An obituary often shares a death notice, a short life story, family names, service details, and where to send flowers or memorial gifts.
Writing an obituary can feel heavy and hurried at the same time. You’re trying to honor a person, share clear facts, and keep it readable for people who didn’t know the family.
The easiest way is to write in parts. Gather the facts first, then add a short life story, then add service and memorial details.
What Does An Obituary Include? Parts By Section
Most obituaries follow a simple order: identify the person, announce the death, share a short life summary, list family, then share service and memorial details.
You can write it as one piece or as short paragraphs. Either way, each part has a job, so it helps to know what belongs where.
| Section | What To Include | Notes For Clarity |
|---|---|---|
| Name And Identifier | Full name, nickname used in daily life, maiden name when relevant, city/state | Use the name people knew; add a middle name only if it helps identify the right person |
| Death Announcement | Date of death, place of death (city/state), age | Keep the place broad if privacy is a concern |
| Birth Details | Date of birth, birthplace, parents’ names if the family wants them named | If a date is unknown, month/year is fine |
| Life Summary | Work, schooling, military service, places lived, roles people knew them for | Pick a few concrete details instead of a long list |
| Family List | Spouse/partner, children, siblings, grandchildren, other close relatives | Choose one order and stick with it |
| Predeceased Line | Close relatives who died earlier, if the family wants that included | Names only is fine |
| Service Information | Date/time/location for visitation, funeral, memorial, burial, reception | If details aren’t set, name the funeral home handling arrangements |
| Memorial Gifts | Where to send flowers, donations, or memorial contributions | Name one organization and give a direct web link or mailing location |
| Photo And Posting | One clear photo, plus where the obituary will appear online or in print | Pick an image that reads well at small sizes |
Obituary And Death Notice Differences
A death notice is short. It often lists the name, age, date of death, and basic service details.
An obituary is longer and more personal. It adds a life summary and details that help readers understand who the person was.
When A Short Notice Works
A short notice can fit when the family wants privacy, when plans aren’t set, or when a paper charges high fees for length.
You can still share a single contact point so people know where to send condolences.
Core Facts Readers Look For First
Readers scan the opening for a few basics: who died, where they lived, and when they died. If those facts are missing, people can’t act on the notice.
Put the facts up front, then let the story do the rest.
Full Name, Residence, And Age
Use the person’s full name and the name they were known by. If the name is common, an initial or middle name can help.
Most obituaries include a city and state, plus the age at death.
Date Of Death And Place Choices
Most families include the date of death. The place can be a city and state, or it can be left out.
If the death happened away from home, you can note that without naming a facility.
Cause Of Death Options
Cause of death is optional. Some families share it to stop rumors or to point people toward a memorial fund.
If you include it, keep it plain. You can be broad (“after an illness”) or specific, based on what the family wants shared.
What An Obituary Includes In Most Notices
After the opening facts, most notices shift into a short life summary. This is where you choose what to include and what to leave out.
A simple way to write it is in timeline order: birth, school, work, family life, interests, and later years.
A Short Life Summary That Feels True
Pick a few moments that show how the person lived. A line about their work, a habit they were known for, or a place they loved can say a lot.
If you’re stuck, ask a friend of the family what they remember first. Use that as your starting point.
School, Work, And Service Lines
You can name a career, a trade, or a long-time workplace. If the person changed paths, group it in one sentence.
Military service is often listed with branch and rank. Keep it factual and short.
Family Lists That Stay Clear
One common pattern is: spouse/partner, children and their partners, grandchildren, parents, siblings, then other relatives.
Use consistent punctuation so readers can follow it. If the list is long, split it into two paragraphs.
Names, Spellings, And Permission
Spellings matter. Verify names with the family point person, not from memory.
If you plan to name caregivers or friends, ask first. Some people don’t want their names online.
Optional Details That Add Warmth
Once the facts are set, you can add two or three details that sound like the person. This is where a reader smiles and says, “Yep, that’s them.”
Think small and specific: the Sunday morning call, the garden rows that were always straight, the old pickup that never quit, the way they saved every birthday card.
Clubs, Faith, And Volunteer Work
If the family wants it included, name groups the person belonged to, a place of worship, or volunteer roles. Keep it short and concrete.
