much of [his/her/their] career working as a [Job Title] at [Company or Organization]. Outside of work, [he/she/they] enjoyed [Hobbies, Interests, Volunteer Work]. Friends and family remember [him/her/them] for [Key Traits—e.g., kindness, sense of humor, dedication].
[He/She/They] made a lasting impact through [Major Accomplishments or Community Involvement].
[First Name/Nickname] is survived by [List of Surviving Family Members]. [He/She/They] was preceded in death by [Names of Predeceased Family Members].
A [Funeral/Memorial/Celebration of Life] will be held on [Date] at [Location] beginning at [Time]. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to [Organization Name]. Contributions may be made online at [URL].
Download a Template
We have an obituary template for our clients that includes an example as well as space for you to fill in your own information.
Selecting Photos
Choosing photos for an obituary can be a meaningful and emotional activity. Whether you’re selecting a single portrait or a few key snapshots, the photos you choose can offer comfort, spark memories, and celebrate your person.
- Use a recent portrait
- Add photos from different life stages
- Include candid moments
- Highlight relationships
- Feature hobbies or interests
- Aim for high-quality images
To see more extensive information on selecting photos, read our article Tips for Selecting Photos for an Obituary.
Where to Post the Obituary
In addition to publishing your loved one’s obituary on the Recompose website, many families also choose to create a post for social media and share it in one or more newspapers. This may include the local paper where your person died, their hometown newspaper, or publications in other places they lived or had strong connections.
Obituary Examples
Recompose has cared for over 500 families. Many have written beautiful tributes to honor their loved ones.
