Simple obituary examples can help you find the words to announce a death and share the details people need, even when writing feels difficult.
These fictional samples and fill-in templates show how to keep an obituary clear, personal, and suited to your needs.
What to include in a simple obituary
An obituary can be brief while still giving readers a meaningful picture of the person and explaining how to honor or remember them.
Before drafting, gather the details you want to share and confirm spellings, dates, and service information with family.
- Announcement: The person’s name and the date of their death, if the family wishes to include it.
- Brief biography: A few details about their life, such as where they lived, what they valued, or activities they enjoyed.
- Family information: Relatives the family chooses to name.
Consider privacy and the wishes of those involved. - Memorial details: The date, time, and location of a service, or a note that arrangements are private or will be shared later.
- Memorial requests: Optional information about flowers, charitable gifts, or another way to remember the person.
There is no single required length or format.
A newspaper, funeral home, online memorial, or family announcement may have different space, submission, or formatting requirements.
Newspapers set their own publication rates, so contact the newspaper directly for current pricing.
Short obituary examples
The following biographies are fictional examples.
Replace the bracketed details with verified information, and remove anything the family would rather keep private.
Fictional example: A brief family announcement
[Full name], [age], of [city], died on [date]. [He/She/They] will be remembered for [brief personal quality or interest]. [He/She/They] is survived by [relatives the family wishes to name].
A [service or gathering] will be held at [location] on [date and time].
Fictional example: A short, personal obituary
[Full name] died on [date] at the age of [age].
A longtime resident of [place], [name] enjoyed [hobby or interest] and was known among family and friends for [specific, verified quality]. [Name] is survived by [family members].
Loved ones are invited to gather at [location] on [date] to remember [him/her/them].
Fictional example: A notice with private arrangements
[Full name], of [city], died on [date]. [Name] valued [interest, community, or family tradition] and will be missed by [family or community, if the family wishes].
Arrangements are private.
The family appreciates the care and support of friends during this time.
Fictional example: An obituary for someone who preferred privacy
[Full name] died on [date]. [Name] lived in [place] and spent time [brief, appropriate detail about a favorite activity or part of life].
The family asks for privacy and will share any memorial information directly with those close to [him/her/them].
Simple obituary templates for common situations
These templates offer a starting point, not a checklist.
Use only details that are accurate and that the family is comfortable sharing.
Basic obituary template
[Full name] died on [date] in [place, if the family wishes to include it]. [He/She/They] was [age]. [Name] was born in [place] on [date, optional] and spent [brief detail about work, family, community, or interests]. [Name] is survived by [relatives to name] and was preceded in death by [relatives, if appropriate and verified].
A [service or gathering] will take place at [location] on [date and time].
Template when service details are not available
[Full name] of [city] died on [date]. [He/She/They] will be remembered for [personal detail]. [Name] is survived by [family details the family chooses to share].
The family will provide information about a memorial at a later date.
Template for a memorial donation request
In memory of [full name], the family invites those who wish to make a memorial gift to consider [organization or cause].
This request is optional; omit it if the family has not chosen or confirmed an organization.
How to make a short obituary feel personal
A meaningful obituary does not need many adjectives.
One concrete detail often conveys more than a string of general descriptions.
For example, instead of writing that someone “loved life,” mention a verified favorite pastime, a community role, or a family tradition that reflects who they were.
- Choose a few details: Focus on one or two interests, commitments, or relationships that mattered to the person.
- Use a natural tone: Write in language the family would recognize.
A formal notice can still sound warm. - Keep claims specific and accurate: Avoid unsupported superlatives or quotations.
Do not place invented words in the person’s mouth. - Respect privacy: Share only personal, family, or health details that those closest to the person agree to publish.
- Separate remembrance from logistics: Make service information easy to find by giving it its own sentence.
How to write an obituary step by step
- Decide where it will appear. Check whether the newspaper, funeral home, or memorial site has length limits, required details, or formatting rules.
- Collect confirmed facts. Ask a trusted family member to verify the name, dates, locations, relatives, and arrangements.
- Draft the announcement first. State the death and any details the family wants to share, then add a short biography.
- Include service information. Confirm the venue, time, date, and whether the event is public before publishing them.
- Review the wording together. Read the draft aloud and check that it feels accurate, respectful, and appropriately private.
Common mistakes to avoid
Rushing can lead to errors in names, dates, or event details.
Ask someone else to proofread, especially if the obituary will be submitted to a publication with a deadline.
Confirm that surviving relatives are named as they wish to be identified, and avoid assuming that every family member wants public recognition.
Keep the notice focused on the person and the information readers need.
You do not have to explain every life event, include every relative, or write a complete biography.
If the family has not decided about a service, say that details will be shared later rather than guessing.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a simple obituary be?
It can be a few sentences or several paragraphs, depending on what the family wants to share and where it will appear.
Check the publisher’s requirements before submitting; each outlet sets its own format and rates.
Can an obituary be written before the service is planned?
Yes.
You can publish an announcement without service details and add that arrangements will be shared later.
Update the notice through the publisher or memorial site if its policies allow.
What if the family wants a very private notice?
Keep it brief, omit details the family considers private, and state that arrangements are private if that is accurate.
Share a draft with the people closest to the person before publication.