How do you write a short and sweet obituary?

A simple short obituary template
[Full name], [age], of [where they lived], passed away on [date of death] from [cause of death]. They were predeceased by [list of family members who died before them], and they left behind [list of their family members who are still alive].


How do I write a simple obituary?

Be sure to include:
  1. The full name of the deceased, including nicknames.
  2. The age of the deceased at the time of death.
  3. The city or town of residence at the time of death.
  4. A list of immediate surviving family members.
  5. A brief summary of the deceased's life.
  6. Memorial or funeral details with the address and date.


How do you write a beautiful obituary?

The anatomy of a good obituary
  1. Jot down the key facts first. ...
  2. Write in the present tense, in letter form and change it later. ...
  3. Reach out to friends and family for memorable stories. ...
  4. Ask yourself these questions about your loved one. ...
  5. Don't feel like this has to be funny.


What is an example of an obituary?

[First name] was predeceased by [list of family members who have passed away]. [She/He] is survived by [list of family members who are still alive]. Services will be held at [location] on [date] at [time]. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to [cause], an organization [name] felt strongly about.

How do you write a unique obituary?

How to Write an Obituary That Is Creative and Memorable
  1. Ask questions & collaborate with the family. ...
  2. Add some emotion. ...
  3. Experiment with humor. ...
  4. Give friends and family members an easy way to share the obituary. ...
  5. Make the obituary easy to find on your website. ...
  6. Encourage visitors to post memories and messages. ...
  7. Incorporate videos.


How to Write an Obituary



What should you not put in an obituary?

Now that you're familiar with writing an Obituary, let's take a look at some common mistakes you'll want to avoid.
  • Avoid Making the Obituary About You. ...
  • Don't Focus Just on Death. ...
  • Listing People Who Were Appreciated. ...
  • Avoid Clichés. ...
  • Abbreviations. ...
  • Don't Over Describe the Funeral.


What do you say at the end of an obituary?

The obituary should end by naming your loved one's surviving family members, then giving information about the funeral or memorial service, if the family is making those details public, as well as information about any memorial funds or charitable organizations that people should send donations to.

How do you list names in an obituary?

When you are listing a relative, make sure to include their first name, their spouse's first name in brackets and then their last name. It should look something like this: “Tony leaves behind his children Stuart (Dianne) Smith, Jody (Mark) Powell, and Katherine (Nick) Harroway.”


How do you write an obituary step by step?

What to include in an obituary
  1. the name of the deceased and their photo.
  2. the date they died and their age at that time.
  3. their family members (for example, a partner or children)
  4. funeral or memorial details (date, time, and location)
  5. flower or donation information.


What is a good sentence for obituary?

We are sad to announce the passing of [full name] of [where they lived]. They died at age [age] on [date of death]. [First name] passed away surrounded by their loved ones after a battle with [illness]. The funeral will be a private ceremony with only close family members present.

How do you write a great 10 Step obituary?

Ten Easy Steps for Writing an Obituary
  1. Decide How Much You Can Spend. ...
  2. Find Inspiration from Other Obituaries. ...
  3. Find Out Deadlines. ...
  4. Make Notes on Content. ...
  5. Write the Obituary. ...
  6. Proofread. ...
  7. Have Someone Else Proofread. ...
  8. Submit the Obituary.


How do you write obituary 6 helpful tips?

Save on funeral products
  1. Tip 1: Start by looking at examples of touching obituaries. ...
  2. Tip 2: Use a template. ...
  3. Tip 3: Be mindful of length. ...
  4. Tip 4: Write about what made the deceased unique. ...
  5. Tip 5: Include special moments or a small story. ...
  6. Tip 6: Include information on their passions and hobbies.


What is a good short obituary example?

If you want to keep it short and sweet, consider this short obituary example: Daniel Jackson Moore, 63, passed away on July 6, 2020 from an unexpected heart attack. Even though a failing heart took him away from this world, his loving heart left a beacon of light for all in the community.

How do you write a few words for a funeral?

Short Eulogy Examples
  1. Highlight the person's passions or interests.
  2. What were the most memorable times you spent together?
  3. Sum up the person's character using a story or memory.
  4. Express your gratitude for the impact the person had on your life.
  5. Talk about their influence on family and community.


Is there a template for obituary?

Standard Obituary template

" [Full name] , aged [number] , residing in [residence] passed away on [Date of death] , from [Cause of death] . [First name] , born on [Birthday] , grew up in [Hometown] and studied [Education] at [Institution] .

Who comes first in an obituary?

In general, you list the closest members of the family first. Start with the spouse. Next, list children in the order they were born as well as any of their spouses. Here is where you might include ex-partners, especially if they had children with the deceased.

How long should an obituary be?

The average length of an obituary is approximately 200 words, but some publications may accept obituaries as long as 450 words or as short as 50 words.


What does it mean when a name is in parentheses in an obituary?

If the spouse or partner's surname is different, include their surname in the parenthesis along with their first name (ex: Tom (Sarah Williams) Johnson).

How do you list all family members in an obituary?

The order should go as followed: spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, and siblings. It should be noted that nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws are typically unmentioned unless they were especially close to the deceased.

How do you begin an obituary?

A standard obituary format begins with the following information about the deceased:
  1. Full name, including first, middle, maiden, and last names, and suffixes, such as Jr. or Sr.
  2. Age at the time of death.
  3. City and state of most current residence.
  4. Time and place of death.
  5. Cause of death (optional)


Who should be named in an obituary?

Use the full names of parents, siblings, children, as well as spouse/partner. Also mention grandparents, aunts, uncles, and any step-family members. If the deceased has grandchildren or great-grandchildren, you can list them in number — most obituaries don't list each name of the surviving grandchildren.

Who reads the obituary at a funeral?

The speech is ideally given by someone who knew the person well enough to gather and share memories and highlights of his/her life. Sometimes the choice is obvious within the family. There is often one person who seems to be the unofficial family spokesperson.

Should ex wife be listed in obituary?

There are no rules that are set in stone. This means you can always use your own judgment whether or not you include ex-spouses in an obituary. According to traditional obituary etiquette, it's common to include any predeceased or surviving relatives in an obituary.


Do you include estranged family members in an obituary?

Miss Manners: All family members, estranged or not, belong in an obituary - The Washington Post.

Do you list survivors or predeceased first in an obituary?

Another common section of the obituary is the predeceased family members' names. These names are typically listed before or after the list of surviving family members.