If there are many groups, choose the ones the person showed up for year after year.
A Single Line Of Personality
One sentence can carry a lot: “He never missed a dawn walk,” or “She kept a pot of tea warm for visitors.”
Skip inside jokes that only a few people get. Write for the person who knew them once, long ago.
Service Details People Can Act On
Service information is the part readers use. It should be easy to scan on a phone.
List the type of service, then the date, time, and place. If there are several events, list them in order.
When Plans Are Pending
If plans aren’t set, say so in one line. Then name the funeral home handling arrangements and share one contact path.
A clear contact point cuts down on calls to the family.
If you want a public item list from funeral professionals, the New Hampshire funeral directors obituary steps page lays out common parts in plain language.
Memorial Gifts And Flowers
This section can be short, but it should be specific. If you ask for donations, name one organization and give a direct link or mailing location.
If the family prefers no flowers, say it gently and give an option, like donations or a card.
Picking A Memorial Request
Choose a cause tied to the person’s life or the family’s wishes. Confirm the organization name and URL so gifts go to the right place.
If you’re listing a postal location, use the one printed on the organization’s site.
Closing Line And Photo Choices
A closing line can be as simple as “Arrangements are under the care of…” or “The family thanks friends for kind messages.” Keep it short.
If you want a quote, stick with a short line you have rights to use, or a line from a public domain source. Long poems can raise permission issues.
Choosing The Photo
Pick a clear head-and-shoulders photo with good light and a plain background. A busy background can turn into a blur when a site crops the image.
If the person wore glasses, choose a photo where the eyes are still visible. It makes the face feel familiar.
If the obituary will run in print, ask the editor about abbreviations and line breaks. A small tweak can save money without changing meaning much.
Privacy And Safety Choices
Obituaries are public. Once posted online, they can be copied and shared.
Before you publish, agree on what stays private, then write within that line.
Details Many Families Leave Out
- Exact home location
- Workplace location or daily schedule
- Names of minor children
- Medical details the family doesn’t want shared
Where Obituaries Get Posted And What They Cost
Obituaries can appear in a newspaper, on a funeral home site, on a memorial site, or in all three places. Print fees vary by paper and by length.
Online posting can be free or bundled with funeral home services. Some sites charge for extra photos or longer text.
Price Questions To Ask Up Front
If you’re paying for a print obituary, ask how the paper counts lines, photos, and extra days in print. Ask for a written quote before you approve it.
In the United States, the FTC Funeral Rule explains consumer rights around itemized prices and shopping across providers.
Drafting Steps You Can Follow In One Sitting
Writing gets easier when you collect facts first, then write a short draft, then proof it once for names, dates, and places.
Try this order so you aren’t rewriting the opening over and over.
- Gather a fact sheet: full names, spellings, dates, places, age, service schedule, memorial request.
- Write the opening two sentences: name, age, residence, date of death.
- Write the life summary in timeline order.
- Write the family list and any predeceased line.
- Write the service details in scan-friendly lines.
- Add the memorial gift line and a short closing line.
- Read the full draft out loud and fix what trips you up.
While drafting, you may catch yourself asking, “what does an obituary include?” Use that question as a check. If the piece has the facts, the life summary, and clear service details, you’re close.
Checklist Before Publishing
This final pass keeps the obituary clean and easy to read. It also helps your family feel settled that the facts are right.
| Check | Why It Helps | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name Matches Records | Prevents mix-ups with similar names | Compare to official paperwork |
| Dates And Places Are Verified | Avoids corrections after printing | Confirm with the family point person and the funeral home |
| Family List Reads Clearly | Readers can follow relationships | Add relationship words and split long lists |
| Service Schedule Is Easy To Scan | People can plan attendance | Use labels like “Visitation” and “Memorial” with date/time/place |
| Memorial Request Has One Target | Gifts go to the right place | Confirm the charity name and URL, then paste it once |
| Privacy Choices Are Respected | Reduces risk from oversharing | Remove home details and names of minors |
| Spelling Pass Read-Aloud | Finds missing words and awkward lines | Read it out loud, then fix what trips you up |
After that checklist, read the opening again and ask, “what does an obituary include?” If a stranger can identify the person, get a clear life summary, and find service details, you’re done.